Water infrastructure improvements

Door Open for Communities to Improve Water Infrastructure, Governor Rendell Says

HARRISBURG (Dec. 10) – Pennsylvania residents will benefit now that guidelines have been approved for local governments wanting to apply for state funding to improve critical water infrastructure systems, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

Full Story:
http://enews.state.pa.us/c.asp?xToYlAOlp5Zim5FdrZJ5egNdo63w56ldJPiY5R9R2DSg

Rain Barrel Workshop

Rain Barrel Workshop

Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: Lower Salford Township Municipal Building, 379 Main Street, Harleysville, PA

Registration: Register by October 6, 2008 to reserve a spot in the workshop. The workshop is free.

Contact: Kristina Henderson, Montgomery County Conservation District at 610-489-4506 x25 or by e-mail at khenderson@montgomeryconservation.org

WIN A RAIN BARREL: Rain Barrels will be raffled off to the participants at the workshop. Barrels will be shipped directly to recipients home.

Learn how to install, use and benefit from having a rain barrel. In addition, learn about things you can do around your home and neighborhood that can make a difference. Feel free to ask questions about rain barrels or other BMP’s you’d like to use at your home.

Informational handouts will be available.

from the wissahicken watershed partnership

1-Three rain gardens will be installed thanks to the work of municipal partners, URS Corporation, Philadelphia Water Department (PEC), EACs, and others. Come to learn about rain gardens and help plant the gardens:

• Jarrettown Elementary School on Sunday September 28^th at 9 am.
• Rosyln Park in Abington on Saturday, October 4^th at 9 am.
• Ricciardi Park in Ambler on Saturday, October 11^th at 9 am.
• I will send announcements addressing details and who to contact in a second e-mail.

2-Final designs for three stormwater basin retrofits are complete thanks to help from municipal partners, Viridian and Meliora Consultants, PWD, and others. PEC has received construction funding and will work with the following municipalities to complete the retrofits over the next year:

• Village Circle basin in Whitpain Township
• Center Street basin in North Wales Borough
• Aidenn Lair Park basins in Upper Dublin Township
• I will send information on education events related to the retrofit work as they are developed.

3-Development Roundtable continues with September 16^th working meeting. Participants focused on land use trends in Whitpain, Whitemarsh, Springfield, and Upper Dublin Townships, and identified areas where development ordinance and policy changes can protect natural resources. The Roundtable group will continue to work via site visits, meetings, and an internet base camp to define specific development rule changes that will maintain and improve the environment.

Pennypack Farm tour

Last night the Park Creek Watershed Association took a tour of the Pennypack Farm on Mann Road in Horsham. The farm is 24 acres which has beehives, chickens, turkeys, Apple trees, and fields, greenhouses, and hoop houses full of vegetables and fruits growing. A self guided tour is available with signs that point out the important reasons for this farm.
Pennypack Farm Education Center for Sustainable Food Systems is a charitable, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the health, economic, ecological and social issues involved in sustainable local food systems.

Pennypack Farm http://www.pennypackfarm.org

Rain Garden Workshop

FREE Rain Garden Workshop

& Installation at Ricciardi Park

Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008

Homeowner Workshop: 9 AM to 10AM

Ambler Borough Hall, 122 E. Butler Ave, Ambler 19002

Planting the rain garden: 10AM to 11:30 AM
Ricciardi Park (across from the intersection of Hendricks Street and Walker Road in Ambler)

You are invited to attend this FREE training developed through the Ambler Borough Environmental Advisory Council, Wissahickon Watershed Partnership & sponsored by the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), Schuylkill Action Network (SAN), and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC).

Two events are planned:

Antonio Federici, a Senior Ecologist with URS Corporation, will teach a one hour class on how to build a rain garden for the homeowner. After the class, participants and community volunteers will be invited to help plant the garden being installed at Ricciardi Park located

(next to the multi-use court).

What is a rain garden?

A rain garden is a shallow depression planted with native plants. The deep roots of native plants allow water to infiltrate into the soil. A rain garden can be installed to capture water from your roof drain or it can be built at a low spot to catch water coming from a driveway, parking area or any other hard surface.

What are the benefits of a rain garden?

Improved water quality

Reduced stress on stormwater pipes and local streams

Recharges groundwater

Habitat for birds and butterflies

To participate in both or either event

RSVP Susan Curry, Ambler EAC Chair

Email: suscurry@comcast.net or Phone: (215) 591-1551

Park Creek Watershed Assoc. visits Pennypack Farm

Join us on Thursday September 11th at 7PM at Pennypack Farm on Mann Road in Horsham for a tour and presentation by the Farm folks.

You can learn more about pennypack farm from their website.
http://www.pennypackfarm.org/joomla/index.php

Water assessment survey July 19, 2008

A team of three PCWA members did a stream assessment on Saturday July 19th at
Kohler Park.
We were back at the wooden bridge by the golf course, and the water was fairly
low.

Outside temperature was 96 degrees farenheit
Water temp was 80 degrees
Ph registered at 8.2
Oxygen level was high which is good

We sampled about a 15' area with water depth between 1" and 8" deep.

Upon arrival we saw many minnows swimming in the creek in a variety of sizes.
Many could be 60 - 80 plus.

After much consideration (we believe) we found the following

Crayfish - 1 big one
Leech - 30 or more tiny in size
Crawling Water Beetle - 2
Water Penny - 30 plus
Water strider - 1
Watermites - 10
Snail - 1
Fly larvae 6 we think
Nymph like critter - 1 - unable to confirm exact identity

The outcome of this survey is that the water quality at the section of the creek
is very good.
The large variety of critters found is a good indicator.

High Oxygen Level and fairly neutral PH are also healthy. The water was very
clear.

Park Creek Watershed Geocache

A Geocache has been placed name Park Creek Watershed - Jarrett Road.

To visit this Geocache go to:

Visit Park Creek Watershed - Jarrett Road
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=633e2f7a-f938-4e63-943e-9
d645612d2ba 

Free CFL

You can register on this web site to get a free

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb

Traditional incandescent light bulbs cause millions of pounds of greenhouse gas emissions to be spewed into the atmosphere, contributing heavily to the dramatic effects of global warming.

Yeah, so what can I do about it?

More than you think. The Million Lights Project is committed to delivering one million free Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs to homes across America by Earth Day, April 22, 2008.

By swapping out even one of your old “energy hog” incandescent light bulbs, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint by approximately 400 pounds over the life of the bulb, not to mention saving cash on your energy bills. As one million Americans band together to fight this battle, a collective savings of more than 400,000 megawatt hours could be generated, and prevent the emission of more than 200,000 tons of CO² not emitted over the lifetime of the CFL. This is the equivalent of powering almost 60,000 homes, or removing 31,000 cars from the road for a year, or planting 60,000 acres of trees. Just imagine if every household in America made the switch!

Start now to be part of the solution to global warming. Register here to be one of our “luminaries” and receive your free CFL in the mail.

http://millionlightsproject.org/

Get Your Feet Wet July 19th 1PM

Kicknetting and stream sampling

At Kohler Park.

Saturday, July 19, 2007
Kicknetting! Stream Sampling
1:00 pm

Location: Kohler Park, Horsham, PA

Join PCWA as we sample a small section of Park Creek to determine water quality and take a macroinvertebrate census.

This survey of stream insects is used to calculate a benthic index of biological integrity (B-IBI) which helps to assess the ecological functioning of fish habitat in the creek. Fluctuations in creek insect populations reflect short-term occurrences of adverse chemical and physical stream conditions and provide the strongest means of assessing the health of a creek. By monitoring the macroinvertebrate populations we can gauge the health of the Park Creek

Rain Date: Sunday, July 20, 2007

Everyone is Welcome to attend this free event.

Hot Hot June 7th Horsham Day

Everyone was hot today as we were setting up in Kohler Park for the annual Horsham Day event.
We had two spaces with tents, enviroscape, display, maps and information, and birdhouse kits.

Passers by enjoyed the enviroscape and getting squirted with the rain sprays to ward off the heat for a moment.

Big thanks to all of the members who showed up today in the heat to work the tent, and especially Margaret - the event chair.

Horsham Day 2008

Come visit us at Horsham Day on June 7th. We will be out with the enviroscape, and with our
birdhouse kits. We will also be raffling off a few things. Learn more about how you can make
your life greener.

Nature in our watershed

Here is a photo of a robins nest in a bush outside of my house. There are three eggs in the nest and the mother robin is sitting on them now. They should hatch soon. Nature is a part of our watershed.

Kohler Park - wild flowers

1. Spring beauties (Claytonia virginica)

• Flowers from February - May.

Habitat - Dry open woods, glades, slopes, prairies, low woods.
Origin - Native to U.S.

• Earliest bloomers in spring. The flowering period is actually quite long for such an early plant. The plant is easy to ID in the field because of its distinctive flowers and its thin opposite cauline leaves.
  

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
Common names for this eastern North American species include trout lily, American adder's tongue (a reference to the leaves) and dogtooth violet (a reference to the bulbs);

• Habitat: Moist woods and meadows
• Appearance: Yellow flower, blooming anywhere from March to May, atop a pair of purply-brown mottled leaves.

Geocaching

This morning, Marj, Sandy and I went geocaching in the Park Creek Watershed. We found two of the three we were looking for and got a bit muddy in the process. I ended up with a flat tire to boot. We had a good time and noticed a lot of trash. This gave me the idea to have a cache in - trash out event. I have contacted the Horsham Parks Department to find out a date that we could use the Limekiln entrance to Kohler Park for a clean up event that will not conflict with soccer games.

A Cache in Trash Out (CITO) event brings in geocachers who help clean up an area, and are rewarded by being able to locate several geocaches. I would also like to have some prizes for farthest away to attend, most trash collected, etc. . I plan on trying to contact local businesses to provide some type of sponsorships in either food, water or cache prizes.

If you are a business in the Horsham, Warrington, Montgomery Township area and are interested in providing a sponsorship of some sort, please email publicity@parkcreek.org

As this develops, more details will follow.

More Native Plant sales

May 3, Temple Ambler Campus plant sale at the greenhouses 10AM to 2PM on
Meetinghouse Rd Upper Dublin between Ft.Washington Ave and Butler Pike.

Also May 3, Neshaminy Manor plant sale at the Neshaminy Manor Center 1282
Almshouse Rd. Doylestown left off of 611 from 9AM to 1 PM rain or shine.

Native Plant Sale at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve on 1635 River Rd. New
Hope, 2.5 miles south of New Hope Sat. and Sunday May 10 & 11 and 17& 18
10AM to 4PM.

Adopt a Park - Creek

As many of you are aware, several years ago we filled out the paperwork to adopt the creek in Kohler Park. Due to personnel changes, the township did not get our sign up at that time. I have been working with Mark Hudson of Horsham Township to get this process completed. Mark recently sent me a picture of what our sign will look like when it goes up in Kohler Park.
We are required to have 4 events in the Park that will benefit the creek each year.
I am arranging to have the Bat house that was donated to us, be used to fulfill one of these events.

This will help to reduce the amount of mosquitos in the area, thus helping out with the danger of West Nile Virus. This will count as one event. We have stream assessments that we will also do in the park. We are lucky to have Horsham Township as a partner.

Cookie wrapper brigade

TerraCycle is proud to announce that
a new upcycling Brigade is ready for
participants. But first we would
like to thank you for your efforts
 with our current Brigades - you are an
important part of our efforts,
and without you we couldn't continue
these programs.  Your involvement is a
pivotal part of our
campaign to eliminate the idea of waste!

We are excited to announce our newest
program: the Cookie Wrapper Brigade! This
program is sponsored by
Nabisco and we are honored to include
Oreo (America's favorite cookie) as a part
of the first national
program designed to reduce the amount of
 cookie wrapper waste going in to our
nation's landfills. Through
this Brigade, $.02 will be donated to
 charity for every used cookie wrapper
collected by schools, individuals
and organizations. The collected wrappers
will be used to make a variety of
innovative products that are
expected to be available at major
 retailers by early 2009.

Anyone can sign up for the Cookie Wrapper
 Brigade by
visiting www.terracycle.net/brigades. As
with all of TerraCycle's
Brigades, there is absolutely no cost to
participate and the program is
extremely easy to participate in.  Within
three weeks after signing up online, each
participant will receive four
collection bags that
hold 50 cookie wrappers each. Once a bag is
 full, you simply mail it back to
TerraCycle.  Your returned wrappers
are tracked and counted, and donations are made
 twice a year. All shipping and
program fees are covered by the
Brigade program to encourage people to collect
 as many wrappers as possible!

This program is a part of TerraCycle's
Sponsored Waste movement, through which
companies who strive to be socially
and environmentally responsible - like Nabisco
- partner with TerraCycle to
collect and upcycle their packaging.
These programs now cover a range of brands and
products, including bottles,
yogurt containers, drink pouches, energy
and granola bar wrappers, and now cookie wrappers!

Please join the Cookie Wrapper Brigade
and help us eliminate the idea of waste!

If you have any questions, please contact me directly

Best,

Michael Waas Smith
Director of the Cookie Wrapper Brigade
michael@terracycle.net

Earthday at Library

On April 19th, we will be at the Horsham Library for Earth Day. Come visit us in the cafeteria
to see the enviroscape in action.

Starts at 10AM

Other Horsham Organizations

www.HHoops.com
www.HorshamSoccer.com
www.HorshamLittleLeague.com
www.HorshamChats.com
www.HorshamHawks.com
www.HorshamLacrosseClub.com
www.HorshamGirlsLacrosseClub.com

Native Plant Sale

If you are interested in purchasing Native Plants, the Delaware River Keeper is having a native plant sale on May 3rd from 8AM to Noon.

DRN's annual Native Plant Sale will be held Saturday May 3, 2008, 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon at the Golden Nugget Antique Market, River Road (Route 29), Lambertville, NJ. This is a change of location for this popular sale, but we will still be offering a great selection of beautiful plants, ferns, shrubs and trees, all gathered from regional nurseries. By moving the sale to the Golden Nugget, located approximately 2 miles south of Lambertville, DRN expects to reach more people and get more native plants out into the community while keeping the sale in the same general region.

The best in native plant species will be offered at affordable prices for your garden. Herbaceous plants and ferns will be the highlight with some shrubs and trees, gathered from regional nurseries. DRN's stream restoration staff will be on hand to offer expert advice on choosing, planting, & growing native species. The market is conveniently accessible on River Road and the sale will have tables and parking immediately adjacent to River Road.

Some of the beautiful plants to be offered include herbaceous perennials such as, Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) and creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera). Shrubs and trees will include blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis) and sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana).

Welcome

Welcome to the Park Creek Watershed Association Blog.
I hope to post current information here when it happens.
Please take a look at our website www.parkcreek.org and check out what we are about.

Save The Date Thursday, May 29th - 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. State of the Neshaminy Meeting/Workshop

Aldie Mansion 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA 18901 Join members of the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Alliance for a presentation by Stroud Water Research Center’s Kristen Travers on their comprehensive water quality assessment of the streams of Bucks County. The meeting will also include updates from municipal, county and state representatives on current and planned activities in the watershed as well as the Conservancy’s compilation of major recommendations from various watershed studies completed in the Neshaminy. Look for more a more detailed communication in April. For more information, contact Susan Myerov Community Planner Heritage Conservancy 215-345-7020 Ext 101 smyerov@heritageconservancy.org Preserving our Natural and Historic Heritage