East Pikeland Township Hidden River Park Project Gets $30K

EAST PIKELAND TOWNSHIP, PA — A $30,000 grant will help East Pikeland Township to turn open space into a stormwater buffer area doubling as park and nature preserve.

Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Areas of Pottstown has announced it will distribute $330,000 to water quality improvement projects throughout the Schuylkill River region.

Among those awarded grants is East Pikeland Township for its Hidden River Park Project in Chester County, receiving $30,000.

The East Pikeland Townships project will address a riparian corridor revitalization project on open space that will be developed into a park and preserve. The total project area is 14 acres. Its goal is to improve and expand the riparian buffer thereby improving the stormwater system and restoring native habitat.

A riparian corridor is a vegetation and water system community that can filter sediment and help prevent erosion of river banks; They often provide overflow areas for floodwaters and preserve open spaces for wildlife.

The devastating impacts of Hurricane Ida showed the need for restoration projects along local waterways, SRG said. Towns, homes, and businesses near rivers, creeks, and streams experienced extreme flooding last week.

The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area continues to address this need with the distribution of $337,500 in grants this year to seven projects helping to improve the region’s water conditions and natural environment.

Since it was established in 2006, the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund has supported 121 environmental projects with an investment of $4.6 million.

"The mission of the fund is to restore natural spaces in order to improve the ecosystem," said Schuylkill River Greenways Education Director Sarah Crothers. "One of the main causes of major flooding, other than increased amounts of precipitation, is the lack of natural absorbent surfaces."

Crothers explained man-made surfaces such as concrete don’t soak up water. Natural buffers and landscaping like native trees, shrubs and grasses act as a sponge when it rains.

The Schuylkill River Greenways, Schuylkill Action Network, Exelon Generation, Delaware River Basin Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection will hold a showcase on Sept. 17 in Philadelphia to announce the recipients of this year's fund.

Limerick Generating Station Site Vice President Frank Sturniolo said, "Limerick Generating Station provides clean energy to more than two million homes in the Philadelphia region, and we are proud to continue our commitment to strengthening the natural beauty and health of our area waterways. We are excited to once again partner with Schuylkill River Greenways to drive local environmental progress."

Exelon has provided more than $3.1 million to the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund since it was founded; the Philadelphia Water Department has contributed $1.2 million over the past twelve years; Aqua PA has donated more than $225,000; and MOM's Organic Market has donated approximately $10,000, SRG reported.

Guests of the showcase will take a tour of agricultural projects at Northwestern Stables including runoff and paddock improvements. After the tour, the 2021 restoration fund grantees will be officially announced. People can register here to attend the free project tour, which includes lunch. The event is limited to 50 registrants.

The seven projects being awarded this year are in Schuylkill, Berks, Montgomery, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties. The projects will improve water conditions through activities such as streambank fencing, mine drainage, and native plant installations to improve areas prone to flooding.

"The Schuylkill River Restoration fund is made possible by all of our generous partners who recognize the importance of the awarded projects. Once implemented, projects have an immediate positive impact on the watershed," said Schuylkill River Greenways NHA Deputy Director Tim Fenchel.

Also receiving a grant locally is Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited's Camelot Park Project in Montgomery County, getting $54,000.

This project is designed to restore the Upper Perkiomen Creek streambanks, stream channel, and riparian area to improve water quality and the surrounding ecosystem. This work will reduce sediment and other contaminants within a significant section of the stream which flows into the Green Lane Reservoir and downstream drinking water intakes.

The Schuylkill River Greenways and Schuylkill Action Network continue to seek additional contributors to further expand the fund. For more information about the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund, go here.

The Schuylkill River Greenways NHA is a non-profit organization with the mission of connecting residents, visitors, and communities to the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT) by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement and economic development in order to foster stewardship of the watershed and its heritage.

Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.