Damaged By Hurricane Ida, Wissahickon Creek Floodplain To Be Repaired

WHITEMARSH, PA — A stretch of Wissahickon Creek in Whitemarsh Township heavily damaged in recent storms will be repaired and improved as part of a recently announced county project.

The floodplain restoration project will cover an 11-acre swath of creekside habitat adjacent to Fort Washington State Park, near the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and Skippack Pike.

"The Whitemarsh Wissahickon Floodplain Restoration Project will serve as a highly visible Montgomery County demonstration restoration project with the potential to restore a vital floodplain, create needed habitats, and connect the public with a valuable aesthetic and educational resource," the county said in a statement.

The creek and its floodplain first suffered extensive damages in Sept. 2021 from Hurricane Ida, and have been highly sensitive since.

Officials hope the project will reduce flooding, both of the park and nearby roads, as well as improve water quality by preventing pollution from stormwater runoff.

The work will also improve the creek and creekside ecosystem, with improved wildlife habitat thanks to rebuilt riparian buffers.

Montgomery County received a special state grant to help fund the project.

The project is currently in the design face, and construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2026. Citizens are invited to attend a public open house on Dec. 5 at the Whitemarsh Township building, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.