DCVA Environmental Reports

Darby Creek Valley Association

Watershed Conservation Plan (WCP) In 2004 the Darby Creek Valley Association completed work on a WCP for the Darby Creek Watershed with the assistance of Cahill Associates under a grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources and the Delaware County Council. The report is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format in 12 separate files with links to them below. Cover Page > 1 MB Executive Summary (stand-alone) > 1 MB Executive Summary (attached to plan) > 1 MB Table of Contents > 1 MB I. Introduction and Background 3 MB II. Population and Land Use Characteristics 2 MB III. Earth Resources 1 MB IV. Water Resources 6 MB V. Biological Resources > 1 MB VI. Recreational and Cultural Resources 2 MB  VII. Goals and Recommended Actions 5 MB  Appendices 6 MB  Haverford State Hospital Ecological Assessment In 2002, Haverford Township acquired the 209-acre former Haverford State Hospital site in Haverford Township, northeastern Delaware County, PA from the state and permanently protected 124 acres for passive open space recreation. In 2007, Natural Lands Trust and Princeton Hydro with funding and support from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Haverford Township Board of Commissioners, Haverford Reserve developers Todd Pohlig, Pohlig Builders & Goldenberg, Darby Creek Valley Association, Bryn Mawr College, Math Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia, the Quadrangle and the Ad Hoc Haverford State Citizens Advisory Board prepared an Ecological Assessment to identify the challenges and opportunities for the sustainable, but primarily passive, use of the natural areas. The Assessment report (at the bottom of this page) describes upland and wetland vegetation on the site and the results of surveys of selected terrestrial wildlife, fish, and macroinvertebrate species. Based on these biological inventories, the Assessment identifies threats to the natural features on the property and describes the ecological condition of the site and its value to the surrounding Darby Creek Watershed. Introduction  Ecological Assessment and Action Plan for Sustainable Stewardship: A 2 page “Handout” is an Executive Summary of the Ecological Assessment and it includes major recommendations along with photos.   The “Report” describes the site: * A 20-60 year-old red maple terrestrial forest encompasses 75 percent of the natural area and is moderately impacted by a variety of common invasive plant species. The oldest portions of the forest, mixed hardwoods along North and South Brooks, are the least impacted by invasive plants. Highly impacted areas are forest openings and utility rights-of-way. * The “Meadow,” located in the northern portion of the site, contains old field/ terrestrial meadow species representing an “uncommon native plant community.” * South Brook has a more balanced fish community structure than North Brook for stream health with increased fish density, the addition of a large fish (American Eel), and more complete colonization. This appears due to the low stream flow and high sediment influx in the upper reaches of North Brook and the effects of a small steel culvert that impedes storm flow and fish migration. Haverford Township Commissioners, Haverford Township Recreation Department and volunteers will be using this Assessment to guide future decisions and actions for:   * Removing invasive plants, * Managing deer population at the property * Designing trails and maintaining the natural areas * Involving citizens in preservation, restoration and * Enjoying the protected green space....   This ecological assessment and action plan conducted by Natural Lands Trust (NLT) was part of a bigger project. A group of volunteers wrote a grant in 2006 that was funded by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.   In addition to the volunteers writing an RFP (Request For Proposal), and hiring Natural Lands Trust (NLT) to conduct this assessment and action plan, the project led to: The planning and implementation of The South Brook Trail; Educational plans for grades K- 12 including educators developing lessons around the Darby Creek and natural areas; also Equipment installed for students to take direct readings of the South Brook and weather in the Meadow for analysis and educational exploration. This project happened because of an outstanding team of volunteers – see below.   Many thanks to Darby Creek Valley Association for assisting in the grant project and for hosting this information and report…   The Grant Project Oversight Committee   Funding and coordination for this Ecological Assessment Project   Was a 3 year (2006 to 2009) collaborative effort including: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Haverford Township Board of Commissioners Haverford Reserve developers Todd Pohlig, Pohlig Builders & Goldenberg Darby Creek Valley Association Bryn Mawr College Math Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia Ad Hoc Haverford State Citizens Advisory Board   Members of the Grant Project Oversight Committee (2009)    Jan Marie Rushforth, M.Ed., Grant Project Administrator; President, Darby Creek Valley Association; Partner, Rushforth Solar LLC; Former Haverford Township Commissioner; Former Chair, Haverford State Citizens Advisory Board      Tim Denny, Assistant Township Director, Director of Haverford Township Department of Parks and Recreation    Lucetta Sharp Alderfer, M.A., Retired college teacher and school administrator; Chair of Committee on Governmental Affairs at the Quadrangle Retirement Living Community which abuts HSH, Community Representative      Don Barber, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Geology on the Clowes Fund for Science and Policy and Chair of Environmental Studies Program at Bryn Mawr College      Brian Barrett, Program Director, Department of Parks & Recreation; co-chair recreation subcommittee Citizens Haverford State Advisory Board      Maria Luisa Crawford (Weecha), Geology professor emeritus, Bryn Mawr College      Victor J. Donnay, PhD, Professor of Mathematics; Bryn Mawr College; Co-Principal Investigator of the Math Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia;      Kaitlin Friedman, former Bryn Mawr College student, graduate of Bryn Mawr College -Geology major with concentration in Environmental Studies    Peter Hickman, B.S., ISA certified Arborist, PLNA Certified Horticulturist; Haverford Township Shade Tree Commission, Teacher of Agriculture (retired), PA Certified Horticulturist, Community Representative      Blythe Hoyle, Ph.D., former Laboratory Lecturer in Geology, Bryn Mawr College      Joseph P. Martin, Ph.D., P.E., Board Member School District of Haverford Township; Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University; former chair, Haverford Township Environmental Advisory Committee, chair environmental subcommittee Citizens Haverford State Advisory Board      Evan Pugh, former Haverford College student, Geology major, graduate   Handout 3 MB Report 31 MB Maps 9 MB Appendices 14 MB Delaware County's Darby Creek Greenway Plan The Delaware County Planning Department developed a County greenway plan for the Darby Creek watershed within Delaware County. This plan is based on recommendations in the Delaware County Comprehensive Plan and will be adopted as a component of that plan and as a section of the upcoming Delaware County Open Space, Recreation, and Greenways Plan. This watershed-specific greenway plan is a prototype document that will serve as a model for future development of an additional greenway plan encompassing the remainder of the County. More informtion and the plan are available at the County's website: www.co.delaware.pa.us/planning/environmental/greenwayplan.html