Residents In 2 Chester, Delaware, Montgomery Watersheds: PRC Stormwater House Calls

To address significant water quality issues on a residential scale, the PA Resources Council is partnering with the Lower Merion Conservancy, the Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative and the Darby Creek Valley Association on the Stream Smart Stormwater House Call Project.

The Stream Smart Stormwater House Call Project, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, will conduct property audits which will be used to educate owners about stormwater pollution and to identify projects to reduce the stormwater runoff leaving their property. These projects include options like rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs, pervious pavement, and more.

The watershed encompasses areas of Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, with all or parts of 31 municipalities, including: Easttown, Tredyffrin, Aldan, Clifton Heights, Collingdale, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Folcroft, Glenolden, Haverford, Lansdowne, Marple, Millbourne, Morton, Newtown, Norwood, Prospect Park, Radnor, Ridley Park, Ridley, Rutledge, Sharon Hill, Springfield, Tinicum, Upper Darby, Yeadon, Lower Merion, and Narberth.

Unfortunately all reaches of streams within the Darby/Cobbs Creek Watershed have been designated as impaired by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The impairments are largely due to stormwater-related impacts and urban runoff – this watershed is heavily developed and the lower portions of the watershed are densely urbanized.

Some of the most intensely developed areas in the Commonwealth are located within the watershed, with upwards of 80 percent impervious cover.

These areas were developed long before any requirements for stormwater management or watershed protection were required by law, and unfortunately large scale retrofits to mitigate pollution from uncontrolled stormwater runoff are not feasible.

Sign Up Now

Although this program will begin in Spring 2017, PRC is looking for property owners within the Darby/Cobbs Watershed to participate in this program.

To learn more and to see if your property is a good fit for the program, contact Jayne Young by sending email to: young@prc.org and visiting PRC’s Stream Smart Stormwater House Call Project webpage.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Resources Council website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates, follow PRC on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.  Click Here for PRC’s Events Calendar.

(Reprinted from the January newsletter of the PA Resources Council. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)