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Contribute2009 Selected Accomplishments
Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association
Protecting Our Creeks
· 461 native trees were planted along creeks, 900 plugs of warm season grasses were installed, and three acres of invasive plants were removed by CRC and its partners, including DelcoManning Trout Unlimited, through the TreeVitalize-Watersheds program. This included a new partnership between Swarthmore College and CRC to restore the native tree buffer along a mile of Crum Creek in Crum Woods. Forested buffers were also planted in Edgmont, Willistown, Nether Providence, East Goshen, and Ridley Creek State Park.
· 15 tons of trash was removed from along our three creeks from Malvern Borough to Chester City in the 12th Annual CRC Streams Cleanup with the help of 300 dedicated volunteers.
· 196 volunteers participated in the 4th Annual CRC Chester Creek Earth Day Cleanup which this year was combined with Keep East Goshen Beautiful Day. Volunteers removed 7.5 tons of trash from Goose Creek and roadside areas.
Preserving Our Coldwater Species
· In partnership with Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN), CRC completed the West Branch Crum Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan for protecting the wild brown trout population in the Upper Crum. The Plan outlines priorities and recommends enhancement opportunities for segments and individual streamside properties. CRC convened a Steering Committee (Willistown Conservation Trust, Brandywine Conservancy, Willistown Township, DRN, and White Manor Country Club) which will be instrumental in promoting the Plan’s implementation by property owners.
Promoting the Installation of Best Stormwater Management Practices
· With Registered Landscape Architect Bryn Richard, CRC designed and supervised the construction and planting of two demonstration rain gardens in Nether Providence with the Township’s Public Works Department. CRC also developed a rain garden brochure and hosted a rain garden workshop at the Township which was attended by 53 residents.
· In March 2009, CRC completed the Upper Crum Creek Stormwater BMP Concept Plan which outlines opportunities for stormwater infiltration retrofits at Crum Creek’s headwaters in the Paoli Business District.
· The Little Crum Creek Watershed Action Plan was completed by Swarthmore College in March of 2009 in partnership with CRC and the rest of the Little Crum Partnership, with a short list of the top stormwater retrofit projects for presentation to municipalities early in 2010.
Providing Watershed Education Opportunities for Schools
· CRC received two awards for its watershed education programs for school children and residents, the Ruth Patrick Award for Excellence in Environmental Education from the Water Resources Authority of the Delaware River Basin, and the Watershed Steward Award from the Chester County Water Resources Authority.
· The 3rd Annual Marple-Newtown Crum Creek Snapshot was held in May at four sites along Crum Creek. 300 high school students learned from trained coaches how to measure the health of Crum Creek through this field study. Watershed programs were also held with four other school districts. Creating Educational Programs for Members
· CRC and Habitat Resource Network jointly hosted University of Delaware professor and renowned author Doug Tallamy to a capacity crowd of 150 attendees at Penn State Brandywine.
· Other popular programs featured emerging contaminants in drinking water, a spring wildflower exploration, the legacy of mill dams from colonial times, a garden tour, and a family event with Great Valley Nature Center.