Is it hot enough for you? The kind of heat we have experienced recently really reminds us all of the importance of -- WATER! If like me, you're looking for ways to make a difference in YOUR watershed, here are three things you can do!
Forward this newsletter to your local elected officials and ask them what they are doing to protect your community's watersheds (your community may encompass more than one!) and improve stormwater management where you live. Tell them you want them to work with TTF!
Become a citizen scientist and join us for mussel surveying! Impress your friends and teachers with your hands-on mollusk knowledge and commitment. Read on for more information.
Hope to see you soon, Julie Slavet, Executive Director
WELCOME, NEW TTF BOARD MEMBERS!
Please join us in welcoming the newest additions to our board of directors!
Emma Melvin, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Emma Melvin, ISA certified arborist, has been working with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society since fall 2011. She came to the organization with both riparian restoration and stormwater management experience, having worked in the water and natural resource protection field for the last 12 years.
Kelly O'Day, Citizen
Kelly is a retired water resource engineer with over 45 years of experience in all phases of water supply, wastewater, and water quality planning. Among his projects, Kelly directed the five-county Southeastern PA water quality management planning effort for the PA Department of Environmental Protection in the 1970s. He also worked on the Boston Harbor cleanup project and was director of Water Operations for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.
Kimberly C. Oxholm, Arcadia University
Kim Oxholm is a long-time activist whose priority is women's reproductive rights, but whose work also includes commitments to local government and the environment. Kim currently serves as Associate in University Advancement at Arcadia University. She has served on the boards of the Philadelphia Zoo and the Sacramento Zoo and is currently on the Pennsylvania Nature Conservancy Advisory Board.
Beth Pilling, Montgomery County Planning Commission
Beth Pilling is a senior planner with the Montgomery County Planning Commission. Over the last 17 years, she has focused on open space planning and projects for the County and municipalities, facilitation of the County's Open Space grant programs, collaboration with various non-profit organizations, and regional greening projects. She recently completed a ten-year membership on Lower Gwynedd Township's Planning Commission and continues her role as a Trustee of the Historical Society of Montgomery County.
Councilwoman Maria Qui�ones-S�nchez, Philadelphia City Council
Councilwoman Qui�ones-S�nchez is a veteran activist with over 22 years of service to the City of Philadelphia, her constituents and neighborhoods, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond. Prior to serving on City Council, she was the Regional Director for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, serving Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Rodman Ritchie, AKRF, Inc.
Rodman Ritchie, Technical Director with AKRF, has over 15 years of experience in the consulting and development industries. Since 2008, Rod's work has focused on the design of green infrastructure, stormwater retrofits, and stream restoration projects in urban environments. He has successfully provided site civil engineering design services as well as environmental consulting services such as remedial design plans, Remedial Action Work Plans, stormwater management, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, landfill closure design, and construction oversight.
To learn more about TTF's board of directors, please visit our website.
FUN AND EDUCATIONAL SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY!
Mussel Surveying Volunteers
The Delaware River Basin was once home to over a dozen species of freshwater mussels. However, only one species is readily found today, and only in a few areas. These animals are valuable because each one filters up to 10 gallons of water per day, removing pollutants that would otherwise necessitate expensive water treatment. They also provide food,protect streambeds from washing away, and increase the Delaware River Basin's habitat value.
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is spearheading a project to determine where once abundant mussel beds still exist in order to facilitate restoration efforts for these important animals.
As part of this project, the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership will survey five miles of stream in our watershed during the summer of 2012 to determine the presence or absence of mussels. Please contact Ashley Schmid at ashley@ttfwatershed.org if you are interested in volunteering to support this effort. Join us for lunch and mussel surveying on July 14 -- read on for more information!
DO YOU WANT MORE TREES IN WEST OAK LANE?
Street Tree Planting Volunteers
Do you want to see more trees in West Oak Lane? Help us find places to plant them!
In our work to promote clean water, TTF supports planting efforts because each tree can absorb and filter up to 60 gallons of water in just one storm! Working with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department's TreePhilly campaign, we are surveying the West Oak Lane neighborhood for places to plant street trees. There are 24 zones to survey before the fall planting in November -- we need your help to get it done!
Tree surveying is a relatively simple process that involves traveling from block to block and checking street addresses for tree pits, overhead wires, and other obstructions. We provide maps, lists of addresses, support, snacks and a FREE gift (while supplies last).
The Olney Recreation Center (located at 100 E. Godfrey Avenue, Philadelphia 19120) is home to a new rain garden this summer! A rain garden is a native plant installation that absorbs and filters water and provides wildlife habitat. It is a shallow depression that can be planted with a wide variety of flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs. Rain gardens provide: cleaner water, beauty, habitat and food for wildlife, and a reduction in rainwater runoff. They can also serve as outdoor classrooms where children (and adults too!) can learn about plants, animals, and rainwater. Learn more about rain gardens here.
TTF is leading the installation and community outreach for this rain garden, funded by the Philadelphia Water Department. The garden is being designed and installed by AKRF.
To learn more about this project, contact Steph Clymer at steph@ttfwatershed.org or 215-844-8100.
GREEN CITY, CLEAN WATERS PROJECTS IN OUR WATERSHED
Photo Courtesy of PWD
The Philadelphia Water Department is planning some amazing stormwater projects in our watershed as part of the Green City, Clean Waters program!
In addition to green streets projects, PWD is focusing on green parks. Green Parks use stormwater management tools such as rain gardens, tree trenches and porous paving to capture runoff from rain and snowstorms, allowing it to absorb into the soil where flowers, shrubs and trees can soak it up. With more than 9,000 acres of land, Philadelphia's parks offer many opportunities to re-route stormwater runoff from nearby streets, parking lots and playing courts. By reducing the amount of runoff entering the sewer system, we can reduce combined sewer overflows, keep our waterways clean, and beautify our neighborhoods.
Check out some of the exciting projects coming our way:
When: Every third Thursday of the month starting July 19, 2012 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Where: Municipal Services Building, 1401 JFK Boulevard, 16th Floor, Room Y Important: Please let us know that you are coming as space is limited. RSVP to questions@phillywatersheds.org
JULY EVENTS
July 11: How Urban Trees Thrive and Survive [Partner Event] Join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) to learn about the latest research in urban tree mortality and the practical applications for urban forest management. Learn about how demographic concepts can be applied to urban trees, including mean life expectancy, population half-life, survivorship curves, and life tables. These approaches, combined with long-term monitoring data, enable us to understand changes in urban forests over time, and to track the survival of tree planting campaigns. DATE: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 TIME: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. PLACE: PHS, 5th Floor Auditorium, 100 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, 19103 CONTACT: RSVP to Dawn Waters at dwaters@pennhort.org
July 14: Freshwater Mussel Surveying VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Join TTF for a fun-filled afternoon of mussel surveying! Learn about freshwater mussels and put on waders to search for them in the creek. This event is part of a Partnership for the Delaware Estuary project -- read more about it here. LUNCH IS INCLUDED. DATE: Saturday, July 14, 2012 TIME: 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. PLACE: Meet at the intersection of Bingham Street and Ashdale Street, a block away from Roosevelt Boulevard. (If you are using GPS, it's across the street from 5158 Bingham Street, Philadelphia PA 19120.) CONTACT: Steph Clymer at steph@ttfwatershed.org or 215-844-8100
July 14: Tree Tenders Picnic with a Purpose [Partner Event] Join PHS to learn about new Plant One Million plans, share ideas and network with other Tree Tenders. Guest Speaker Jimmy Owens, New Plant One Million Director, Networking and Workshops from 10:30 a.m. to noon followed by a potluck lunch and tour of the Navy Yard! Families welcome. DATE: Saturday, July 14, 2012 TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PLACE: 13th and Flagship Aves. at the PHS warehouse in the beautiful Navy Yard, Philadelphia CONTACT: RSVP to Dawn Waters at dwaters@pennhort.org. Please include names of all attending and ages of children.
TTF's mission is to enhance the health and vitality of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Creek and its watershed. We initiate and support efforts to restore the health of the watershed, and to mobilize our communities as watershed stewards through community outreach, networking, educational programs, and projects.
Get outside this summer and support our efforts at the same time! 
