October was a watershed month for conferences in our region and TTF was well represented! From the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership to the Montgomery
County Planning Commission to the William Penn Foundation, PennFuture, NJ Audubon, and the Coalition for the Delaware River Basin, key leaders brought stakeholders together to focus on sharing resources, energy, and concern about the challenges facing our watershed. See below for meeting highlights!
The William Penn Foundation is directing significant funding toward impacting the entire watershed and will create a "Vision for the Watershed." The Foundation plans to impact the Delaware basin by addressing watershed-wide issues; protecting and restoring places of ecological significance; and building the constituency for the watershed by engaging people. We were delighted to be an active participant in learning from watershed experts and leaders from other organizations at the Accelerating Action two day forum, which provided valuable information and perspectives on a range of topics.
As a member, we look forward to continuing to work with the WilliamPenn Foundation and the Coalition to advocate for resources to protect our watershed, from the headwaters to Philadelphia. By sharing and committing our proven strengths in building watershed constituencies in our suburban Montgomery County communities and Philadelphia neighborhoods, we know we can play a critical role in preserving and improving the Delaware River basin.
We are currently developing our proposal for the William Penn Foundation for public education and municipal engagement in our suburban watershed communities. We look forward to the next step, as well, when we will develop our application for on-the-ground water quality improvement projects in these same communities.
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TACONY CREEK PARK: WORD ON THE TRAIL
Stay in the loop about what's happening in Tacony Creek Park!
TTF is committed to Tacony Creek Park (TCP) and the
Alon Abramson of West Philly Runners ready to run the TCP trail
neighborhoods that surround it. With fall colors in full swing, we encourage you to walk, bike, run, or skip along the new trail and enjoy the scenery! Read about West Philly Runners Alon Abramson's run through TCP here.
Did you know that you can enter the park through one of 4 new gateways? These are located at I Street & Ramona Ave, Fisher's Lane & Ramona Ave, Whitaker Ave & Loudon Street, and Rorer Street & Roosevelt Boulevard.
Read about our recent TCP Doggie Halloween Fashion
In other TCP news, TTF is excited to be partnering with Temple University and The Center for Watershed Protection to further our Trash Task Force research. We will study the sources, causes, and types of trash in the creek, to better understand how we can keep the park and creek clean.
Carmen the dog & owner at our Doggie Halloween Fashion Show
Join us to spend some time in the park for:
Love Your Your Park Planting & Fun Day
Saturday, November 16
Birding in Tacony Creek Park
Saturday, December 7 & January 11
See Events for more information!
To learn more about Tacony Creek Park events and efforts, contact Alix.
CHELTENHAM CONNECTED TO THE CIRCUIT
TTF continues to promote and advocate for The Circuit and Circuit Commitment Campaign. The Circuit goes hand in hand with TTF's mission to enhance the health and vitality of our watershed. Our own Tacony Creek Trail is part of the circuit, and will connect to the Delaware River and Montgomery County!
One of our biggest challenges is providing access to our creeks.
The Circuit will help us do just that, providing a wonderful
opportunity for our watershed neighborhoods and communities.
Township Manager Bryan Havir discussing trail plans and progress
Spending quality time on our watershed's trails encourages a caring attitude towards these valuable spaces.
We recently hosted a well-attended meeting in Cheltenham, at which Circuit Co-Chair Sarah Clark Stuart described our regional trail network and the need for continued funding. Township Manager Bryan Havir discussed the Township's trail plans and progress to date, indicating that the Delaware Valley Regional Trail Fund has supported Cheltenham's efforts. Enthusiastic attendees asked questions and completed postcards expressing their support for continued funding.
You can show your support here. Would you like to host a meeting in your community? Let us know!
FREE URBAN WATERS GSI WORKSHOP
TTF will partner with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to bring you a FREE Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) program with a focus on GSI maintenance.
Urban Waters is a toolkit to lead citizens towards green jobs and provide new skills for community members to use in their neighborhoods. There will be an hour long indoor informational presentation followed by an outdoor work session at the beautiful Vernon Park rain garden. Urban Waters is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
DATE: Saturday, November 16
TIME: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
PLACE: Black Writer's Museum, The Vernon House, 5800 Germantown Avenue
Our Managing Rainfall: Stormwater Tour made such an impression on participant Ann L. Rappoport of Cheltenham that she submitted an opinion piece to The Philadelphia Inquirer! Thank you, Ann!
"So, the next time you curse having to mow the grass, or watch rivers of wasted water flowing down your street, stop to consider that brilliant alternatives exist. We need to start implementing them."
Business owners: let GSI Partners help your business remain competitive in the growing GSI Industry -- take advantage of continuing education opportunities for you and your staff.
The GSI Partners offer training funds to businesses and their employees who want to continue to advance their knowledge as it relates to green stormwater infrastructure.
$50k available annually; each business can apply for up to $5k each year
The GSI Partners will cover 75% of the total cost
Rolling application process
Currently accepting requests and updating course list
Montgomery County is in the process of preparing a comprehensive plan for the entire county. This plan will provide an overall framework for local municipal plans and will provide guidance on issues that transcend local boundaries, such as highways, public transportation, flooding, trails, growth and redevelopment trends, shopping needs, impact of large developments, overall housing needs, natural systems, and economic growth.
The most crucial element in the comprehensive plan process is you. Take the survey, attend a meeting, and sign up to receive information, announcements, and plan updates. Your input will help guide the plan in creating a shared future for Montgomery County. Let the county know that you care about protecting your watershed! More ways to get involved here.
Julie Slavet attended the Financing for Stormwater Management Municipal Workshop, part of the VUSP Stormwater Management Symposium entitled Stormwater From the Ground Up, which was also sponsored by our partner, Pennsylvania Environmental Council. It was useful to hear the basics, benefits, and pitfalls of creating a stormwater authority from legal and municipal experts. She was so proud to join with Julie Hendrickson of AKRF, Inc. and Ruth Seeley of the Friends of Vernon Park, as they participated in a Building Partnerships - Studies in Collaboration session, sharing the valuable lessons learned from our Vernon Park community rain garden project (October 16-18).
MCPC presented Stormwater Management Tools: Real-Life Solutions for a Resilient Community. MCPC developed this informative program at the urging of Commissioner Leslie Richards, who stressed that the County is aware that "stormwater doesn't recognize municipal boundaries." It was inspiring to hear from friend and expert Dr. Andrea Welker of Villanova University, who explained in non-engineer language what we can do to manage stormwater. Our kudos to MCPC for ending the evening with a facilitated discussion about how the county can help its municipalities better manage stormwater. We look forward to being part of this dialogue! (October 24).
Finally, we ended our month at this forum, hosted by the William Penn Foundation along with the new Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Basin and an august Planning Committee. Sessions ranged from: Agriculture: A Working Landscape to Urban/Suburban Landscapes to Constituency Building and Knowledge Base-Monitoring, Databases, and Modeling. These facilitated discussions set the stage for increased communication and goal setting across the basin. Speakers Mike DiBerardinis, Gerald Kaufman, and Larry Schweiger were inspiring and challenged us all to ensure diversity, protect our watershed, demand action on climate change, and not be shy about making our voices heard! (October 28-29).
Shop & Support TTF! Buy this recommended read through our website's Amazon link. Simply follow this link, and click the Amazon button on the bottom right.
EACs AROUND THE WATERSHED
TTF works closely with our EAC partners. This month we're starting this column to promote the activities of the EACs in Abington and Jenkintown. Watch for next month when we feature Cheltenham and Springfield.
The Jenkintown Environmental Advisory Committee (JEAC) was re-activated in May. The main event of the year was the Green Apple Day of Service at the Jenkintown Elementary School in September. Jenkintown high school students performed community service, cleaning up the school's garden plot and rain garden, and planting 20 blueberry bushes.
Members of the JEAC are working with Jenkintown Elementary School teachers to create a nature walk to the Tookany Creek in Ralph Morgan Park for next spring.
Other 2014 JEAC goals include continuing to increase recycling compliance, promoting energy efficiency in the borough, encouraging planting of more native landscaping on government and institutional property, as well as helping residents to phase out non-native and monoculture plants. Such plants can be replaced them with native and edible landscaping that require no mowing, pesticides nor fertilizer, and far less maintenance.
Hillside before and after blueberry bushes
Members of the JEAC have also reactivated the Shade Tree Commission and have begun working with an entomologist, permaculture expert and representative from the Pennsylvania Audubon Society to transform the plot behind 315 Highland in Jenkintown into a fruit garden and sanctuary for birds and butterflies.
The Jenkintown EAC meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Jenkintown Borough Hall. Contact Adrienne Redd, JEAC chair 215.778.3784 or adrienne@redd.com.
SHOP AND SUPPORT TTF
Did you know that all your fall and winter holiday shopping can benefit our work here at TTF?
LOVE YOUR PARK: TACONY CREEK PARK PLANTING & FUN DAY
Join TTF for a day of fun, planting, cleaning. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. LOVE YOUR PARK Day is a partnership between Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Fairmount Park Conservancy and PHS to steward and support neighborhood parks throughout Philadelphia.
DATE: Saturday, November 16
TIME: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
PLACE: I St. and Ramona Avenue, Philadelphia 19124
URBAN WATERS GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING
On LOVE YOUR PARK Day, join us at Vernon Park to show your love for Philadelphia by learning about Green Infrastructure. This FREE workshop includes an informational presentation followed by an outdoor session at the Vernon Park rain garden. Learn to identify the working parts of Green Stormwater Infrastructure and maintain or fix the system. Professionals from PHS will provide you with a new set of skills and show how we can transform our neighborhoods with green design.
DATE: Saturday, November 16
TIME: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
PLACE: Vernon Park, Black Writers Museum, 5800 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia 19144
Do your holiday shopping and support TTF at the same time! If you've never been to this lovely, intimate
store -- offering American handcrafted gifts including jewelry, pottery, clocks, boxes, artglass, tiles, scarves, purses, windchimes, picture frames, mirrors, and Judaica -- you don't know what you're missing! Join us for wine and cheese, plus a chance to schmooze and learn about our work. Credit cards accepted; cash and checks preferred. A portion of each purchase will be donated to TTF.
DATE: Wednesday, December 4
TIME: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. PLACE: Dovetail Artisans, 105 East Glenside Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038 CONTACT: Julie at julie@ttfwatershed.org or 215.744.1853
BIRDING IN TCP: GET READY FOR THE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Join us on a walk through Tacony Creek Park to look for birds wintering in Philadelphia. This FREE walk is open to all -- you just need an interest in learning about birds. Expect some good bird spotting (woodpeckers, chickadees, hawks, oh my!) while enjoying lovely undiscovered Tacony Creek Park. This event is a "warm up" for the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the annual international bird census conducted by the Audubon Society. Donuts, hot cocoa, and binoculars will be provided. Don't forget to dress warmly!
DATE: Saturday, December 7
TIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
PLACE:Tacony Creek Park gateaway, I St. and Ramona Ave., Phila. 19124
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Community Design Collaborative created Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up! to explore green tools for Philadelphia and their potential to revitalize our neighborhoods. Visit the exhibition showcasing the innovative, engaging ideas for green stormwater infrastructure that resulted from Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up! See entries from the national design competition, design precedents for urban green stormwater infrastructure, and work from our design charrettes.
DATE: Now thru December 7
TIMES: Mon thru Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PLACE:2nd & 4th Floors of Philadelphia City Hall, JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, 19107. Use the northeast corner visitor's entrance.
PWD & ENERGY COORDINATING AGENCY RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP
Fall is coming, but the rain is not going to quit. Rain barrel workshops and installs will continue all year! A little cold won't hurt your barrel. Installers can winterize your barrel for you during installation. The workshop will consist of a video, presentation, and question and answer period. Note: You will not receive your barrel at the workshop, but will be contacted to schedule an installation. To receive a rain barrel you must fill out and return a waiver, available here. If you are unable to access the waiver, they will be available at the workshop.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6
TIME: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE:Municipal Services Building, 16th Floor, Room Z, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia 19102
Abington Township is proud to offer residents the opportunity to responsibly recycle obsolete electronics. Electronics will be recycled by eForce Compliance, Philadelphia's first certified Responsible Recycler. All hard drives will be destroyed or wiped out. For more details, visit here.
DATE: Saturday, November 9
TIME: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
PLACE: Abington Township Public Works Facility, 2201 Florey Lane, Abington 19001
CONTACT: David Manzinger, Refuse Superintendent at 267.536.1037.
STORMWATER BILLING AND INCENTIVES WORKSHOP
Reduce the water bill for your non-residential property with a SMIP Grant. Attend a PWD workshop to learn how! The workshop will detail: personal breakdown of your storm water charge, how stormwater credits can lower your bill, details on how to apply for the SMIP grant subsidy, testimonials from previous recipients of the SMIP Grant, questions and answer period. Light dinner provided.
DATE: November 14th, 19th and 21
TIME: 6 p.m.
PLACE: Globe Dye Works, 4500 Worth Street, Philadelphia 19124
CONTACT: Send brief email to pwd.stormwatercredits@phila.gov indicating your interest and the date on which you plan to attend. Please include address of your property(s) in RSVP. Questions? Call James Pollum or Erin Williams at PWD at 215.685.6070.
SCHUYLKILL SOUNDINGS: WHAT'S SO INTERESTING ABOUT WATER?
Take a look at water - from inter-stellar space, to deep within the earth, to right here in Philadelphia. Software engineer, philosopher, climate change activist and volunteer tour guide Alan Windle, brings his own personal style to studying the questions of what IS so interesting about water and seeking solutions for the challenges facing us. His presentation will take us from the molecular to the monumental, from the human to the Schuylkill.
DATE: Thursday, November 14
TIME: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
PLACE: Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Waterworks Dr., Philadelphia 19130
StateImpact: THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED-- HEALTHY OR AT RISK?
Join WHYY for a FREE interactive discussion about the Delaware River Watershed. Meet StateImpact Pennsylvania reporters Katie Colaneri and Marie Cusick. Hear assessments of the watershed's health from experts in agriculture, environment, development and energy. Ask questions and air your views. You'll leave with a much richer sense of how the Delaware is doing. Speakers will include Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum, Patty Elkis of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and Penn State agricultural economist Charles Abdalla.
DATE: Thursday, November 14
TIME: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
PLACE:WHYY, 150 N. 6th St., Philadelphia 19106
CONTACT: Registration is required and available here.
TREEPHILLY TREE GIVEAWAY IN FRANKFORD
TreePhilly's fourth yard tree giveaway event in Frankford this fall will occur at the same time as the Love Your Park festivities. We hope the overlap will help introduce people to the park and get them involved!
DATE: Saturday, November 16
TIME: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
PLACE: Overington Park, 4600 Leiper Street, Philadelphia 19124
REVOLUTIONARY CIVIL ENGINEERING: MUNICIPAL STORMWATER & WASTEWATER LEADERSHIP
PWD has been recognized internationally for its leadership in implementing green
stormwater infrastructure and developing innovative stormwater management and energy solutions at its treatment plants. Now is your chance to visit these projects: biogas cogeneration water treatment facility that makes energy from wastewater, a recreation center that manages 1.2 acres of runoff, The Liberty Lands community garden and playground, and wastewater geothermal installation. PWD leaders will provide details and context for each site as well as a description of the policies, strategies and incentives that impact Philadelphia city-wide.
DATE: Saturday, November 23
TIME: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
REGISTER:To sign up for a Greenbuild tour, register for Greenbuild, and select the half-day tour package on the registration package page. Anyone can attend a Greenbuild tour, and tours can be purchased separately without other Greenbuild packages.
GREEN CITY, CLEAN WATERS INFO SESSION
Join PWD on the second Wednesday each quarter to learn about Green City, Clean Waters and how you can be involved. A great opportunity to get updates or provide feedback on projects in your neighborhood and meet others interested in transforming the city with green stormwater projects.
DATE: Wednesday, December 11
TIME: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Municipal Services Building, 16th Floor, Room C, 1401 JFK Blvd, Philadelphia 19102
TTF's mission is to improve the health and vitality of the TTF watershed by engaging our communities in education, stewardship, restoration, and advocacy.
