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ContributeProtection and Enhancement of Stream Corridors
CRC partners with local landowners in implementing long term riparian restoration and streambank protection programs along our creeks. These programs include stabilizing and planting former dam sites along Ridley Creek (like Taylor Arboretum and Chester Park) as well as enhancing creekside trails and parkland for both habitat and public benefit (like Okehocking Preserve and the fly-fishing stretch of Ridley Creek State Park).
Funders: Aqua Pennsylvania, DEP (Tree Vitalize Program), American Rivers, Delaware County Conservation District, ING, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Conservation Fund.
What you can do: sign up as a restoration/planting volunteer, help monitor sites, help water new plants, project design, or involve your local homeowner's association.
Annual Streams Cleanup
CRC organizes an Annual Streams Cleanup of all three creeks, from Willistown to Chester City, on the first Saturday of May. In 2010, 466 volunteers braved the extremely warm weather and collected over 14 tons of trash. The 5th Annual Chester Creek Cleanup was held on April 17th and 405 volunteers removed 14 tons of trash from along Goose Creek in West Chester Borough, West Goshen, and Westtown, or cleaned from roadsides in East Goshen. The increased scope of the 2010 cleanup was greatly helped by record support from local businesses.
Funders: Aqua Pennsylvania, PECO, Starbucks, Conoco Phillips Trainer Refinery, Drinker Biddle & Reath, Hatch Mott MacDonald, Kimberly-Clark Chester Operations, Pershing LLC, Swarthmore College, and Wawa.
What you can do: sign up to be a site coordinator, have your firm be a cleanup sponsor, sign up to be a cleanup volunteer and recruit your friends, wear last year's cleanup t shirt to promote the event, help scout out potential cleanup sites, or help with the cleanup picnic.
Stream Monitoring
CRC stream monitoring along Chester and Ridley Creeks has helped to document sources of pollution, has been used in presentations to local township employees and officials, and in some cases has been incorporated into studies by DEP. To view or download CRC's data online, click here.
CRC biological studies have helped to quantify benefits from stream improvement and dam removal projects. CRC monitors have also taught stream monitoring as a "hands-on" part of watershed education to elementary schools students in Wallingford and Thornbury.
Funders: Widener University, William Penn Foundation, and Stroud Water Research.
What you can do: Attend CRC monitoring training, help with regular monitoring on Crum Creek, help with special project studies, help with school programs, or help with monitor training.
Watershed Advocacy
CRC advocates for low-impact development and strong local protective ordinances and provides testimony about proposed ordinance changes, selected development projects, and proposed state laws.
What you can do: Attend local government meetings and pass on information to CRC, register to receive CRC's email updates.
Healthy Yards, Healthy Creeks
Even if you don't live near a creek, what you do with your property has an impact on your local stream. "Creek Friendly Yards : A Guide for Homeowners in Our Watersheds" is a Power Point presentation developed by CRC for homeowners and homeowners associations, about a series of steps in lawn and yard care that are less harmful to our water resources and can lead to a healthier environment.
Funders: League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network.
What you can do: Obtain a copy and begin to implement on your own property, have CRC speak to your homeowners association, landscaping contractor, or civic group, or attend annual CRC workshops.
Watershed and Municipal Partnerships
CRC works with all of its municipalities and other major watershed stakeholders through the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Partnerships, through which it has implemented its MS4 Education and Outreach program, and is currently exploring funding for multi-municipal projects. CRC also provides assistance to individual municipalities as needed.
Funders: William Penn Foundation and CRC Municipalities.