Delaware River Watershed Initiative Partners are working across the basin to clean up streams, protect forests and wetlands, and help farmers implement river-friendly practices that keep fertile soil on the land and pollution out of rivers. Below is a snapshot of news coverage about the initiative from April to May.
WDEL reported on progress cleaning up the Brandywine-Christina Watershed: “Do you know what’s in your water? More than 100 million gallons of drinking water comes from the Brandywine River, Christina River, Red Clay Creek, and White Clay Creek, and partners in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware are making sure that water is free from phosphorus and other pollutants. Trout was stocked in Red Clay Creek last month for the first time since 1986, according to Delaware Natural Resources Secretary Shawn Garvin. Garvin spoke at Thursday’s Clean Water Conference in Kennett Township, which included the release of the Brandywine – Christina State of the Watershed Report.”
The Reading Eagle shined a light on the work of several Delaware River Watershed Initiative partners working to protect Furnace Creek and other small streams in Berks County: “Furnace Stream Farms sits at the foot of deeply forested Kittatinny Ridge. Furnace Creek runs through the farm’s pastures, still clean and pure after its descent from its headwaters. At least eight organizations, as well as the dairy farm’s owners, are striving to keep it that way. The farm is one of dozens in Berks County that is getting help from Berks Nature, Stroud Water Research Center, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and their partners in protecting its waters.”
Lehigh Valley Live reported on the protection of a forest and wetlands at the headwaters of the Lehigh River: “Wildlands Conservancy and partners this week celebrated the permanent preservation of about 500 acres at the headwaters of the Lehigh River. Featuring woods and more than 200 acres of wetlands, the northeastern Pennsylvania property has been added to the 3,900-acre State Game Lands No. 312. It is open to the public.”
Finally, Delaware Governor Tom Wolf recognized Wildlands Conservancy for its work planting trees and native plants along Lehigh River to filter runoff, and Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership for its efforts to improve the health Jenkinton Creek with plantings, rain gardens, and wetlands restoration.