Overview

Temple Ambler CSC Watershed Study

GIS Analysis

(NOTE: This is a description of the project screening process as I remember it. Please provide any feedback or corrections as necessary.)

Project Headwaters is built on a solid foundation of previous assessment and analysis work performed in the watershed by a variety of partners, particularly Temple University Ambler Campus Center for Sustainable Communities, whose assessment and mapping efforts projects were the impetus for Mike Wilson's first project ideas.

Mike taped together several maps from the Pennypack Watershed Study, and brought them to the original meeting that led to the formation of Project Headwaters.

Capitalizing on extensive mapping and assessment efforts, combined with extensive on-the-ground knowledge and some additional GIS analysis, the Project Headwaters team came up with a short list of about ten project locations to visit during the first round of site visits.

(from http://www.csc.temple.edu/pennypack/) The Center for Sustainable Communities undertook the Pennypack Creek Watershed Study to help alleviate flooding and pollution in a 12-municipality area that encompasses parts of Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Bucks counties. The study was funded predominantly by a $330,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation, a $192,500 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and a $100,000 from the participating municipalities.

The Center’s study provided an updated set of floodplain maps for the watershed. University experts also conducted water-quality monitoring in addition to providing municipal officials with better technical information to implement open space and stream corridor protection plans. Researchers have also evaluated existing stormwater facilities to identify modifications that could help mitigate flooding problems.

Read more about Temple University's Center for Sustainable Communities and the Pennypack Creek Watershed Floodplain Study

Additional GIS analysis was performed by Jay Cruz and Joy Young of the Philadelphia Water Department Office of Watersheds.

Aerial photography, hydrology, floodplain, and parcel information were combined to identify large parcels within the headwaters of Pennypack Creek. The stream was buffered by 100 ft on both sides in order to determine where forested riparian buffers were lacking.

The animated image at right demonstrates this process, as we narrowed down to the riparian zone of the Natural Lands trust Property along Welsh Rd. in Horsham Township.