Shandor J. Szalay, AKRF, Inc.Jason Cruz, Philadelphia Water DepartmentJason Cruz, Philadelphia Water DepartmentMike Wilson, Southeast Montgomery County Trout Unlimited 

Headwater Streams:Critical Watershed ResourcesResources

>50% of stream >50% of stream miles

Zero‐ 1st‐   and 2nd‐Zero ,1 ,  and 2order streams

Key functions:yFlow regulation

WaterNutrient sSediment Sediment Organic matterOrganisms

Biodiversity

Urbanization Severely Disrupts HeadwaterStreams

Causes:Causes:

Unmanaged stormwater 

Direct channel impacts 

•Burial •Revetments•Straightening•ChannelizationB ff   l•Buffer removal

Outcomes:

Simplification 

Channel enlargement

Vertical and lateral movement

h fChanges in force/resistance 

4.00

4.50

3.00

3.50

2.00

2.50

Enla

rgem

ent

Series1

1.00

1.50

0.00

0.50

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Drainage AreaDrainage Area

Headwater Disruption Impairs Downstream Resources

Increased nutrient and Increased nutrient and sediment transport

Flooding impactseutrophication

Less organic matter processing

Reduced spawning habitats

Lower rates of macroinvertebrate drift 

Food web impactsPopulation  impacts

Characteristically: 

Indirect 

ll d llSpatially and temporally disconnected 

Headwater Disruption Undermines Downstream Restoration Efforts

Kochel  2007:Kochel, 2007:

Survey of 400 restoration projects in North Carolina.

Wid d f il   f iWidespread failures of in‐stream structures 

Upstream sediment dynamics played a key role in failuresp y y

The Headwaters ConundrumConundrum

Wh ?Despite critical importance  Why?Lack of apparent resource value 

Despite critical importance and consequences of impairment, headwater streams have been historically undervalued by 

Poor recognition of spatial linkages and indirect impacts

historically undervalued by watershed restoration programs.

Project HeadwatersHeadwaters

Initiated in January  2007 Initiated in January, 2007 

Objective: promote headwaters‐first stream restoration restoration 

Initial focus within the Pennypack Creek Watershed in Montgomery Watershed in Montgomery County, PA

Guiding Principles and GoalsGoals

C t       it t Guiding Principles Create a new excitement around headwater stream restoration

Guiding Principles

Headwaters first 

Concentrated project  restoration

Prove that targeted urban 

Concentrated project selection

Stormwater focus over in‐stream intervention Prove that targeted urban 

stream restoration worksstream intervention

Engage large landowners

Plan with implementation Create a reproducible and transferable framework for h d   i

Plan with implementation in mind 

headwater restoration

Target SubwatershedsSubwatersheds

Educational initiatives Educational initiatives 

Build community support and awareness

I l i   j  Implementation projects 

On‐the‐ground results

Project PartnersPartners

Philadelphia Water DepartmentPhiladelphia Water Department

SE Montgomery County Trout Unlimited

Pennsylvania Environmental CouncilPennsylvania Environmental Council

Horsham Township

Hatboro/Horsham School DistrictHatboro/Horsham School District

Montgomery County Conservation District

Temple University Temple University 

Green Space Alliance of Southeastern PA

TreeVitalizeTreeVitalize

Current Efforts and Accomplishmentsand Accomplishments

Identification of stormwater Identification of stormwater management and riparian buffer opportunities within target subwatersheds

I i i l   J    Initial assessment January 2007 and May 2007

Follow‐on effort by PWD staff in 2008

Current Efforts and Accomplishmentsand Accomplishments

Implementation of riparian Implementation of riparian buffer restoration projects 

Coordination by SEMCTU

T h i l  i   id d Technical assistance provided by MCCD 

TreeVitalize Funding 

Volunteer Implementation

Plantings in Fall, 2007 and Spring 2008

670 trees planted 

2+ acres of headwater stream buffer created

Current Efforts and Accomplishmentsand Accomplishments

Production of Project Production of Project Headwaters video case study 

Video production by GreenTreks.org

Featured case study on www.stormwaterpa.org

Current Efforts and Accomplishmentsand Accomplishments

2008 Keystone Coldwater Presentation at conferences  2008 Keystone Coldwater Conference, State College, PA

h lk ll h d

Presentation at conferences at workshops

2008 Schuylkill Watershed Congress, Pottstown, PA  

2008 Sierra Club Headwaters Workshop, Allentown, PA 

2008 Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited Annual Meeting, 

ll fBellefonte, PA

Current Efforts and Accomplishmentsand Accomplishments

Development of website and Development of website and blog

www.projectheadwaters.org

j h d blwww.projectheadwaters.blogspot.com

Current Efforts and Accomplishmentsand Accomplishments

Acquisition of funding for Acquisition of funding for Clearbrook Park stormwater swale/wetland creation 

Partnered with GreenSpace Alli   f S h  PAAlliance of Southeastern PA

Cooperating property owner: Horsham Township

Grant from the Beneficia Foundation

Engineering design started December 2008December 2008

Groundbreaking: April 2008

Current Efforts and Accomplishmentsand Accomplishments

Clearbrook Park groundbreakingCoordination and planning for  Clearbrook Park groundbreaking

Riparian planting

Stream in the classroom program

Coordination and planning for Blair Mill  Elementary School Watershed Day

Planned for April 25,  2009

Name‐the‐Stream contest

Audubon‐at‐Home Presentation

Assistance from PWD’s Integrated Watershed Plan Education Committee

Demonstration rain garden

Lawns‐to‐meadows demonstration

Science fair 

“Sister” school program

Rain barrel workshop

Expanding the ProgramProgram

Conduct headwater stream How can a renewed assessments 

Identify key systems for preservation, mitigation, and restoration

How can a renewed emphasis on headwaters restoration and protection help to meet Estuary management objectives?  t gat o , a d esto at o

Establish Project Headwaters “pods” in high priority areas

management objectives? 

Can the Project Headwaters model be replicated across the Delaware Estuary  in high priority areas

Facilitate an Estuary‐wide policy dialogue

the Delaware Estuary watershed?  

dialogueOvercoming the “headwaters conundrum”Establishing headwaters protection Establishing headwaters protection zones