Nine Mile Run Watershed Associat ion

2014 Annual Report

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

BoardBob Maloney

PresidentJason J. McBride, PE

Vice PresidentDan Cody

TreasurerJames J. Stitt

SecretaryChad R. Davis, PE

Janel EverlyErin Friez

Patrick LoughneyMark McNally

Anthony MologneJohn Moyer

Amy Silbermann, LEED AP O+MBrenda Smith, ex officio

Marie StapinskiJordan Lee Strassburger

Jeanne VanBriesenMaryRose WalkoTimothy G. WardMatthew Wholey

Lois Winslow

StaffBrenda Lynn Smith

Executive Director

Kevin GiederChief Financial Officer

Mike HillerDirector of Policy & Outreach

Brittany Miller StormWorks Managing Director

Sara MaddenStormWorks Design Manager

Maureen Copeland Regional Stormwater Strategist

Jared Manzo GreenLinks Coordinator

Theresa MuehlbauerCommunications Coordinator

Maranda NemethRestoration Stewardship Coordinator

Paul YanulavichStormWorks Horticulturalist & Arborist

Alexa VitalieStormWorks Account Manager

Sean DavisStormWorks Field Technician

Nathan Resnick-DayGreenlinks Program Assistant

Lindsey-Rose AllenOffice Coordinator

Special thanks to:Gale McGloin

Development Consultant

Sara PowellCommunications Consultant

All cover photos courtesy of Sara Powell, except top left photo by John Moyer & bottom left photo by Mike Hiller.

Connect with us!In person...

321 Pennwood Avenue, Suite 202Pittsburgh, PA 15221

By phone...

NMRWA 412.371.8779StormWorks 412.243.7680Fax 412.243.7962

Online...

www.ninemilerun.orgFacebook - facebook.com/NineMileRunTwitter - @NineMileRunPGHInstagram - ninemilerunpgh

www.stormworkspgh.comFacebook - facebook.com/StormWorksPGHTwitter - @StormWorksPGH

Phot

o: J.

Moy

er

2

Dear Friends of Nine Mile Run,

Thanks to the foresight and hard work of many partners beginning more than a decade ago, today thousands of people enjoy walking, bird-watching, biking, and running along Nine Mile Run every year. Although major physical restoration work on the Nine Mile Run stream and adjacent wetlands finished in 2006, we know the restoration will never really be “completed.” Like all streams in urban settings, this ecosystem is constantly subjected to tremendous stress from many directions. Excess stormwater runoff continues to cause erosion and carry sewage and other pollutants into the stream from our upper watershed communities; invasive species grow freely all around the restoration area and are always attempting to re-establish themselves there.

The Nine Mile Run Watershed Association works to steward the restoration by monitoring habitat and water quality; through engagement and supervision of volunteers in Frick Park; by planning and coordinating with our partners at the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy; and through a variety of projects in upstream communities that address the root causes of the problems.

In 2014 we conducted research that led to plans for an ambitious new project that we believe will help us make faster

progress toward reducing the amount of sewage in the stream. The Rosedale Runoff Reduction Project will take place in parts of Homewood, East Hills, and Penn Hills during 2015 and 2016. Combined sewers in this area overflow into underground tributaries of Nine Mile Run during storm events, contributing millions of gallons of polluted water to the stream each year. By installing a network of green solutions such as street trees in stormwater management tree pits, rain barrels, rain gardens,

and streetside bioswales, we believe that in Phase One of the project we can eliminate 20 to 25 percent of the stormwater causing the overflows. The first large site to be built, at the corner of Oakwood and Batavia Streets, will be the first bump-out bioswale managing stormwater in the right-of-way within the City of Pittsburgh. The project is being funded by a variety of state, foundation, and private sources, and will be heavily

monitored to assess its effectiveness. Learn more and follow our progress on our website, ninemilerun.org, or at rosedalerain.com.

During the year we also continued our urban forestry work in our watershed communities, and through our StormWorks program, brought our expertise in sustainable stormwater management to homeowners, small business, and municipal partners throughout Allegheny County. We also

continued our advocacy work with the Clean Rivers Campaign, working for a solution to our sewer overflow problem that is fair to all ratepayers and delivers the most benefits to our region for the lowest cost.

All of these programs depend on the support of our members and donors, and we take the opportunity once a year to publicly thank all of you, as well as to share information about our financial performance so that donors can

make informed decisions. We are very grateful for your participation in this work!

Brenda Lynn SmithExecutive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

Existing conditions (left) at the corner of Oakwood and Batavia Streets compared to a simulated image (right) of the completed stormwater bump-out bioswale planned for Phase One of our Rosedale Runoff Reduction Project. Images courtesy of StormWorks.

3

2014 Year in Review

1–In 2014, NMRWA held three Stream Sweeps and worked with partners to hold three additional clean up events. At these events, we worked with nearly 200 volunteers to remove 211 bags of trash from the stream, plus two shopping carts and 15 tires! 2–The new Hydra made its debut in 2014. StormWorks installed 450 rain barrels, including 400 Hydras as a part of Project 15206. 3–We worked with 144 volunteers to plant 19 trees throughout the watershed and to mulch 224 trees in Wilkinsburg & Swissvale. NMRWA staff also pruned more than 600 watershed trees during the winter. 4–StormWorks produced 22 rain garden/landscape designs for clients in 2014, and installed 14 projects - 3 landscape designs and 11 rain gardens. One of the larger rain gardens is prominently featured in front of the PWSA treatment plant. This 1,300 ft2 garden manages nearly 17,000 ft2 of roadway! 5–StormWorks installed another large (760 ft2) garden with the assistance of Job Corps trainees during a green infrastructure training program in 2014. This garden manages 4,000 ft2 of rooftops & roadways.

1

2

3

4

5

Photo: S. Powell

Photo: S. Davis

Photo: S. Powell

Photo: S. Madden

Photo: Job Corps

4

When the Nine Mile Run Stream and Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration was completed by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2006, the visual changes in the Nine Mile Run stream valley were obvious. However, the visual improvements are only one part of the complete story, as changes in water quality are nearly impossible to appreciate at a glance.

From 2007-2013, data were collected on pH, temperature, conductivity, metals, and bacteria once every three months, from three different stream locations, to monitor water quality. Fish and macroinvertebrates were also monitored by community partners one to three times per year.

Beginning in 2014, NMRWA began collecting a wider range of water quality data from four sampling locations on a monthly basis.

Each month, data are collected on seven parameters of interest: water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, turbidity, metals, nitrogen, and bacteria (monthly during the recreation season, May–October).

Fish data were collected as usual in 2014, and macroinvertebrate sampling was also conducted as usual in 2014, although it did expand to include three sites (instead of two).

Based on our monitoring data, basic water quality parameters (i.e., dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, conductivity, and temperature) were generally acceptable & met established standards during 2014.

Fish sampling results were similar to past years in that a diverse number of species were found in lower Nine Mile Run, while a more limited assemblage of mostly pollution tolerant species were found in the upper section.

As we have seen in past years, the main issue of concern for the stream based on our data continues to be bacteria from sewage and stormwater inputs. Not one sample collected between May & October 2014 fell below the allowable limit for fecal coliforms in recreational waters.

As we focus our efforts on larger green stormwater infrastructure projects in the upper watershed that are designed to improve the health of Nine Mile Run, it is crucial that we continue to collect this amount of water quality data downstream.

Collecting monthly data will not only allow us to more accurately assess the ecosystem health of Nine Mile Run, but it will also help us to better understand whether or not the flow of pollutants into Nine Mile Run is being reduced over time as a result of interventions and improvements in the upper watershed.

Measuring Water Quality in Nine Mile Run

(Left) Two new species were found in the stream in 2014, including gizzard shad and silverjaw minnows. Pictured are a silver jaw minnow (top) and bluntnose minnow (bottom).(Right) Sara Powell collects water quality data using a handheld sonde. The sonde measures temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, and turbidity. Bacteria, nitrogen, and metals are collected via grab samples and analyzed in a lab.

NMRWA would like to thank Wilkinsburg Penn Joint Water Authority and Test America, Inc. for donating their services to us. WPJWA analyzes our bacteria samples, and Test America analyzes our nitrogen and metals samples.

Photo: S. Powell Photo: K. Groszewski

5

NMRWA Financial Review Income 2012Income 2013Income 2014

Expenditures 2012Expenditures 2013Expenditures 2014

Total Assets 2012Total Assets 2013Total Assets 2014

Income 2012Income 2013Income 2014

Expenditures 2012Expenditures 2013Expenditures 2014

Total Assets 2012Total Assets 2013Total Assets 2014

Income 2012Income 2013Income 2014

Expenditures 2012Expenditures 2013Expenditures 2014

Total Assets 2012Total Assets 2013Total Assets 2014

2014 2013 2012 Contributions & Memberships $69,725 11.0% $37,795 5.0% $27,251 5.6% Grants $297,702 47.0% $611,139 81.1% $331,338 68.5% StormWorks Sales $193,348 30.5% $74,472 9.9% $64,704 13.4% In-Kind Donations $2,938 0.5% $2,257 0.3% $27,165 5.6% Other Income $70,087 11.0% $27,614 3.7% $33,127 6.9%

TOTAL $633,800 100.0% $753,277 100.0% $483,585 100.0%

2014 2013 2012 Program Services $727,860 87.1% $557,295 84.3% $493,697 81.0% Management & General $82,931 9.9% $85,131 12.9% $82,058 13.5% Fundraising $24,589 3.0% $18,755 2.8% $33,395 5.5%

TOTAL $835,380 100.0% $661,181 100.0% $609,150 100.0%

2014 2013 2012 Cash $59,707 22.7% $158,018 35.9% $90,005 29.4% Receivables $128,908 48.9% $261,377 59.4% $186,969 61.0% Inventory & Other Assets $34,438 13.1% $10,350 2.4% $14,913 4.9% Net Fixed Assets $40,356 15.3% $10,007 2.3% $14,287 4.7%

TOTAL ASSETS $263,409 100.0% $439,752 100.0% $306,174 100.0%

Total Liabilities $76,788 29.2% $51,551 11.7% $10,069 3.3%Total Net Assets $186,621 70.8% $388,201 88.3% $296,105 96.7% TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS $263,409 100.0% $439,752 100.0% $306,174 100.0%

$331,338

$27,251$27,165

$33,127

$64,704 INCOME

EXPENDITURES

BALANCE SHEET

$493,697

$82,058 $33,395

$34,438

$40,356

$186,969$90,005

$14,913 $14,287

$611,139

$74,472

$2,257

$27,614 $37,795

$557,295

$261,377$158,018

$10,007

$10,350

$85,131

$18,755

$297,702

$193,348

$2,938 $70,087 $69,725

$727,860

$82,931 $24,589

$128,908$59,707

6

Visionaries$1,000 & upAnonymous Nancy Bernstein & Robert SchoenJack & Joan DiederichJim FlemingLinda KauffmanPatrick & Candy LoughneyRobert & Christy MaloneyTony MologneConstance MonaghanEstate of Samuel NewburySusan & Philip SmithRoger Westman & William Stevens

Protectors$500–999AnonymousChad DavisCurt LarsonJason McBrideMary Ellen & Mark MeyerDavid & Catharine Newbury in memory of Samuel Chamberlin NewburyMarie & Jeffrey StapinskiPamela StimacMatthew & Alane WholeyHarry & Lois Winslow

Restorers$250–499Nancy ArnoldChristopher & Amy BartelsThomas BatroneyDavid BradyMary Beth CathcartLisa Citron & Bill SlivkaDaniel & Lindsay Cody in memory of Rosemary ZappaDavid & Marian CrossmanHenry DohertyJanel & Travis EverlyBrian FeingoldCarl Fertman & Barbara MurockSuzan Lami & Bob GrubbHarry & Barbara HenningerSteven & Marcie RitterFred SteinbergJeanne VanBriesenMaryRose Walko & Laird CooperJeaneen Zappa

Stewards$100–249Anonymous (14)Tamara AbellKathryn Albers & Brian DavisKaren Auclair in honor of Lois WinslowKaren & John BaillieAnne BentSally BogiePaula Breuer & Vic PregelNorma BronderKatherine & Bruce BrunkhorstRandal BryantLinda & Timothy BurkeAnne & Jim BurnhamJulie CarylMichael & Abigail CookMargaret CooperMeg CooperJon DanzakClaudia Davidson & Mark RubensteinLucy De BarbaroGilbert DeBenedetti

Dino DeFlavio/Lugo EnterprisesJeanne & Robert DrennanMark & Wendy DunbarD. Dzombak & C. MenardJoseph FedorKaren & Steven FeinsteinBarbara GrabowskiAnne Gray & David CarrJason HansenPaul HeckbertPeggy & Maurice HeidishPatricia Hughes & Ralph LundLois HurtJohn Joseph & Merrill Marcovsky in memory of Tovey, Clancey, & TougarRen Kao & Phoenix ChengLeslie & Peter KaplanMary KostalosAnn Kelton & Jeffrey HritzRalph Kemp & Donna HansenRichard KerchnerDavid & Roberta Konefal-ShaerJennifer Lakin & Douglas RabuzziMary Ann LambingEric LandesbergRick & Ann LandesbergBarry & Katyna LaveryMichael Lefebvre & Randy ConnollyPeter LewisElsa LimbachEmily LippertLeonard LoydKaren LukasMargaret MahoneyDan MajewskiLouise & Michael MalakoffChristine, John, Katie, & Jack MangesChristopher Mark & Mary DenisonJoyce MartinGale McGloinPerrynell McMahonCarolyn Menard & David DzombakRick Mercer & Kary Arimoto-MercerChris MillerBarbara MingesJames MooreMichael & Nancy MurphyDustin NagleStuart Olmsted & Sharon AchillesBen Opie & Norma Jean BronderAl & Monica PapaMisty ParshallMichael Pemrich & Peabo WinschelKathy & Leonard PlotnicovJoni Rabinowitz & John HaerTeresa Rader & John MoyerJames & Nancy RichardJ. Charles & Alice RiecksNeil RosenblumRuth & Wil RouleauPat & Bill Schuetz in honor of Sarah & Matilda ColemanBarbara SchwarckThomas & Isabelle ScottJohn & Anne SingletonJonathan SpringMary Ann SteinerCharles StewartJames Stitt & Michelle LeonetteEdwin & Mona Strassburger

Kurt SummersgillDustin & Lindsay TaylorJanis & Brian Tucker-HillUno RestaurantRick VarnerChristine & Ed WalkoTim & Terry WardHoward Wein & Susan BailsBill & Judy WernerDick & Erika WilfordAllen WolkEd & Lynda WrennJudith Zimmerman

Family Membership/Supporters$50–99Anonymous (16)Anthony BafileJoshua Bellin & Chris SaitzJane BernsteinPatrick BigleyMaureen BlairJeff Bontrager in honor of brother Stephan’s birthdayAnne Bowes in honor of Jean MartinKay BoyleDeborah Brooks & Kris MamulaPam & Jason CohnDaniel & Clare CornellAmy Crosson & John SoluriLisa Dennis & Joan MaserClaudia & John DetwilerNeil Donahue, Maren Cooke, & Kielan DonahueSteve & Angela EagleMichael EannarinoMarion & Sam EdelmannMarian EdwardsJennifer EnglandElizabeth EnsmingerRuth Fauman-FichmanSusan & David FinemanAndi FischhoffTom Fisher in memory of Kay ChuteElizabeth FleischerJeff & Paige ForsterJim & Martha FunderburghDinnie GoldringHenry Groff & Stasia MiaskiewiczBarbara Gundy & Marcia SmithBarbara & Lothar HanusaLiz & Mike HealeyGunther & Klara HeilbrunnCharles HerroldDonna IsaacJoseph JoyceDan Kambic & Diane CharlesTeya Kamel in honor of Lotus Gaia SolettiDavid & Mary KellerMarie KellyMichael & Pamela KoryakLisa Kunst-VavroKen Levin & Marcie MitreLois & Irv LibermanDave LimbacherAndee & Mike LowensteinDavid MarchEllen MarcusJoan MaserMelissa McDonoughHugh McGough & Kris RustMaggie McKennaJoe McLaughlinAlan Meisel & Linda SerodyGeorge & Caroline MendisBarbara MingesBetsy & Richard Monheim

Eugene & Sandy O’SullivanMark Peterson & Mary Anne MasonRodney Permigiani & Nancy PulsiferKathi Radock & Amy CampDarrell Rapp & Toby YanowitzAri RapportWilliam & Nancy RemaleyNicholas & Dorothy Rescher in memory of Meta RescherAbby Resnick & Roger DayMartha Riecks & Christopher TraceyLinda & Michael RosenbaumAllison & Bradley SandersKirk Savage & Elizabeth ThomasMichael SchillerKathleen SchneiderJohn & Linda SchombertJoanne Schreiber in memory of Mitzi CornellPat & Bill SchuetzGlen & Nancy SchultzDuane & Christine SeppiBrian & Susan SesackEmily & Terry SillinsJames SingerJohn & Anne Singleton in honor of Mary KostalosAnn Sinsheimer, Patrick Weeks, & Ruth SinsheimerJames & Judith StarkKenny & Terry SteinbergMike & Gloria TakacsChristie TenorioStephanie UlmerAnthony VaccarelloJoanne VennettiSusan WaggonerDavid WaltonMargaret ZakDaniel Zove & Susan Straus

Individual Members$1–49Anonymous (11)Stewart AgreenHarry BackBrian BardStacey BloomBarbara BrockVictoria ButterworthJeffrey CampbellJean & Stephen CarrJanet CarrJohn & Vicki CarsonLeslie ClarkFrank Collins in memory of Helen M. CollinsKyle CostelloAimee CurtrightJane Dirks & Manuel LombarderoNick Dobratz & Eileen Kraus-DobratzEdward & Mary Lou Donnelly Barbara EdelmanSusan Finger & Penny AndersonKate Foster & John HelterPhyllis GenszlerHarold & Edna GoldingNaomi GreenblottBurlton GriffithRaymond & Linda Kleiman GriffithMattie Harris in memory of Clemente & AngelineNancy Hart

Barbara & Lee HicksSteve HirtleCharles & Marilyn HonigsbergJohn HuffmanDanielle Crumrine & Eric HulseyMary & Alan HunninenJean & Anthony IndovinaMichael JehnEllen KeatingAngel LehrianAlisa LermanNancy LevineSara LickeyTim MankaMartha MannixKira MartinDrue MillerAnne & Thomas MorrisGary & Greer MulhollandPatty Murtha & Roger StoffregenJohn & Lara NagleHarvey & Esther NathansonElizabeth Ann NelsonBrian O’NeillPaul Overby & Patty SpragueChristina & Anna PalmieriLarry & Doris PatchelLinda PatchelJean PletcherSusan RademacherSylvia Reznick in memory of Aron ReznickJeff Ritter & Kate BorgerJonathan & Ellen RubinRobin RyanIna SableBetty ScottCosma ShaliziSue ShaperaRosalyn ShermanJames SismourBetty SmithIan SmithMatt SmutsJoanie Sutter & Jennifer BeckTom HoffmanJohn & Mary UnkovicFrancine VandenBerg & Dirk VandenBerg Jr.Craig VandergriftSusan WagnerDaniel & Mary Jo WeeksRuth Westerman & J. Robert MyersPaula WhisnerHelen Wilson

We are very grateful for the support of all our members and donors. Gifts made between January 1 – December 31, 2014 are acknowledged here.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If you believe errors or omissions have occurred, please bring them to our attention by emailing brenda@ninemilerun.org.

Thank you to our 2014 Members!

7

Non-Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDPittsburgh, PAPermit No. 23

321 Pennwood AvenueSuite 202 Pittsburgh, PA 15221

Phone: 412-371-8779

www.ninemilerun.org

Return Service Requested

Thanks to our 2014 Funders & Supporters!

In 2014 our programs were made possible through generous support from:

Allegheny County Conservation District

BPI, Inc

Crivella West

East End Food Co-op

EQT Foundation

Garden Club of Allegheny County

The Heinz Endowments

The Hillman Foundation

Caroline Fredericka Holdship Trust of PNC Charitable Trusts

Lami-Grubb Architects

The Laurel Foundation

People’s Natural Gas Company

Pittsburgh United/Clean Rivers Campaign

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

The Richard King Mellon Foundation

The Bessie F. Anathan Charitable Trust of The Pittsburgh Foundation

The Rita M. McGinley Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

Roy A. Hunt Foundation

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy TreeVitalize Program & PennVest

Sci-Tek Consultants

Summerset at Frick Park

US Fish and Wildlife Service, 5 Star Urban Waters Program

Viridian Energy

Plus our members and StormWorks clients!

Also, thanks to:

BNY Mellon

Dominion Foundation

Microsoft

PNC Foundation

UBS Foundation

...for matching gifts of our members

In-Kind Donations:

AgRecycle

ALCOSAN

Alexander Denmarsh Photography

Allegro Hearth Bakery, Squirrel Hill

Bruegger’s Bagels, Squirrel Hill

Coffee Tree Roasters, Bakery Square &

Squirrel Hill

Einstein Brothers Bagels, Bloomfield

GetGo, Wilkinsburg

John Moyer

PennDOT

Salvatore’s Pizza, Wilkinsburg

Square Café, Regent Square

Test America

Urban Forestry Consultants, Inc.

Wilkinsburg Penn Joint Water

Authority