upstream | downstream connecting our communities

Connecting our communities.

4500 Worth Street | Philadelphia, PA 19124ph 215.744.1853 web www.ttfwatershed.org

twitter @ttfwatershedDesign: Felice Croul Associates

Photos: Albert Yee, Allison Ostertag

2 0 1 3 A n n u a l R e p o r t

TTF is dedicated to improving the health and vitality of our

watershed by engaging our communities in education, stewardship,

restoration and advocacy.

Here at TTF, we’re in the matchmaking business — connecting our

upstream and downstream communities to improve the health of

our waterways. We’re the connector between citizens and programs

that help improve the quality of their water, the water they drink

and the parks their families play in. We implement programs that

educate neighbors about watershed issues and how they can

make a difference right in their own backyards. Whether planting

a creekside buffer or cleaning up a park, we’re all on the path to

cleaner water and a stronger relationship with nature.

We’re bridging the gapbetween peopleere bridging the ere bridging the

and their water.

TTF is dedicated to improving the health and vitality of our

watershed by engaging our communities in education, stewardship,

restoration and advocacy.

Here at TTF, we’re in the matchmaking business — connecting our

upstream and downstream communities to improve the health of

our waterways. We’re the connector between citizens and programs

that help improve the quality of their water, the water they drink

and the parks their families play in. We implement programs that

educate neighbors about watershed issues and how they can

make a difference right in their own backyards. Whether planting

a creekside buffer or cleaning up a park, we’re all on the path to

cleaner water and a stronger relationship with nature.

We’re bridging the gapbetween peopleere bridging the ere bridging the

and their water.

of our watershed is covered

by paved surfaces. /2 Paved surfaces are a major contributor

to stormwater runoff, which happens when

rain doesn’t soak into the ground. As the

runoff flows it becomes polluted.

Runoff is why

of our waterways aren’t clean enough.

gallons of water a year. Trees help to reduce stormwater runoff.

TTF has planted 2,000 native trees

and shrubs across our watershed.

TTF and the Partnership for the

Delaware Estuary reintroduced

50 mussels into Tacony Creek.

Learning how our man-made environment affects the natural environment

is the fi rst step in taking action to improve our waterways.

From your street to your creek, it’s all connected.

40,0004 A mature oak tree can consume over

20gallons of water each day.

freshwater

mussel filters 1 211111111111

of our watershed is covered

by paved surfaces. /2 Paved surfaces are a major contributor

to stormwater runoff, which happens when

rain doesn’t soak into the ground. As the

runoff flows it becomes polluted.

Runoff is why

of our waterways aren’t clean enough.

gallons of water a year. Trees help to reduce stormwater runoff.

TTF has planted 2,000 native trees

and shrubs across our watershed.

TTF and the Partnership for the

Delaware Estuary reintroduced

50 mussels into Tacony Creek.

Learning how our man-made environment affects the natural environment

is the fi rst step in taking action to improve our waterways.

From your street to your creek, it’s all connected.

40,0004 A mature oak tree can consume over

20gallons of water each day.

freshwater

mussel filters 1 211111111111

TTF works closely with key stakeholders including the

Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), Philadelphia Parks &

Recreation (PPR), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC),

Cheltenham Township and School District, Abington School

District, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS),

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) and others to support

green infrastructure and stream restoration initiatives.

Tacony Creek Park

Working with PPR, PWD, and neighbors we raise awareness of

watershed issues and encourage park use. We reinforce the

ongoing restoration of Tacony Creek Park by engaging people

in fun and educational activities — from plantings, cleanups and

storm drain marking to nature and bird walks. New to our fun

activities — photo expeditions! We hosted an outing for budding

young photojournalists from Juniata Park, who explored the park

and creek on a gorgeous day. We exhibited their photos at our

summer block parties.

This year, hundreds participated in our second Healthy Trails

5k Run/Walk and “Celebrate Your Park” block parties.

These signature events allowed TTF to introduce the community

to its restored park… and gave us insight into the activities and

improvements community members want.

Engaging Our Stakeholders

Managing Rainfall Tour

TTF launched Managing Rainfall: TTF Stormwater Tours with

funding from the Water Resource Education Network (WREN) of

the PA League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

through a Growing Greener grant from the PA Department of

Environmental Protection. Targeted at municipal offi cials, staff,

and volunteers, these tours provided an opportunity to showcase

innovative projects, including one that TTF created — our rain

garden in Vernon Park.

Teacher Training

Fairmount Water Works (FWW) and TTF teamed up to provide

Understanding the Urban Watershed: Making the Classroom to

Schoolyard Connection for teachers in our watershed.

This training introduced educators to new events and resources

within our region.

Environmental Camp

Nine young women participated in a camp focusing on water

issues throughout the city and our watershed! Funded by the

Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater

Philadelphia, the two week program focused on environmental

careers with an emphasis on water. Led by FWW and TTF, campers

traveled throughout the urban watershed to learn about water

quality issues.

Growing Upstream and Downstream

In spring 2014, TTF and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration

Trust (PERT) announced that their newly established partnership

would receive $442,000 over 36 months through the William Penn

Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Initiative. These funds

will be used to demonstrate stream restoration and green

infrastructure projects and inform municipal stormwater permits

and public investments, using monitoring data through science

based efforts.

This initiative is a collaboration of leading conservation

organizations aligning their work to protect land, restore

streams, test innovative approaches in ecologically signifi cant

places, and monitor results over time. Organizations include:

the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the National

Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the Open Space Institute,

and more than 40 additional national and regional organizations,

According to Julie Slavet, TTF Executive Director,

“We’ll be able to take the lessons we’ve learned by being

part of PWD’s Green City, Clean Waters program and apply

these upstream. Access to these leading environmental and

academic institutions will enable a small organization like

ours to ensure quality projects, education, and monitoring...”

Improving the watershedfrom upstream to downstream.ving the watershedving the watershed

Protecting Upstream Tributaries

Abington Junior High School

Fall ‘13: Planting 300+ native trees, shrubs, and grasses to

complete the second phase of buffer planting along

creek headwaters. The fi rst phase — a 16,000 square foot buffer —

was planted in fall 2012.

Rock Lane Park

Spring ‘14: 25 area residents gathered to plant 100 trees along

the stream, adding 15,000 square feet of riparian buffer to this

Tookany Creek tributary.

including PEC, Temple, Villanova, and Saint Joseph’s universities,

the Lower Merion Conservancy, Wissahickon Valley Watershed

Association, and others.

This effort will support staffi ng, monitoring, and operational

projects to:

• Implement and monitor on-the-ground green infrastructure,

tree planting, and wetland construction projects

• Support citizen volunteer efforts to advocate for improved

water quality and restoration

Awards

Creekside Buffers at Abington Jr. High School & Cedarbrook

Middle School plus Vernon Park Rain Garden all received:

• National Wildlife Federation Certifi ed Wildlife Habitat®

• National Audubon Society Bird Habitat Recognition

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Community

Greening Award

TTF works closely with key stakeholders including the

Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), Philadelphia Parks &

Recreation (PPR), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC),

Cheltenham Township and School District, Abington School

District, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS),

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) and others to support

green infrastructure and stream restoration initiatives.

Tacony Creek Park

Working with PPR, PWD, and neighbors we raise awareness of

watershed issues and encourage park use. We reinforce the

ongoing restoration of Tacony Creek Park by engaging people

in fun and educational activities — from plantings, cleanups and

storm drain marking to nature and bird walks. New to our fun

activities — photo expeditions! We hosted an outing for budding

young photojournalists from Juniata Park, who explored the park

and creek on a gorgeous day. We exhibited their photos at our

summer block parties.

This year, hundreds participated in our second Healthy Trails

5k Run/Walk and “Celebrate Your Park” block parties.

These signature events allowed TTF to introduce the community

to its restored park… and gave us insight into the activities and

improvements community members want.

Engaging Our Stakeholders

Managing Rainfall Tour

TTF launched Managing Rainfall: TTF Stormwater Tours with

funding from the Water Resource Education Network (WREN) of

the PA League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

through a Growing Greener grant from the PA Department of

Environmental Protection. Targeted at municipal offi cials, staff,

and volunteers, these tours provided an opportunity to showcase

innovative projects, including one that TTF created — our rain

garden in Vernon Park.

Teacher Training

Fairmount Water Works (FWW) and TTF teamed up to provide

Understanding the Urban Watershed: Making the Classroom to

Schoolyard Connection for teachers in our watershed.

This training introduced educators to new events and resources

within our region.

Environmental Camp

Nine young women participated in a camp focusing on water

issues throughout the city and our watershed! Funded by the

Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater

Philadelphia, the two week program focused on environmental

careers with an emphasis on water. Led by FWW and TTF, campers

traveled throughout the urban watershed to learn about water

quality issues.

Growing Upstream and Downstream

In spring 2014, TTF and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration

Trust (PERT) announced that their newly established partnership

would receive $442,000 over 36 months through the William Penn

Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Initiative. These funds

will be used to demonstrate stream restoration and green

infrastructure projects and inform municipal stormwater permits

and public investments, using monitoring data through science

based efforts.

This initiative is a collaboration of leading conservation

organizations aligning their work to protect land, restore

streams, test innovative approaches in ecologically signifi cant

places, and monitor results over time. Organizations include:

the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the National

Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the Open Space Institute,

and more than 40 additional national and regional organizations,

According to Julie Slavet, TTF Executive Director,

“We’ll be able to take the lessons we’ve learned by being

part of PWD’s Green City, Clean Waters program and apply

these upstream. Access to these leading environmental and

academic institutions will enable a small organization like

ours to ensure quality projects, education, and monitoring...”

Improving the watershedfrom upstream to downstream.ving the watershedving the watershed

Protecting Upstream Tributaries

Abington Junior High School

Fall ‘13: Planting 300+ native trees, shrubs, and grasses to

complete the second phase of buffer planting along

creek headwaters. The fi rst phase — a 16,000 square foot buffer —

was planted in fall 2012.

Rock Lane Park

Spring ‘14: 25 area residents gathered to plant 100 trees along

the stream, adding 15,000 square feet of riparian buffer to this

Tookany Creek tributary.

including PEC, Temple, Villanova, and Saint Joseph’s universities,

the Lower Merion Conservancy, Wissahickon Valley Watershed

Association, and others.

This effort will support staffi ng, monitoring, and operational

projects to:

• Implement and monitor on-the-ground green infrastructure,

tree planting, and wetland construction projects

• Support citizen volunteer efforts to advocate for improved

water quality and restoration

Awards

Creekside Buffers at Abington Jr. High School & Cedarbrook

Middle School plus Vernon Park Rain Garden all received:

• National Wildlife Federation Certifi ed Wildlife Habitat®

• National Audubon Society Bird Habitat Recognition

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Community

Greening Award

TTF presented our third successful Watershed Milestones Award

Ceremony & Reception on May 21, 2014. We brought the

celebration into our watershed by hosting it at Tacony Creek

Park’s Juniata Golf Club. Watershed leaders from across our

region networked and celebrated all of our accomplishments.

We had the opportunity to honor some fantastic watershed

stewards and showcase the work they’ve done to improve

our watershed. We also inaugurated our Legacy Award, which

we bestowed on TTF’s fi rst President, Gerry Kaufman.

Honorees

Friend of the TTF Watershed

Aine Doley

Friends of High School Park

Hasan Malik

TTF Watershed Municipal Leader

PowerCorpsPHL

Rick Howley, Philadelphia Water Department &

Rob Armstrong, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

TTF Watershed Educator

Arcadia University

Wissahickon Charter School

TTF Watershed Corporate Steward

Cardone Industries

TTF Watershed Non-Profit Steward

NorthEast Treatment Centers

TTF Watershed Youth Champion

Chris Carrington, Sabina Knapp, Michael Le & Elizabeth Le,

Abington School District students

TTF Watershed Legacy Award

Gerry Kaufman

Watershed Milestones Recognizing a Year of Watershed Growth at the

Award CeremonyWatershed Milter

Receptiontones to

Donors & PartnersCommunity Academy of PhiladelphiaFairmount Park ConservancyFairmount Water WorksFriends HospitalFriends of High School ParkFriends of Vernon ParkGreenTreks NetworkJuniata Action CommitteeJuniata Golf ClubKeep Philadelphia BeautifulLower Merion ConservancyPartnership for the Delaware EstuaryPennypack Ecological Restoration TrustPennsylvania Environmental CouncilPennsylvania Horticultural SocietyPHS Meadowbrook FarmPhiladelphia Youth NetworkSustainable Business Network/GSI PartnersTemple UniversityVillanova UniversityWissahickon Valley Watershed Association

Government

Abington TownshipAbington School DistrictCheltenham TownshipCheltenham School DistrictJenkintown BoroughMayor’s Fund for PhiladelphiaMontgomery County Conservation DistrictRockledge BoroughSpringfield TownshipPhiladelphia City Planning CommissionPhiladelphia Parks & RecreationPhiladelphia Streets DepartmentPhiladelphia Water Department

Foundations

Arizona Community FoundationCora Brooks FoundationMerck FoundationThomas Scattergood FoundationWilliam Penn FoundationWater Resources Education Network of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

Individuals

Charles Adams & Kim TiegerDr. Gary & Donna BerkowitzJudith BishopRepresentative Bob BradyCommissioner Bruce CastorJoanne DahmeRobert Dromboski & Laura FrankRobin EismanNic EspositoMolly FinchSaid Gharrafi & Karen ShaffranBarbara GoldWilliam & Mary HangleyWendy Green HarveyJim and Bonita HayStephen & Erica HeverinHoward & Mary HurtigGerald Kaufman & Shelly Yanoff Stephanie KlebanGregory LechDavid Major & Evelyn EskenHerman & Marciene MattelmanRepresentative Stephen & Deborah McCarterJon McGoranBenjamin & Susan MyerovAnthony & Kathleen NaccaratoKimberly OxholmIris ParkerLorna & Murray RosenbergJeffrey SchultzJustin SchurrElliott & Ellie SeifPatrick StarrAmy Steffen & Linda SternJason & Caitlin StevensPhyllis StickneyRepresentative John TaylorThomas VernonBetsy & Sheldon WolfJudy WicksDavid & Ilene WinikurJohn & Mary Wynne

Businesses

AKRF, Inc.AmazonBird Watcher’s DigestCake Life Bake ShopCampbell Thomas & Co.Cerulean, LLCCH2MHILLCheltenham Printing CompanyCollins NurseryConner Strong & BuckelewDesigns-By-NancyDiamond AutoErnst Conservation Seeds, Inc.Firestone & Company LLCHaegele Gardens LLCKJK AssociatesLanganLindy CommunitiesMatrix New World Engineering, Inc.Meliora DesignNAM Planning & Design, LLCOcean PrimeOctoraro Native Plant NurseryO’Brien & GerePennoni Associates Inc.Philadelphia Insurance CompaniesPrimex Garden CenterRoofmeadowSemanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLCShift_DesignSustainable Choices, LLCSweet MagnoliaThe Dovetail ArtisansThe Frankford GazetteThink Green LLCValley Shepherd Creamery WEEDS, Inc.Whole Foods Market JenkintownYards Brewing Company

Organizations

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityAwbury ArboretumBriar Bush Nature Center

TTF presented our third successful Watershed Milestones Award

Ceremony & Reception on May 21, 2014. We brought the

celebration into our watershed by hosting it at Tacony Creek

Park’s Juniata Golf Club. Watershed leaders from across our

region networked and celebrated all of our accomplishments.

We had the opportunity to honor some fantastic watershed

stewards and showcase the work they’ve done to improve

our watershed. We also inaugurated our Legacy Award, which

we bestowed on TTF’s fi rst President, Gerry Kaufman.

Honorees

Friend of the TTF Watershed

Aine Doley

Friends of High School Park

Hasan Malik

TTF Watershed Municipal Leader

PowerCorpsPHL

Rick Howley, Philadelphia Water Department &

Rob Armstrong, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

TTF Watershed Educator

Arcadia University

Wissahickon Charter School

TTF Watershed Corporate Steward

Cardone Industries

TTF Watershed Non-Profit Steward

NorthEast Treatment Centers

TTF Watershed Youth Champion

Chris Carrington, Sabina Knapp, Michael Le & Elizabeth Le,

Abington School District students

TTF Watershed Legacy Award

Gerry Kaufman

Watershed Milestones Recognizing a Year of Watershed Growth at the

Award CeremonyWatershed Milter

Receptiontones to

Donors & PartnersCommunity Academy of PhiladelphiaFairmount Park ConservancyFairmount Water WorksFriends HospitalFriends of High School ParkFriends of Vernon ParkGreenTreks NetworkJuniata Action CommitteeJuniata Golf ClubKeep Philadelphia BeautifulLower Merion ConservancyPartnership for the Delaware EstuaryPennypack Ecological Restoration TrustPennsylvania Environmental CouncilPennsylvania Horticultural SocietyPHS Meadowbrook FarmPhiladelphia Youth NetworkSustainable Business Network/GSI PartnersTemple UniversityVillanova UniversityWissahickon Valley Watershed Association

Government

Abington TownshipAbington School DistrictCheltenham TownshipCheltenham School DistrictJenkintown BoroughMayor’s Fund for PhiladelphiaMontgomery County Conservation DistrictRockledge BoroughSpringfield TownshipPhiladelphia City Planning CommissionPhiladelphia Parks & RecreationPhiladelphia Streets DepartmentPhiladelphia Water Department

Foundations

Arizona Community FoundationCora Brooks FoundationMerck FoundationThomas Scattergood FoundationWilliam Penn FoundationWater Resources Education Network of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

Individuals

Charles Adams & Kim TiegerDr. Gary & Donna BerkowitzJudith BishopRepresentative Bob BradyCommissioner Bruce CastorJoanne DahmeRobert Dromboski & Laura FrankRobin EismanNic EspositoMolly FinchSaid Gharrafi & Karen ShaffranBarbara GoldWilliam & Mary HangleyWendy Green HarveyJim and Bonita HayStephen & Erica HeverinHoward & Mary HurtigGerald Kaufman & Shelly Yanoff Stephanie KlebanGregory LechDavid Major & Evelyn EskenHerman & Marciene MattelmanRepresentative Stephen & Deborah McCarterJon McGoranBenjamin & Susan MyerovAnthony & Kathleen NaccaratoKimberly OxholmIris ParkerLorna & Murray RosenbergJeffrey SchultzJustin SchurrElliott & Ellie SeifPatrick StarrAmy Steffen & Linda SternJason & Caitlin StevensPhyllis StickneyRepresentative John TaylorThomas VernonBetsy & Sheldon WolfJudy WicksDavid & Ilene WinikurJohn & Mary Wynne

Businesses

AKRF, Inc.AmazonBird Watcher’s DigestCake Life Bake ShopCampbell Thomas & Co.Cerulean, LLCCH2MHILLCheltenham Printing CompanyCollins NurseryConner Strong & BuckelewDesigns-By-NancyDiamond AutoErnst Conservation Seeds, Inc.Firestone & Company LLCHaegele Gardens LLCKJK AssociatesLanganLindy CommunitiesMatrix New World Engineering, Inc.Meliora DesignNAM Planning & Design, LLCOcean PrimeOctoraro Native Plant NurseryO’Brien & GerePennoni Associates Inc.Philadelphia Insurance CompaniesPrimex Garden CenterRoofmeadowSemanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLCShift_DesignSustainable Choices, LLCSweet MagnoliaThe Dovetail ArtisansThe Frankford GazetteThink Green LLCValley Shepherd Creamery WEEDS, Inc.Whole Foods Market JenkintownYards Brewing Company

Organizations

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityAwbury ArboretumBriar Bush Nature Center

Board of

OFFICERS

Gerald Kaufman, President, Citizen

Joanne Dahme, Vice President (Philadelphia),

Philadelphia Water Department

Bryan T. Havir, P.P., AICP, Vice President (Montgomery County),

Cheltenham Township

Laurie Harvey, Treasurer, Maillie LLP

Ian Litwin, Secretary, Philadelphia City Planning Commission

Joan Blaustein, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

Christian Soltysiak, Jenkintown Borough

Wendy K. Green-Harvey, SEPTA

Susan Harris, Citizen

Stephen Heverin, Springfield Township

Fred Lewis, Senior Environment Corps, Center in the Park

Emma Melvin, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Beth Pilling, Montgomery County Planning Commission

Michael Powers, Abington Township

Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, Philadelphia City Council

Rodman Ritchie, AKRF, Inc.

Derick Scudder, Juniata Action Committee

Patrick Starr, Pennsylvania Environmental Council

Amy Steffen, Friends of High School Park

Robert P. Thomas, AIA, Philadelphia Parks Alliance

Sarah Wu, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability

John Wynne, Rockledge Borough

Support & Revenue

REVENUE AND GAINS

Contributions $26,264

Grants $155,451

Municipal Dues $83,000

Program Fees $185,801

Total Support and Revenue $450,516

Revenue

$ 100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

2012 – 2013 2013 – 2014

SUPPORT & REVENUE 2012 – 2014

CONTRIBUTIONS

GRANTS

MUNICIPAL DUES

PROGRAM FEES

TOTAL REVENUE

Directorsrd