Description
An existing baseball field was removed in order to restore a former wetland alongside the Sandy Run tributary to the Wissahickon Creek. The site is located at a busy roadway intersection. A constructed wet pond with emergent native vegetation was created with an adjacent native scrub/shrub wetland containing a few small vernal pools. At higher elevations along the edge of the site (roadside) a drier herbaceous native meadow was established. A vegetated land bridge separates the constructed wetland from an existing natural pond. This pond is surrounded by the highly aggressive invasive plant, Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which is being managed and eliminated using biocontrol agents. The wetland reduces stormwater sediment runoff and flooding of Sandy Run and provides an added natural buffer to the riparian corridor. The result is an island of biodiversity and wildlife habitat within a highly developed area. A small gravel parking lot is maintained to accommodate occasional visitors where they can walk along a low-mow path with educational signage.
Location
County: Montgomery
Watershed: Wissahickon Creek
Partners
Montgomery County
EPA
DEP
PECO
Cost
$101,000
Contact
Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association
12 Morris Road
Ambler, PA 19002
215-646-8866
info@wvwa.org