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Neshaminy Corridor
The Neshaminy Corridor is a defining feature of the Greater Philadelphia Region. The Neshaminy Creek watershed drains 148,000 acres in two counties and eight municipalities, including older boroughs, developing suburban communities and rural townships. Neshaminy Creek provides refuge for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates including state threatened and endangered species. Historically, the endangered bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) was found in the area.
As the key watershed for hundreds of thousands of residents, preserving the Neshaminy’s water quality is a critical component of a healthy, sustainable, livable community. The corridor also touches many people’s lives as it winds through several county parks, important bird areas, as well as Tyler State Park. In this region rich with historic sites and resources, the protection of the Neshaminy further provides protection of the cultural fabric of this vital landscape.
WE NEED TO ACT
The Neshaminy Corridor is under considerable impact from the area’s rapid growth and development. Since 1990, developed land has increased more than 20% with severe environmental and economic consequences from flooding, stream bank erosion, degraded water quality, and loss of wildlife habitat. The conversion of agricultural lands and open spaces to permeable surfaces has increased runoff into the watershed, exacerbating flooding and injecting silt and nutrients into the Neshaminy Creek.
Based on data collected through 2000, approximately 50% of the streams are impaired, and since 1996, Neshaminy Creek and most of its major tributaries have been included on the Federal Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters for aquatic life impairments. Since the flood of record in 1955, flooding has caused tens of millions of dollars in damages to local communities, and stormwater runoff is a severe problem, especially in the highly urbanized lower portions of the watershed.
Groundwater depletion is also a significant problem, due to the increase in water wells serving the new housing, commercial and industrial developments. In addition to non-point source pollution, the landscape has 15 municipal sewage facilities discharging into its waters, and during the summer, these discharges often comprise the majority of water flow, significantly limiting the diversity of aquatic life.
FACTS & FIGURES
Total Acres: 10,000
High Value Acres: 9,000
Developed Acres: 3,000
Protected Acres: 2,00
Additional Protected Acres Goal: 3,000
Data current as of July 2006
RESOURCE FEATURES
- High value, undeveloped riparian zone
- Biotically diverse wetlands
- Hundreds of bird, mammal, plant and other species
- One state park and two county parks
- 24 municipal and 31 township parks and open spaces
SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS
- Peace Valley Park Important Bird Area, Audubon PA
- Neshaminy Creek, Category 1 Priority Watershed PA Unified Watershed Assessment
- Forks of the Neshaminy, a priority 2 PA Natural Diversity Inventory site
- Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, largest in Bucks County
- Dyerstown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
TREASURES
MUNICIPALITIES (all or part)
Bensalem, Bristol Township, Buckingham Township, Chalfont Borough, Doylestown Township, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, New Britain Borough, New Britain Township, Newtown Township, Northampton Township, Penndel Borough, Warrington Township, Warwick Township, Wrightstown Township
WATERSHEDS/SUB-AREAS
Little Neshaminy Creek, Neshaminy Creek, North Branch Neshaminy Creek, West Branch Neshaminy Creek
GROWING LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN THE AREA
Heritage Conservancy and Pennsylvania Environmental Council
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