|
Neshaminy Headwaters
The Neshaminy Headwaters landscape is a critical and dominant natural and hydrological feature of the Greater Philadelphia Region. The Neshaminy Headwaters drains 24,000 acres in two counties and eight municipalities, including older boroughs, developing suburban communities and rural townships.The North Branch and West Branch creeks are main tributaries to theNeshaminy Creek in the Headwaters area, an area that provides refuge for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. There are two threatened species of plants, and historically, the endangered bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) was found in the area. The upper two-thirds of the Neshaminy Creek, including the Headwaters, lie within the Triassic Lowlands subsection of the Northern Piedmont eco-region. Major land uses in the Neshaminy are single-family residential housing (35%), agriculture (21%) and woodlands (19%).
As the key watershed for hundreds of thousands of residents, the Neshaminy Headwaters are a critical part of the watershed where development pressures are significant. 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 Headwaters 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: 24,000
High Value Acres: 10,000
Developed Acres: 7,000
Protected Acres: 3,000
Additional Protected Acres Goal: 7,000
Data current as of July 2006
RESOURCE FEATURES
- Working, productive farmlands
- Biotically diverse wetlands
- Hundreds of bird, mammal, plant and other species
- Several dozen municipal and township open spaces
SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS
MUNICIPALITIES (all or part)
Bedminster Township, Chalfont Borough, Doylestown Township, Hatfield Township, Hilltown Township, New Britain Borough, New Britain Township, and Plumstead Township
WATERSHEDS/SUB-AREAS
East Branch Perkiomen Creek, North Branch Neshaminy Creek, Pine Run, Tohickon Creek, West Branch Neshaminy Creek
GROWING LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN THE AREA
Heritage Conservancy, Bedminster Land Conservancy, Park Creek Watershed Association, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
|
 
|
Print Preview