Protect Our Watershed

The Friends of the Wissahickon recognizes that flooding and excessive stormwater runoff are major problems that severely impact the health of the Wissahickon Creek and its tributaries. FOW's Protect Our Watershed (POW) Program is pursuing initiatives aimed at better understanding and resolving these problems.

Many of FOW's projects focus on alleviating the negative effects of stromwater runoff on Fairmount Park. FOW's Sustainable Trails Initiative and the recent installation of a rain garden in front of Valley Green Inn are important examples. These projects are critical but essentially reactive. Recently, FOW launched the POW Program as a proactive approach to curb flooding and water runoff problems. Debra Wolf Goldstein, Esq., has been hired as Project Manager, and the POW Land Conservation and Stewardship Plan was approved by FOW's board.

POW's strategy is to:

1) Prioritize parcels in the lower Wissahickon watershed for outreach and protection. Maps and photographs showing the location of these tracts or parcels are available for viewing. Click on the image you wish to view:

Environmental Features

2004 Infrared Aerial Photograph

Priority Parcels

Highest Priority Parcels

2) Approach targeted landowners with information and technical assistance on how to improve their properties as riparian buffer, with a specific emphasis on erosion and stormwater runoff.

3)Encourage conservation easements on high priority properties to protect the area's remainng open space from the impervious surfaces and habitat destruction that comes with developemnt. To start, FOW and the Chestnut Hill Historical Society will more actively market their joint conservation easement program to landowners with properties located in critical areas. In the 12 years since the program's start, it has created 19 easements preserving 54 acres of open space.

4) Leverage FOW's actions by partnering with other organizations chosen for their complementary missions, resources, and/or geographic coverage.

If you are interested in participating or learning more about this program, please contact the FOW office at 215-247-0417 or office@fow.org. You can also help us with a donation or by volunteering.

Click here to view our POW Brochure, which lists Ten Simple Steps you can follow to become a partner in safeguarding the Wissahickon Creek.

For more information on stormwater issues, visit www.montgomeryconservation.org/toursites.htm.

Click here for information on POW's Lecture Series.