Jack's Run, a feeder stream in the Sewickley Watershed, will be flowing through the thoughts of people planning stream restoration and enhancement projects. Enhancements made to the stream where it passes through the Lynch Field Recreation Center in Greensburg will be profiled in a book being developed by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. Sewickley Creek Watershed Association spearheaded the effort to stabilize the stream bank and improve water quality in cooperation with its city, school, business, and environmental agency partners.
The Lynch Field project is one of the case studies being researched by Richard Albert, an environmental scientist with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. The group received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to study stream restoration efforts across commonwealth
'The DEP grant is for developing a primer through a case study approach," explained Albert, who will be summarizing his findings in the book. "It will be a guidebook for people wanting to enhance and restore streams.
His criteria for choosing projects for study was that they came from across the state, that they illustrate a range of technology, techniques and partnership arrangements; and that they have special aspects to them. A chain of referrals led him to Wes Gordon with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Westmoreland County who told him about the work on Jack's Run.
Albert has found that the technology and techniques run the gamut from stream fencing that keep people and animals from negatively affecting a stream to the bioengineering approach that was done on Jack's Run at Lynch Field.
"A lot of stream restoration are oriented to trout streams. Lynch Field differed by being in a urban setting," Albert observed. The Jack's Run work illustrated a variety of techniques, such as a jack dam, flow deflectors, and biologs. The project also exemplifies a watershed group working in partnership with agencies, schools, and private industry.
"What sold me the most," said Albert about the project, "is the partnership arrangement." He also likes that it is a grassroots driven rather than government driven.
"in researching it further, I see even more," Albert cited 'the ~ planning process, the way Tom (Keller, executive director, Sewickley Creek Watershed Association) solicited materials and help, and that the small project is part of a larger watershed.'
SCWA's experience contains lessons for other groups, Albert pointed out. 'It's easier to start with something small like riverbank cleanups and move to water monitoring and then to more involved projects, becoming more sophisticated and experienced along the way."
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network plans an initial press run of 3,000 copies of the book. The DEP also plans to make it available on its website.'I'm impressed with what I'm finding," said Albert of his research. "And it's likely to be of interest beyond Pennsylvania," he said. And so Jack's Run and the other stream projects will be flowing beyond their local boundaries, watering dreams beyond their watersheds.
As such the Association shall use its resources to educate the citizens of the watershed as to sound environmental practices. In addition, the Association will seek out and cooperate with government agencies, interested organizations, businesses and individuals to implement programs to improve water quality and encourage proper land use.