Southeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Improvement Program

UPDATED: December 2012

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: Reps. Brady (PA-1), Fattah (PA-2), Gerlach (PA-6), Meehan (PA-7), Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Schwartz (PA-13), Dent (PA-15), Pitts (PA-16)

APPROPRIATION / PHASE: Construction, General

BUSINESS PROGRAM: Environmental Infrastructure

AUTHORITY: Section 566 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996, as amended.

LOCATION: Authority allows for projects within the Southeastern Region of Pennsylvania including the Counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.  See individual projects for specific project locations.

DESCRIPTION: Funding for this authority is at the sole discretion of Congress through Congressionally Directed Spending and is not part of the USACE annual budget.  The Southeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Improvement Program, authorized by Section 566 of WRDA 1996, as amended, provides design and construction assistance to non-Federal interests for carrying out water related environmental infrastructure, and resource protection and development projects in southeastern Pennsylvania, including projects for wastewater treatment and related facilities, water supply and related facilities, and surface water resource protection and development.   Section 552 of WRDA 1999 amended the authority to include environmental restoration as an authorized project purpose under this program.  The process consists of three phases: (1) Project Approval (2) Project Design, and (3) Project Construction.  All phases are costs-shared with a non-Federal sponsor with the sponsor providing 25% of the total project costs. 

OVERALL STATUS:  In FY06, the Corps received funds totaling $594,000 allocated between five different projects.  In FY 08, Congress appropriated $492,000 to the Tacony Creek Ecological Improvement Project, $236,000 for the Hatfield Sewer Collection Improvement Project and $49,000 for a project in Whitpain Township.  Fiscal Year 09 contributed an additional $837,000 divided between Tacony Creek Ecological Improvements ($478,000), Cobbs Creek Habitat Restoration ($239,000) and a new project for Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County Watershed Improvement Project ($120,000).  Congress appropriated $388,000 in FY 10 to support the Tacony Creek project and $242,000 for a new project in Philadelphia along Sandyford Run.  Under the work plan concept, the Corps received $2,300,000 from Congress to support construction efforts for the Cobbs Creek Habitat Restoration project.

Congress also appropriated approximately $2,567,712 in funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the Section 566 Program.  The division of funds includes Tacony Creek Ecological Improvements ($1,831,853), Cobbs Creek Fish Passage Restoration ($80,279), Cobbs Creek Habitat Restoration ($254,093), Mill Creek Diversion ($2,728) and Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County Watershed Improvement Project ($398,757).

The following table summarizes the fiscal appropriations for the active Section 566 projects.  Detailed information pertaining to each project follows later in this document under the appropriate project heading.

Zero funding received in FY07and FY11

*Stimulus Funds Received in addition to normal FY09 funding

Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County Watershed

• Description: Many Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County streams are in need of assistance to restore their environmental conditions including habitat and water quality.  The objective of this effort is to develop preliminary designs for multiple environmental improvement projects that address watershed problems in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania.  The approach follows an Integrated Water Resource Management principle to ensure project designs address system-wide problems and issues and result in a comprehensive watershed solution.  This project involves evaluating a wide-range of parameters including but not limited to sedimentation, erosion, aquatic habitat, ecosystem restoration and improvement, point and non-point source pollution and flood damage reduction.  The final product will contain prioritized preliminary designs (30% designs), including project costs, and a detailed implementation report for a holistic solution to the degradation of the environmental systems within Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties.

• Status: AECOM, under contact by the Corps, developed a decision support tool within a geographic information system (GIS) platform based on stakeholder input obtain during three workshops conducted in the spring 2011.  A final version of the tool was completed in the Spring of 2012 and released through a second round of stakeholder workshops.  The Corps executed the Design Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in August 2010.  Additional funding would support the prioritization of target areas and the initiation of preliminary designs.

SPONSOR: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)

COMMENTS: Available funding will not support the project moving into additional phases including plan formulation and project design.  Additional non-Federal cost-share from PADEP is also required.

Cobbs Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project

• Description: Modification or removal of a small dam on Cobbs Creek near Island Avenue and Woodland Avenue would restore fish passage and improve the aquatic habit along this stream.  The Woodland Dam, also known as Old Swedes Mill, is a low concrete structure managed by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department.  The purpose of the Cobbs Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project is to investigate, select, and construct the best alternative to reestablish fish passage on Cobbs Creek.  Typically, the most effective method of restoring fish passage is to eliminate the obstruction by removing the dam.

• Status: The Corps completed a stream stabilization analysis that demonstrated after removal of the dam, upstream bank protection is required to prevent migration of the stream and additional erosion.  The Corps subsequently completed a 90% design of upstream structures to stabilize the stream while still allowing fish passage following dam removal.  PWD provided comments on the design and requested the Corps to consider additional design parameters.  The Corps and PWD executed the Design Agreement in August 2009 and completed an archeological and historical review of the project site concluding the structure is not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Structures.  The Corps transferred a portion of FY 06 funds ($72,000) identified for Cobbs Creek Fish Passage to the Mill Creek Diversion project.  The Corps anticipates final designs, and plans and specifications by June 2013 with the project ready to advertise for construction.  The project experienced delays in FY 2012 while the project team focused on bringing the Cobbs Creek Habitat project to construction.

* $72K transferred to Mill Creek Diversion project

*$390K transferred from Tacony Creek project

SPONSOR: Philadelphia Water Department

COMMENTS: Funding is sufficient to finalize the plans and specifications, however additional funding is required to proceed with construction.

Cobbs Creek Watershed Habitat Restoration Project

•  Description:  Sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s, the City of Philadelphia enclosed a portion of the West Branch of Indian Creek within the Cobbs Creek Watershed in a combined sewer.  During storm events, the flow within the combined sewer surpasses its capacity and the excess flow discharges raw sewage into Indian Creek.  The urbanization of this watershed consequently increased storm flows and contributes to sedimentation and debris accumulation within the sewer system leading to frequent flooding of the area during minor storm events. The West Branch of Indian Creek enters the combined sewer system upstream of City owned tennis courts in Morris Park, between Brockton and Ruskin Roads.  The proposed project includes the design and construction a new stream channel to the East Branch of Indian Creek that bypasses the sewer system.  This will remove the flow of the West Branch of Indian Creek from the combined sewer thereby reducing sewer overflow events, decreasing flooding of the park by providing an alternate route for the water, and restoring the stream to a more natural state.  The project will construct approximately 650ft to 1000ft of new channel, including pools and riffles.

• Status: The Corps completed the project plans and specifications and awarded a contract for construction in September 2012.  The Contractor, a small business out of Rhode Island, mobilized to the project site in November.  Construction is expected to last approximately 12 months. 

** $117K transferred to Mill Creek Diversion project

SPONSOR: Philadelphia Water Department

COMMENTS: Funding is sufficient to complete construction of the project.

Hatfield Sewer Collection Improvement Project

• Description: This project involves replacing or fixing sewer lateral lines connecting residential structures to the main sewer lines within Hatfield Borough to resolve a community-wide problem of inflow and infiltration into the public sewer system.  The Borough estimates approximately 1,000 sewer laterals within its boundaries with various degrees of disrepair.  This project is important to Hatfield Borough, as it will minimize the inflow and infiltration (I&I) into the existing sewer collection system.  Inflow and infiltration affects the quantity of wastewater that needs to be treated, the capacity of the Borough’s sewer pipes, the allowable capacity at the Hatfield Township Sewer Treatment Plant (STP) and ultimately the rate businesses and residents pay to operate and maintain the system.  The Borough of Hatfield does not have its own wastewater treatment plant but rather purchases capacity from neighboring Hatfield Township.  The Borough exceeds its allowable capacity during wet weather events because of inflow and infiltration.  In turn, the Hatfield Township STP experiences overflows into the West Branch Neshaminy Creek during wet weather conditions as referenced in the 2005 Sewage Treatment Facilities Status Report prepared for Montgomery County in 2007.

• Status: Hatfield Borough completed construction in the Fall of 2011.  The Corps is conducting an internal audit of the project as part of the project closeout process.  The Corps executed the design and construction agreement with Hatfield Borough in September 2009.

*$64K and **$25K transferred into the project from other Section 566 projects to support construction.

SPONSOR: Borough of Hatfield, PA.

COMMENTS: The Corps is proceeding with project closeout.

Mill Creek Diversion Project

• Description: The project evaluates alternatives to divert stream flow generated within the Mill Creek Watershed in Montgomery County away from Philadelphia’s combined sewer system.  The Corps evaluated seven different alignments beginning where Mill Creek enters the City’s combined system at the Overbrook SEPTA station.  The project evaluation includes engineering feasibility, cost estimations, and potential adverse flood and environmental impacts associated with modified flows in existing channels. 

• Status: The Corps completed the Alternative Evaluation Report and delivered the final product to the Philadelphia Water Department in October 2012.  The Corps is currently conducting an internal audit of the project as part of the project closeout process.  The Corps and PWD executed a Design Agreement in June 2007.

** Funds transferred from the Cobbs Creek Habitat ($117K), Cobbs Creek Fish Passage ($72K), Indian Creek ($57K), and Tacony Creek ($590K) projects

SPONSOR: Philadelphia Water Department

COMMENTS: Additional work on this project would require a separate cost share agreement and development of a new scope of work with the sponsor.  Currently, the sponsor is not interested in pursuing additional design.

Sandyford Run

• Description:  The project is located in northeast Philadelphia within the Pennypack Creek Watershed.  The creation of a wetland along Sandyford Run would retain stormwater reducing downstream peak flows, improve water quality and enhance the aesthetic value within the watershed.  Treatment wetlands assist in mitigating the stress of organic enrichment, low dissolved oxygen and high metal concentration and in particular aid addressing water quality impacts from multiple combined sewer outfalls along Sandyford Run.

• Status:  The Corps is working with PWD on developing a project scope of services for use in negotiating a cost share agreement.  The Corps and PWD conducted an initial site investigation in June 2010 and developed several potential approaches for advancement of the project.  PWD is currently evaluating the best approach before proceeding with development of the scope of services.

SPONSOR: The potential non-Federal Sponsor is the Philadelphia Water Department

COMMENTS: The potential sponsor is evaluating their desire to proceed with the project.  Additional funding is not required until the Corps and potential sponsor are able to coordinate a design agreement and scope of work.

Tacony Creek Ecological Improvements Project

• Description:  The Tacony Creek Ecological Improvement Project entails the restoration of approximately 2,200 feet of Tacony Creek using a natural stream-channel design approach.  The City of Philadelphia’s Water Department (PWD) initiated the project as part of their watershed management program, completing the initial design effort.  The Corps provided final design and construction assistance.

• The project involves reshaping the creek banks and bottom to slow water flow, encourage aquatic life, and help stormwater infiltrate the floodplain and surrounding land.  Boulders and stones are secured along the stream banks to prevent future erosion and simulate natural habitat for aquatic plants, insects and fish.  Rock formations of various shapes are placed in the stream in order to slow water flow and redirect it away from erosion-prone areas.  These are also used to protect existing wastewater infrastructure that run along the edges of the creek.  Pennsylvania native trees, shrubs and grasses are planted along the edge of the creek to help prevent erosion, stabilize streambanks, increase shade, absorb rainwater, filter pollutants from stormwater runoff, and provide habitat for wildlife.

• Status:  The Corps completed construction in October 2011 and PWD finished project monitoring and published a post-construction performance report.  The Corps and PWD had preliminary discussion on modifying the existing design and construction agreement to support additional work on Tacony Creek using the same design and construction techniques, however it was determined that if additional reaches are to be completed, the project team would pursue an additional agreement.  The Corps is currently proceeding with project closeout.  The Corps and PWD executed a Design and Construction Agreement in September 2009

** $590K transferred to Mill Creek Diversion project

SPONSOR: Philadelphia Water Department

COMMENTS: PWD and the Corps will continue to monitor the project over the next year.  Currently the project stands as a model project for additional urban environmental restoration efforts.  Funding would support additional work on Tacony Creek using the same techniques as the original project.

Whitpain Township

• Description: Congress appropriated $49,000 in FY08 to support projects aimed at improving the inflow and infiltration into the municipality’s sewer collection system.  The Corps and Whitpain Township are working together to identify an alternative project supportive of current local planning efforts..

• Status: The Corps and Whitpain Township met in November 2011 and again in January 2012 to evaluate potential project areas to address water resource protection projects within the Community.  Flooding events associated with the tropical events of Irene and Lee have brought more awareness to needs within the Community.  The Corps and Whitpain Township partnered together under the Planning Assistance to States Program to evaluate potential projects and their impact to the community.  Additional funding would be used to implement the project.

SPONSOR: Potential sponsor is Whitpain Township, PA.

COMMENTS: The current level of funding is sufficient to identify and negotiate an agreement with a non-Federal sponsor, however additional funding would be required to implement the scope of work.

PROGRAM MANAGER: Erik Rourke, (215) 656-6616, Erik.J.Rourke@usace.army.mil