In 2014, the William Penn Foundation set forth the Delaware River Watershed Initiative with a three-year, $35 million investment. Delaware River Watershed spans four states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, covers 13,500 square miles and provides drinking water for over 15 million people. More than 50 nonprofit organizations have developed plans to reduce threats to water quality using scientific research to implement strategic ecological restoration projects.
The Foundation identified smaller sub-watersheds throughout the larger Delaware River watershed to focus outreach efforts with the end goal of improving water quality in the Delaware River. The sub-watersheds were grouped into seven areas referred to as Brandywine-Christina, Kirkwood-Cohansey, Middle Schuylkill, New Jersey Highlands, Poconos-Kittantinny, Schuylkill Highlands, Upper Lehigh, Upstream Suburban Philadelphia.
After the success of a four year “Phase 1”, the William Penn Foundation has signed off on a “Phase 2” for the Delaware Watershed Initiative beginning in 2018. “Phase 2” will use the lessons learned from the first four years to target more specific areas for sustainable stormwater projects while continuing the larger efforts to educate people about the threats to our water.
Five micro-watersheds in the Suburban Philadelphia Cluster as set forth by the William Penn Foundation.
Within the larger “Upstream Suburban Philadelphia” group, smaller watershed organizations have been tasked with addressing specific problems in their respective regions. The Lower Merion Conservancy has been working with other groups the Cobbs Creek watershed. The Conservancy’s work has focused on education and research in the East Branch of the Indian Creek, one of the larger tributaries of Cobbs Creek. In all waterways, degradation and pollution must be addressed in upstream areas before tackling downstream problems in larger rivers.
During Phase 2 of the DRWI, the focus for the Cobbs Creek Watershed will turn to Naylors Run, which begins in Havertown near Bailey Park, crosses Route 3 near Llanerch Diner, passes through the Lowe’s parking lot, and runs next to Upper Darby High School into Naylors Run Park before being piped underground and eventually joining Cobbs Creek near the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center. The work in other areas will continue, but larger on the ground projects will largely fall within the Naylors Run subwatershed.
Naylors Run Watershed
Funding generously provided by:
Our Cobbs Partners include:
Our Upstream Suburban Philadelphia Cluster Partners include:
