Presentation given by Delaware Riverkeeper Network on 6/3/2010 for streamside landowners in the upper Crum Creek watershed in Chester and Delaware Counties, PA. Discusses streamside management strategies to protect the Exceptional Value, High Quality, and Cold Water Fishery waters in the watershed.

1. Upper Crum Creek Streamside Landowners Meeting June 3, 2010 Funded by: Coldwater Heritage Partnership

2. Upper Crum Creek Coldwater Conservation Statewide concern for species preservation Local steering committee Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association Willistown Conservation Trust Brandywine Conservancy Willistown Easttown Newtown Malvern Edgmont White Manor Country Club

3. Drinking Water Supply Springton Reservoir – Crum Creek Photo courtesy of CRC

4. Flood Control Crum Creek floodplain at Kirkwood Preserve Discharge 1500 cfs; Normal discharge 30 cfs Photo by: Ted Leisenring

5. Habitat and Food Supply West Branch Crum Creek www.flickr.com/photos/22295793@N07/2463275762/ www.flickr.com/photos/david_panevin/3500469081/ www.flickr.com/photos/7202153@N03/2606304268/

6. HQ CWF, 15% of PA Streams CWF WWF EV, 3% of PA Streams

8. Upper Crum Creek Fish Survey PA Fish & Boat Commission - June 1999 Near Stoneybrook Lane Downstream of Twin Brook Confluence at White Horse Road Off Crum Creek Lane Hillview Road Mill Hollow Lane

9. Brown Trout – 6 Brown Trout – 54 Brown Trout – 295 Brook Trout – <3 Rainbow Trout – <3 American Eel – 3-25 Brown Trout – 2 American Eel – 3-25 Brown Trout – 97 Rainbow Trout – <3 American Eel – 3-25

10. Brown Trout, Salmo trutta Introduced Temperature Preferred: 53-66 F Lethal: 78-81 F Oxygen Preferred: 5-9 mg/L Gravel Preferred: 1-7cm Pools and cover Jump Height Max 2.6 feet

12. PA state fish

13. Temperature

14. Preferred: 51-61 F

15. Lethal: 77 F

16. Oxygen

17. Preferred: 7-9 mg/L

18. Pools and cover

19. Jump Height

20. Max 2.4 feetwww.flickr.com/photos/42180949@N02/4544533341/

21. Upper Crum Creek Temperature PA Fish and Boat Commission – June 1999 69.8 F 65.7 F 68 F 68 F 72.5 F

22. Benthic Macro Invertebrates … BUGS Fish food Water quality indicators They live in the stream Varying tolerance to pollution Mayfly, stonefly, caddisfly (EPT) Photos, respectively: www.flickr.com/photos/22295793@N07/4375437778/in/set-72157619076769607, www.flickr.com/photos/grabe/1397669571/in/set-72157602060020933, www.flickr.com/photos/the_smileyfish/3247058992, www.flickr.com/photos/divinenephron/3459143769

23. Eisenhower Road Jaffrey Road Warren Road

24. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Data(PA DEP and DRN) Downward Trend? www.flickr.com/photos/22295793@N07/4374684183/in/set-72157619076769607

25. Value of Riparian Buffers Food chain link – 75% of stream’s food base Shade - 9° F cooler in the summer Erosion control Wildlife refuge and corridor Filter out pollutants

26. Pollutant Removal vs. Buffer Width The wider the better… but even a little can make a big difference

27. Upper Crum Creek Buffers 2004 “Upper Crum Creek Watershed Assessment and Restoration/Protection Plan” Growing Greener Grant from PA DEP to Willistown Township Consultants: Willistown Conservation Trust and Mesa Environmental Services

29. Condition of Riparian Buffer 2004 “Upper Crum Creek Watershed Assessment and Restoration/Protection Plan”

30. East Branch at West Circular Drive Photo courtesy of CRC

31. West Branch at Paoli Pike

32. West Branch near Warren Avenue

33. Coldwater Conservation Plan Focus on EV West Branch Applicable throughout upper Crum Creek watershed

34. www.taylorgeoservices.com/gis/GIS.htm#crc

35. Coldwater Conservation Plan Recommendations Riparian buffer enhancement No-mow zone establishment Proper debris and yard waste disposal Stream bank stabilization Stormwater runoff management Pond management Horse pasture management Floodplain and wetland protection Invasive plant removal Fish passage barrier removal

36. Riparian (Streamside) Buffer Benefits Shade Water uptake Food source Erosion control Living filter Wildlife habitat Crum Creek at Grubbs Mill Road Bridge Photo courtesy of CRC

38. Native trees and shrubs

39. Help Available

40. CRC, DRN, and WCTCrum Creek at Kirkwood Preserve Photo courtesy Willistown Conservation Trust

41. Keys to Successful Buffers Plant in early spring or fall Deer protection Supplemental watering for first two years (1” per week) Mulch or weed mat

42. Periodically Flooded Red maple Swamp white oak Black gum Tulip tree* Virginia sweetspire* Sweet pepperbush * Denotes species easiest to establish What Natives to Plant? Wettest Areas Sycamore* River birch* Alder species Silky dogwood Wet to Dry Redbud* Sweet gum American hornbeam

43. No Mow Establishment

44. Streamside Mowing Crum Creek

46. Turf Grass vs. Native Grasses & Wildflowers www.lrc.usace.army.mil/co-r/best_management_practices.htm

47. No Mow Establishment How wide? Goal 50’ but 15’ will help Establishment Remove turf and invasives Seed with native mix Set clear mowing boundaries Maintenance Monitor and control invasive plants “Mow” once in February Cut no shorter than 6” Little Crum Creek Buffer installed by CRC and Ridley Park Borough Photo courtesy of CRC

48. Crum Creek Tributary, Edgmont No mow and plantings installed by CRC with Canter Village Photo courtesy of CRC

49. Yard Waste and Debris

53. West Branch Crum Creek at Forest Lane

54. Yard Waste and Debris Compost leaves Pile branches away from stream Grass cycling (leave on lawn) Properly dispose of trash Monitor the stream after storm events www.flickr.com/photos/emeryjl/2747229917

55. Bank Stabilization Solution versus Band-Aid BEWARE: Streams are a dynamic, interconnected system Consult a professional Permits may be needed from: US Army Corps of Engineers, PA Department of Environmental Protection, County Conservation District, local municipality

56. Soil Bioengineering Photo courtesy of CRC © 2004 Salix Applied Earthcare Photos from NRCS

57. Bank Grading Valley Creek Stony Creek

58. Instream Structures

60. Tree removal

61. Live stakes

63. Gravel removal

64. Tree revetment

65. Placement of rock along the channel bank

66. Instream structures

68. West Branch Crum Creek

69. West Branch Crum Creek

70. West Branch Crum Creek at Andrews Road

71. Stormwater Management Slow down and infiltrate – make an asset Direct into gently sloped vegetated areas Protect existing vegetation Vegetate open areas Retrofit stormwater basins Porous pavement Infiltration trenches Green (vegetated) roofs Crabby Creek Front lawn alternative Photo courtesy of CRC

72. Stormwater Management Photos courtesy of CRC

73. Increase water temperatures Increase nutrients, algae blooms Decrease dissolved oxygen Canadian goose habitat Pond Management

74. Pond Management Evaluate need Plant margins Maintain depth Aeration Sediment forebay Nutrient reed bed Deterrents Hershey’s Mill Stormwater Pond Photo by: Bruce Foreacre

75. Horse Pasture Management = Annual Production per Horse Manure – 8.5 tons Nitrogen – 102 pounds Phosphate – 43 pounds

77. Density 1 acre/horse Stream fencing Riparian buffer Manure management Site layout and runoff Stream crossings Horse Pasture Management Photo courtesy of CRC

78. Floodplain Protection

79. Wetland Protection West Branch Crum Creek downstream of White Manor

80. Invasive Plant Removal Multiflora rose Honeysuckle Japanese hops Reed canary grass Phragmites Porcelain berry Garlic mustard Lesser celandine www.flickr.com/photos/steveguttman/3591568057/ www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/List.htm

82. If present contact CRCPhotos from: www.environet-uk.co.uk/graphics/japanese-knotweed-2a.JPG

83. Fish Passage Barrier Removal Why care? Block upstream migration Decrease habitat value Elevate water temperatures upstream and downstream

84. Next Steps Neighborhood stream walks Free technical assistance Help implementing Photo by: Ed Tierney

85. Questions? Emma B.L. Gutzler Restoration Manager emma@delawareriverkeeper.org 215.369.1188 x112 Anne Murphy Executive Director crc@nni.com 610.892.8731