PENNSYLVANIA: Schuylkill Watershed
Schuylkill Action Network - A Watershed Source Water
Protection Program
Background
In the past 30 years, the health of the river and its tributaries has changed dramatically.
While dissolved oxygen has increased due largely to the Clean Water Act, a variety of
land activities have degraded the streams in the watershed. Major contributors include
agricultural practices, storm water runoff, sewage overflows, Polychlorinated Biphenyls
(PCBs), and abandoned mine drainage. The Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection in their 2004 Section 303d list and Section 305b Report of
Water Quality listed approximately 900 miles of streams in the watershed as impaired for
aquatic life use. The primary sources of these impairments were stormwater runoff,
inappropriate agricultural practices and abandoned mine drainage. The structure of the
technical workgroups was organized to address these issues.
Location: The Schuylkill River Watershed is located in southeast Pennsylvania and
includes parts of 11 counties. The river travels approximately 130 miles from its
headwaters at Tuscarora Springs in Schuylkill County to its mouth at the Delaware River
in Philadelphia. The Schuylkill River is the largest tributary to the Delaware River and is
a major contributor to the Delaware Estuary. The river's watershed encompasses an
area of approximately 2,000 square miles. The Schuylkill watershed provides habitats for
a variety of warm water, cold water, and migratory fish. Numerous dams block fish
passage throughout the watershed. One-quarter of the Schuylkill watershed has been
designated as "High Quality/Exceptional Value" by the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection. About one-third of the watershed is listed as impaired for
aquatic life use. The mainstem of the Schuylkill was the first scenic river designated
under the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act (in 1978).
Water Supply: The Schuylkill River has been an important source of drinking water in the
region for over two centuries. Over 1.5 million people receive their drinking water from
the Schuylkill River and its tributaries including the cities of Philadelphia, Phoenixville,
Pottstown, and Reading.
Source Water Assessment: Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) conducted the
Source Water Assessment for the Schuylkill River.
Source Water Protection: PWD identified the entire Schuylkill River watershed as its
source water but because it lacked authority to address the major threats, the PWD
solicited help from the USEPA to develop a Source Water Protection Plan.
Priority Contamination Threats
The priority contamination threats come from stormwater runoff, inappropriate
agricultural practices and abandoned mine drainage.
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Local Team and Developing the Protection Plan
In the spring of 2003, the USEPA convened the Schuylkill Action Network (SAN) as a
pilot project for stakeholders developing and implementing multijurisdictional source
water protection strategies. It is composed of 250 members from about 70 different
organizations which include governmental agencies (federal, state, and local), non-profit
groups, industries, water suppliers, and private citizens. The SAN organization structure
includes an Executive Steering Committee, a Planning Committee, five technical
workgroups (Abandoned Mine Drainage, Agriculture, Pathogen/Compliance,
Stormwater, and Land Use), and support teams for education/outreach, data, and
monitoring.
SAN's structure facilitates the implementation of a grassroots action plan. In addition to
a Steering Committee and a Planning Committee staffed by USEPA, the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), PWD, and the Delaware River Basin
Commission, four workgroups craft solutions for each of the four primary threats to
source water (agricultural runoff, acid mine drainage, pathogen/compliance issues, and
stormwater runoff). Two other teams include a Data Team and an Education/Outreach
Team.
Management Measures
PWD, with input from others including USEPA and PADEP, compiles information on
water quality, stream impairment, land use, source activities, funding, and protection
activities to prioritize areas for restoration and protection. The workgroups have
established discreet objectives and tasks to mitigate the threats for which they are
responsible.
The goals of the SAN are as follows:
• Improved Watershed Health
Restoration of all impaired stream miles to attain their designated uses;
• Improved Public Value
Significant improvement in public perception of the Schuylkill River as a vital
regional natural resource that should be protected;
A return to the river by the public for the purpose of recreation, sport and
enjoyment;
• Safer Drinking Water/Reduced Need for Treatment
Reduction in annual pollutant loadings to source water due to source water
protection efforts;
Reduced treatment cost through improved source water quality.
Costs to implement the action plan are covered by a number of sources,
including a $1.15 million Targeted Watershed Implementation Grant from EPA for
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work on 36 restoration projects and $200,000 from PADEP's Growing Greener
program for the Pine Knot-Oak Discharge Tunnel.
Other progress to date includes the following actions:
• Helped establish the Exelon Restoration Fund for the Schuylkill River (about
$150,000 annually);
• Installed 15,000 feet of stream bank fencing and riparian buffers in the
watershed;
• Completed conservation plans for 10 farms;
• Received $95,000 grant from Pennsylvania to prioritize land preservation areas
based on habitat and drinking water use protection;
• Held forums on source water protection, proper operation and maintenance of
sewage collection systems; and
• Led 3 workshops on watershed education.
In addition to the above actions, the Schuylkill Action Network has an early warning
system - about 12 of the 30 suppliers have bought into it. .
Measuring Program Effectiveness
Success is measured in many ways. About 40 different projects were funded under the
$1.15M Targeted Watershed Implementation Grant. Other successes are: installation of
BMPs, monitoring (before & after studies), and state assessments. Each workgroup has
completed annual progress reports. The 2006 (January report) progress report is posted
on the website - www.schuylkillactionnetwork.org.
For Further Information, Contact:
Paula Conolly
Philadelphia Water Department, Office of Watersheds
Source Water Program
1101 Market Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215)208.3589
Fax: (215)685.6043
E-mail: paula.conolly@phila.gov
Chuck Kanetsky
Source Water Protection Team Leader
U. S. EPA Region III
Drinking Water Branch (3WP22)
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Phone: (215) 814-2735
Fax: (215)814-2318
E-mail: kanetsky.charles@epa.gov
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Or, visit the webpage at schuylkillactionnetwork.org
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