1. The Schuylkill Watershed Initiative: Putting Collaboration to Work in the Headwaters of the Estuary
Jennifer Adkins
Schuylkill Watershed Initiative Grant Coordinator
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

2. The Schuylkill River Watershed
Largest Tributary to the Delaware Estuary.
Over 2,000 square miles
Drinking Water Source for over 1.5 million people.
Located entirely within the State of Pennsylvania

3. 2003 Source Water Assessment

4. Two Major Efforts To Protect Water Quality in the Schuylkill River
Started in 2003 by EPA and Philadelphia
Over 60 organizations and 100 members today
$1.15 million EPA grant
$1.1 million match
$2.25 million investment in water quality protection
Schuylkill Watershed
Initiative Grant
(SWIG)

6. SWIG Project Locations
AMD Projects
SWIG Project Locations
Stormwater Category I
Agriculture Projects
Stormwater Category II

7. SAN and the SWIG: The Collaborative Approach
Local Project Managers (SAN members)
receive funds, implement on the ground
SAN Workgroup members identify priorities,
provide guidance/assistance
On projects
$$$
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
disburses funds, collects, documents,
and reports activity to EPA
Philadelphia Water Department oversees
monitoring, collects and analyzes data,
and reports on results to PDE

8. Example: Reevesdale South Dip Tunnel AMD Passive Treatment System
$40,000 federal funding
$100,000 match
Schuylkill Headwaters contracted for design, construction, signage
USGS and PWD conduct monitoring in accordance with QAPP
Dedication to be utilized as demonstration opportunity

9. Example: Pervious Parking Area Demonstration at Riverbend Environmental Education Center
$27,000 federal funding
$145,000 match
Riverbend EEC contracted for design, paving, signage
MCCD provided technical assistance for bioswales
PDE organized tour

10. Example: Establishing Municipal Environmental Advisory Councils
$20,000 federal funding
$5,000 match
SAN Stormwater Workgroup prioritizes municipalities for outreach, provides ongoing guidance/assistance
Pennsylvania Environmental Council conducts outreach/assist to create EACs

11. Projects & Partners Priority Farm BMPs (15)
Priority Farm Conservation Plans (15)
Farm Certification Program
Abandoned Mine Drainage Passive Remediation (2)
Pine Knot Tunnel AMD Study
Golf Course Certification Program
School Technical Assistance and Certification
Perkiomen Stormwater Outreach Pilot
Perkiomen Stormwater BMPs (6)
Stormwater BMPs at Priority Public Sites (5)
Case Studies (2)
SAN Website & Rivercast
EAC Development
Riverbend Pervious Parking Demonstration
Aqua Pennsylvania
Berks County Conservation District
Berks County Conservancy
Delaware Riverkeeper Network
Lansdale Borough
Montgomery County Conservation District
Norristown High School
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
PennState Cooperative Extension
Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
Philadelphia Water Department
Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Schuylkill Headwaters Association
USGS
These example are just a fraction of the work happening under this collaborative arrangements
The entire initiative involves 15 partners and over 40 projects – all with positive impacts to water quality in the Schuylkill

12. Planning for the Future…
Diversity and
Engagement
Clear Message
Sustainable funding
Supportive policies
We’ve got plans… the SWIG is for three years. While that’s underway on the ground, behind the scenes partners like us are working to strengthen SAN and build its capacity to do more projects like the SWIG. We are working on four pieces to the puzzle in particular…

13. Here is a conceptual framework for the Schuylkill –

14. Helpful Information Schuylkill Action Network Website:
Jennifer Adkins, SWIG Coordinator
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Ext. 112