Goose Creek Watershed Action Plan

We are proud to announce the completion of the Goose Creek Watershed Action Plan! The Watershed Action Plan is a comprehensive blueprint that was developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, environmental experts, and government agencies to address the problematic conditions experienced by the Goose Creek Watershed.

Goose Creek's Conditions

Some of the problematic conditions experienced by the Goose Creek Watershed include:

• Straightened, ditched stream

• Stream channel incision

• Lack of plant diversity

• Invasive species

• Stream channel migration

• Floodplain disconnection

• Stream bank erosion

Prioritization Criteria

Project opportunities across the watershed were classified as high, medium, or low potential based on a site's effectiveness in meeting the following criteria:

• Reduce streambank and bed erosion by improving channel stability

• Encourage retention of water & sediment within the valley bottom

• Mitigate and/or reduce flooding

• Protect existing and future infrastructure

• Improve natural functions of the stream and floodplain corridor

Improvement Approaches

Three general approaches were identified for improving Goose Creek and its tributaries:

• Streambank Stabilizaton

• Floodplain Reconnection

• Floodplain Restoration

Any combination of these three can be utilized depending on what is appropriate for a site.

Streambank Stabilization

• Reduces erosion and creates increased flood storage by grading banks or excavating benches

• More suited for urban areas but may require costly armoring to withstand larger flow events

Floodplain Reconnection

• Raises the channel bed to match the floodplain to help restore areas with downcut streams

• Minimizes disturbance and preserves tree canopy but may require excavation or armoring for stable transitions

Floodplain Restoration

• Removes legacy sediment to reconnect the channel, floodplain, and groundwater to create a wide, flat area with native vegetation and wetland habitats

• Provides the most flood storage, water quality improvement, and ecological benefit

Conclusion

Stay tuned as we will be hosting a public meeting on a date to be announced to present the Watershed Action Plan and gather community input. Residents, business owners, and local organizations are highly encouraged to attend and participate in shaping the future of GOose Creek. For more information, contact Michael Dunn at mikedunn@upenn.edu or 610-350-7000. Special thanks to LandStudies for working with us to develop this plan!