Upper Perkiomen Region

“Lead” Co-Petitioners

Broad Public Support for Petition

• Over 120 co-petitioners in support of Petition• All 3 County Conservation Districts in support • 79 landowners/farmers/businesses in region• Senators: Pat Brown, Bob Mensch, Wonderling,

Reps: Kessler, Simmons, Vitali, Toepel

• PA Campaign for Clean Water Coalition – 180 conservation & civic groups throughout PA

Township Support• Lower Macungie• East Greenville • Hereford• District• Longswamp• Douglass (Mont)• Marlborough• Lower Milford• Milford (Bucks)• Pennsburg Boro• Green Lane Boro• Upper Milford

Biological assessment qualifier – one way to get HQ

• PA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP)• Results compared to a reference stream

• HQ - 83% of the reference stream

• EV - 92% of the reference stream

Fish Survey Qualifier to HQChapter 93(ii) Class A wild trout stream qualifier. The surface water has been designated a Class A wild trout stream by the Fish and Boat Commission following public notice and comment

Water chemistry qualifier to HQ• Dissolved oxygen• Iron• Dissolved copper• Dissolved cadmium• Aluminum• Dissolved nickel• Temperature• pH• Dissolved arsenic• Dissolved lead• Ammonia nitrogen• Dissolved zinc

DEP requires one full year of data and at least 24 grab samples required

Chapter 93 (i) The water has long-term water quality, based on at least 1 year of data which exceeds levels necessary to support the propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and recreation in and on the water by being better than the water quality criteria in § 93.7, Table 3 (relating to specific water quality criteria) or otherwise authorized by § 93.8a(b) (relating to toxic substances), at least 99% of the time

(b) EV Qualifier. A surface water that meets one or more of the following conditions is an Exceptional Value Water: (1) The water meets the requirements of subsection (a) and one or more of the following: (i) The water is located in a National wildlife refuge or a State game propagation and protection area. (ii) The water is located in a designated State park natural area or State forest natural area, National natural landmark, Federal or State wild river, Federal wilderness area or National recreational area. (iii) The water is an outstanding National, State, regional or local resource water. (iv) The water is a surface water of exceptional recreational significance (v) The water achieves a score of at least 92% (or its equivalent) using the methods and procedures described in subsection (a)(2)(i)(A) or (B). (vi) The water is designated as a ‘‘wilderness trout stream’’ by the Fish and Boat Commission following public notice and comment. (2) The water is a surface water of exceptional ecological significance.

Upper Perk is Primary Water Supply for a Half Million People

• Aqua America operates Green Lane Reservoir (805 acre impoundment built in 1957)

• Reservoir supplies water to over a half million people in Mont and Chester Co.

• 52.8% of water in Green Lane from Main Branch, Perkiomen

Green Lane Reservoir

Upper Perk Has Existing Forested Buffers

• 69% has forested buffers of atleast 50 feet on each side of streams.

• Forest coverage overall much greater than other southeast piedmont forest

Hosensack – 78%West Branch Perk – 67%Macoby Creek – 60%Upper main Branch Perk – 53%

Stream Fencing & Restoration by Community – often funded by PA Growing Greener Funds

• Over 35 stream restoration projects implemented since 2000

Summer 2014 – Hosensack Restoration Project Planned

Low Impervious Cover

Main branch – 1.3%Hosensack – 0.9%West Branch – 1.5%Macoby Creek – 2.5%

Upper Perk is Part of Nationally Recognized Schuylkill Highlands

• Highlands areas are designated by Congress for special protections as source waters for major east coast cities.

Upper Perk – Healthy Biodiversity• Designated “High Priority

Habitat Zone” in Schuylkill Conservation Plan

• Priority 1 (statewide significance) and Priority 2 (local significance) sites in The Nature Conservancy’s Natural Areas Inventory

• The Upper Perk supports highest concentration of Natural Areas Priorities in Montgomery County

Upper Perkiomen DCNR Conservation Registry

• Was Added to DCNR’s Rivers Conservation Registry in 2003

Montgomery County, Green Lane

Upper Perkiomen-Global Significance

Preserved Farmland, Forests and Conservation Easements

• >8,000 acres or 8.6% of area in open space– Ag easements –

4,182 acres

Rich History & Preserved Heritage of the Upper Perk