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Coldwater Heritage Partnership |
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Watershed Description:
The Hosensack Creek is a main tributary of
the Upper Perkiomen Creek. The stream rises in Lower Milford Township,
Lehigh County and joins the Upper Perkiomen near East Greenville in
Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County. The Hosensack Creek remains
predominately rural and agricultural. The watershed retains nearly 50%
forest cover.
The entire Perkiomen Creek watershed
encompasses 362 acres and is the largest subwatershed in the Schuylkill
River network. Landscapes throughout the watershed are
quite diverse ranging from dense suburban communities near the
Schuylkill River to agricultural landscapes and largely rural
communities in the Upper Perkiomen Creek. The "Perkie" is a critical
component of the drinking water supply for the greater Philadelphia area
with several water companies drawing directly from the Creek and the
City of Philadelphia drawing directly from the Schuylkill River.
Several reaches of the Upper Perkiomen
Creek support wild trout reproduction or are designated as Class A Wild
Trout streams. The Hosensack does not currently carry these designations
but it is a favorite stream for local anglers.
Organization Description:
The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy was
organized in 1964 as the Perkiomen Valley Watershed Association.
Initially, the organization focused on cleaning up the Perkie which had
been degraded significantly by industrial as well as agricultural uses.
Today, the PWC is waiting for the PaDEP decision regarding the petition
to upgrade the entire Upper Perkiomen Creek to Exceptional Value status,
representing a significant change in how the Creek is viewed and valued.
The PWC's main efforts focus on
stewardship and education. The Environmental Education programs reach
approximately 9000 applicants a year with programs for young and not so
young. The conservation and stewardship efforts are currently focused on
riparian buffer enhancements and streambank restorations. PWC
personnel also assist municipalities with stormwater management issues,
community and resources planning and community outreach.
Project Description:
The goal of the Coldwater Heritage
Partnership Grant is to evaluate the main stem of the Hosensack Creek
and establish a Conservation Action Plan that will enhance likely trout
habitats and promote a wider range of trout reproduction. The initial
grant will be used to develop and strengthen partnerships and
relationships between the PWC and local organizations and residents. In
addition, a physical inspection will be made of as much of the main stem
Hosensack as possible. This evaluation will look at vegetation, adjacent
land uses and streambank conditions. The ultimate goal will be to
identify and prioritize potential improvement needs. The results will be
a Conservation Action Plan that will be used to solicit future
implementation grants. The partnerships developed through the Coldwater
Heritage Partnership Grant will provide the additional support required
for most grants as well as a source of volunteers to implement the
projects.
Contact Info:
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Hosensack Creek