West Branch of Crum Creek

  The West Branch of Crum Creek and its watershed has been recognized as unique and special by the State of Pennsylvania two times – first with its determination by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as a Coldwater trout producing fishery in 2002 along with the rest of the Upper Crum Creek, and second with its Exceptional Value protection status granted by DEP in 2003. Only 4% of Pennsylvania’s over 83,000 miles of stream rate high enough in biological diversity to be afforded Exceptional Value designation. Willistown Conservation Trust, Brandywine Conservancy, and Willistown Township have worked tirelessly over the past 25 years to preserve the open space, natural resources, and unique character of the Upper Crum watershed. The Willistown countryside, including the gem of the West Branch, would not be what it is today without their efforts.

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership awarded a grant to Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association (CRC) to develop a plan to preserve the coldwater species and their habitat in the Upper Crum, and in particular the West Branch. Implementation of stream enhancement, habitat improvement, and land management activities noted in this Coldwater Conservation Plan will help preserve the unique resource that is the West Branch for future generations, as well as benefit coldwater species downstream. The comparative macroinvertebrate analysis done by our project partner Delaware Riverkeeper Network and consultant Normandeau Associates reveals a decline in the superior quality of the West Branch, and indicates that land management practices are not adequate to avoid ongoing degradation of the resource. The stream survey compiled recommendations for over thirty properties. If collectively implemented by landowners these recommendations will act to reverse this trend and preserve what is a very beautiful and ecologically valuable stream. CRC is grateful for the insightful participation of its major conservation partners, Willistown Conservation Trust, Brandywine Conservancy, and Willistown Township, as well as West Branch landowners and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network for partnering with CRC to begin the process of thoughtfully implementing this Plan.

 

Contact information:

Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association

www.crcwatersheds.org

(610) 892-8731