Wissahickon Valley Park sustained significant flood-related damage from Hurricane Irene and rain storms related to Hurricane Lee, but trails rebuilt by FOW through the Sustainable Trails Initiative (STI) and Wissahickon Stormwater Mitigation and Sediment Reduction Project held up well. “FOW is very pleased with how the STI trails withstood the hurricane,” says Executive Director Maura McCarthy, “particularly the trails at Kitchen’s Lane, which were completed over the summer.”
Damage to Wissahickon Valley Park
Observations indicate that the flood levels in the Wissahickon on Thursday, September 8, were even higher than that of Hurricane Irene. While a complete list of damages was not available at the time of publication, the following information was available:
Forbidden Drive: There was significant flooding of Forbidden Drive in several locations and the terrain in these areas is uneven and may not be suitable for some trail activities until repairs are complete. Repairs are being made by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR).
Upper trails: Fifty miles of natural surface (dirt) trails sustained serious damage in certain locations, including the Orange Trail trailhead at Bell’s Mill Road and the trail alongside Cathedral Run just off Forbidden Drive.
Composting Toilets: The composting toilet at Rex Avenue sustained some significant flood related damage and will be closed until repairs can be made. The Mt. Airy Avenue composting toilet is still undergoing assessment.
Safety Reminders
Trails often remain saturated for some time after any rain event, and park users should refrain from running, biking, or horseback riding on trail surfaces that are wet and vulnerable to further erosion.
Water quality in the Wissahickon and its tributaries is at its worst immediately after a storm event; water flow, turbidity, and contaminants from street surfaces and waste water outflows remain high for some time. Swimming anywhere in PPR watershed parks is forbidden by law, and park users and their pets should not enter the creek, particularly after storms.