Pachella Gully Sedimentation Reduction & Stormwater Management Project
Project Description
Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) will restore an actively eroding 500-foot gully along the access trail behind Pachella Ball Field in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park (WVP). Since the gully was first identified with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) in 2014, the erosion has substantially worsened, threatening two buried potable water mains that traverse the access trail. Environmental engineers estimate that 22,000 pounds of sediment and 34 pounds of phosphorus are being discharged into the Wissahickon Creek each year. Ultimately, this project will reduce sediment and phosphorus loads from entering Wissahickon Creek, a drinking water source for 350,000 Philadelphians, and improve trail safety for the park’s over 2.5 million annual visitors.
Restoration Goals:
- Improve trail safety and drainage
- Divert surface runoff
- Reduce sedimentation and nonpoint source pollution to the Wissahickon Creek
Pachella Trail Erosion After Storm
Project Partner: Philadelphia Parks and Recreation & Philadelphia Water Department
Status: Pre-Construction Phase
This project is partially funded through the generosity of
- National Fish and Wildlife Fund Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener
- Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Watershed Restoration & Protection
- Schuylkill River Restoration Fund.
See more on the Philadelphia Water Department’s Pachella project page.
FOW is continuing to seek support for this project, thank you for considering a donation. If you have any questions, please reach out to capitalprojects@fow.org. Questions about this project? Email capitalprojects@fow.org