Management Option

Specific Projects

Potential Funding Sources

A. Project Area Characteristics

Utilize the Rivers Conservation Plan as a tool in protecting, managing, and preserving the Swatara Creek watershed.

Work with local, county, and regional planning organizations to develop and carry out plans for the protection of environmental amenities in the watershed.

Complete a comprehensive examination of traffic problems in the watershed and develop a strategy to address them, utilizing alternative forms of transportation (mass transit, car-pooling, bike lanes) when possible.

Work with MPO's to update comprehensive plans for the municipalities of the watershed that are over 10 years old. Complete multi- municipal/ multi-county plans where prudent and feasible.

Support implementation of land conservation techniques in subdivision design.

Assess how increasing population is impacting the watershed. Explore establishing growth areas and rural areas within the municipalities of the watershed.

Update Act 537 sewage management plans that are over 10 years old. Replace on-lot septic systems in the established growth areas. Assist in upgrading older on lot systems in established rural areas.

Actively enforce land uses controls along waterways. Especially keeping development out of floodplains. Develop strategies to protect riparian zones.

Partner with local universities to develop programs for student education and protection and enhancement of the watershed. Identify other volunteer and non-profit groups to coordinate activities and projects with to avoid duplication of effort.

B.  Land Resources

Expand upon the partnership with Ft. Indiantown Gap (FIG) for environmental resource and endangered species protection.

Continue/expand watershed wide cleanup days.

Identify “Brownfield” areas within the watershed for possible assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. Identify other potential hazard areas within the watershed.

Develop an educational program for demonstrating and promoting riparian buffers, especially for use in FFA, 4H, scout groups, and secondary schools.

Support pollution control legislation.

Support expanded recycling programs within the watershed as an alternative to landfill development.

Encourage local farmers and landowners to enroll their property in agricultural security areas, set aside programs and conservation easements.

C. Water Resources

Implement the remaining projects for reclaiming AMD impacted streams in the upper Swatara Creek watershed developed by Dan Koury in the Swatara Creek Reclamation Document.

Utilize the 1998 - Swatara Creek Watershed Rehabilitation Plan by Dan Koury as a model to develop rehabilitation plans for agricultural and urban runoff problems in each of the major drainages in the watershed.

Develop a comprehensive plan to protect and monitor water quality and the results of improvements to streams in the major drainages of the watershed. Tailor the monitoring programs to sources of potential degradation in each drainage. Utilize this information to develop a database of information for the entire watershed.

Develop and implement streambank stabilization and habitat enhancement projects for the streams in the watershed.

Develop a comprehensive in stream management plan for the Quittapahilla Creek watershed.

Develop a watershed wide conservation and education plan for the conservation of water. Coordinate drought task forces.

Develop an agreement for habitat and water quality improvement in Manada Creek with Ft. Indiantown Gap.

Develop a watershed organization for protection and enhancement of the Little Swatara Creek.

Develop storm water management plans for developed areas in the major drainages of the watershed. Identify new technologies for enhancing infiltration and groundwater recharge, especially in areas of urban development.

Make the stream corridor more user friendly.

Develop a plan of action to preserve and rehabilitate the infrastructure of the publicly owned lakes in the watershed, especially Sweet Arrow Lake and Stoevers Dam.

Develop areas for handicap access to Swatara Creek or other tributaries in the watershed.

Continue work to restore the fishery on the northern section of the watershed. Expand these efforts to assist with reestablishing the migratory fish population in the watershed and development of a stream habitat enhancement plan for other stream sections in the watershed.

Support the development of the shad and other native species populations in the watershed.

Develop an educational program for elementary and secondary schools on water quality and the responsible use of the watershed.

Inventory existing riparian buffers in the watershed. Identify areas that need to have riparian buffers established.

Inventory NPS pollution problems in the major drainages of the watershed, develop a hierarchy and implementation plan for addressing these problem areas.

Promote the development of conservation landscaping and management practices to reduce sediment load.

Expand sewage capacity in the areas with the highest projected growth rates.

Work to ensure that development does not occur in floodplain areas.

Investigate possible uses for by-products of mining operations in the watershed.

Support completion of a study to determine if a reservoir in Swatara State Park is a preferred option for a supplementary water supply for Lebanon County and flow augmentation for the Susquehanna River.

D. Biological Resources

Preserve ecological and visual amenities in the watershed. Utilize both voluntary protection and market purchase for preservation.

Develop funding sources and a regional land trust organization to facilitate these actions.

Identify areas of significant invasive species populations. Develop an integrative management plan to control these species.

Identify riparian buffers in major drainages of the watershed. Identify areas for further riparian buffers creation.

If appropriate, complete Natural Heritage Inventories for Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties.

Inventory wetlands in the stream corridors and create projects for protection and possible enhancement.

If appropriate, establish a local chapter of PA Cleanways.

E. Cultural Resources

Develop educational programs on the environment in the watershed and especially Swatara State Park.

Develop better access to Swatara Creek and its tributaries for recreational use.

Develop rail trails from Swatara State Park Railroad Corridor to Lebanon and the Conewago Trail and in the Union Canal corridor from the Tulpehocken watershed boundary to Hershey and Middletown.

Expand upon the recently developed Swatara Creek Water Trail.

Increase recreational opportunities within the watershed, including park, recreational fields, stream accesses, etc.

Increase passive recreational opportunities in the watershed.

Complete proposed enhancements to Quittie Creek Nature Park.

Develop a plan for the preservation of historic resources in the watershed.

Develop a watershed wide parks and recreation plan for the watershed. Include a handicapped accessibility section in this d