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ES-1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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section you would like to read, or scroll down to read the whole Executive
Summary.
- Introduction
- Project Background
- Project Area Characteristics
- Resource Data Analysis, Conclusions, and Management Options
A. Introduction
Swatara Creek and its watershed have played an important and varied role in the history
of south central Pennsylvania. From prehistoric times through today, the watershed has
fulfilled the differing needs of its inhabitants. Early inhabitants utilized the watershed
as primarily hunting and fishing grounds for their existence. Later, as European settlers
colonized the watershed, it continued to provide for sustenance; but it also pro- vided
lumber, agricultural soils, and transportation for building a life in the area. The
following generations of settlers used the streams of the Swatara Creek watershed to power
mills and transport while they harvested the coal, iron, and limestone along their banks,
bringing economic prosperity to the area. Today, Swatara Creek and its watershed provide
prime agricultural soil for farming, land for development, wildlife habitat, and
recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors.
All of these needs and uses have had an impact on the Swatara Creek watershed. Clearing
the forests resulted in increased sediment entering the streams of the watershed. Damming
these streams for power and transportation blocked the historic spawning runs of shad,
herring, and salmon. Runoff from coal mining left many streams lifeless. Today, increases
in the population of the watershed require greater volumes of water for drinking and
industrial use. Development of the watershed is also resulting in greater runoff,
increased flooding, damage to riparian areas, and less groundwater recharge from
precipitation falling in the watershed.
Although problems persist, there have been numerous success stories within the
watershed and there is much reason for optimism as a new millennium begins. Projects to
address and correct degradation from mine drainage have been successful enough to return
diverse fisheries to streams once considered sterile. Clean-ups of litter and refuse along
streams and riparian areas have become annual events within the watershed. Projects to
rehabilitate riparian buffers and reduce agricultural runoff have been implemented, and
in-stream habitat development and water quality monitoring are also conducted within the
watershed.
The River Conservation Plan (RCP) for the Swatara Creek watershed has been completed to
develop a comprehensive, long term management plan that addresses the problems and
concerns, and takes advantage of the opportunities present in the watershed today and the
future.
B. Project Background
The RCP for the Swatara Creek watershed was initiated following the Swatara Watershed
Expo sponsored by the Swatara Creek Watershed Association (SCWA) in 1996. Obtaining
listing on the Pennsylvania Rivers Registry and the associated funding opportunities for
restoration and management projects were the primary reasons for pursuing and receiving a
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) - Rivers Conservation Planning
Grant in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Additional funding and support for the project was
provided by both public and private organizations; including the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), The William Penn Foundation, Canaan Valley
Institute (CVI), IBM, The Greater Harrisburg Foundation, and the Ressler Mill Foundation.
Following a series of 1998 public meetings to determine interest and concern for the
project. SCWA contracted Mackin Engineering Company to assist in completing the Swatara
Creek River Conservation Plan in 1999. A "Draft" document was circulated for
public review and comment in July, 2000. Two public meetings were held on July 12 th and
13 th to present the findings of the RCP plan. The comment period on
the "Draft" plan ended August 15th ,
2000. The comments received were incorporated into the "Final" RCP document.
C. Project Area Characteristics
The Swatara Creek watershed drains approximately 571 square miles in Schuylkill, Berks,
Lebanon, and Dauphin Counties. Swatara Creek originates in Schuylkill County north of US
Route 209 in Foster Township. It flows in a south and southwesterly direction for
approximately 69 miles to its confluence with the Susquehanna River in Middletown, Dauphin
County, PA. Swatara Creek flows through three physiographic provinces and numerous
geologic formations.
The land use within the watershed varies from undeveloped forestland to agricultural
fields and farms to residential and urban development. Agricultural land remains the
dominant land use in the watershed; but residential and urban development is occurring
in portions of the watershed at a rapid pace.
Population within the watershed is growing. From 1960 through 1990 the population of
the watershed grew from approximately 179,500 people to approximately 252,300 an increase
of 40.6 percent. Population figures from 1998 show the watershed with approximately
263,000 residents or 2.2 percent of the entire population of Pennsylvania. With the
exception of the Schuylkill County portion of the watershed, the communities located in
the Swatara Creek watershed generally have lower unemployment and higher per capita income
than the statewide average.
D. Resource Data Analysis, Conclusions, and Management Options
A detailed analysis of available resource data revealed several issues, concerns,
constraints, and opportunities within the watershed. Primary among these were issues of
water quality, population growth, land use within the watershed, Swatara Creek State Park,
and the Swatara Greenway.
Water quality within the watershed has seen great improvement in the last 30 years.
Much of this improvement has been the result of mine restoration projects in the northern
portion of the watershed. However, water quality issues, especially those associated with
non-point-source (NPS) pollution, are considered the most important in the watershed.
Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) from the coalfields of Schuylkill County, runoff and erosion
associated with farming and agricultural practices, and runoff from developing and urban
areas are all examples of NPS pollution within the watershed.
As stated previously, the Swatara Creek watershed, especially those parts in Berks,
Lebanon, and Dauphin Counties, has seen significant population growth in the past 30
years. Projections indicate that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Most
of the growth has occurred outside of traditional population centers, in areas
historically used for agricultural production. This situation has resulted in the
development of new roadways and infrastructure, increased congestion on local roadways,
increased pollution, the loss of agricultural soils and farms, and the loss of the
aesthetics associated with rural life.
Swatara State Park was identified as a significant resource within the watershed
Swatara State Park is the only facility established under Project 70, a 1964 statewide
initiative for the development of parks throughout the Commonwealth, that is still
undeveloped. As a result, it is greatly underutilized.
Another potentially significant recreational resource is the Swatara Greenway, which is
being developed in Dauphin County. The plan was developed as part of the Swatara Creek
Greenway and Rivers Conservation Plan completed in 1997. Development of the greenway would
increase protection and recreational opportunities along the riparian zone of the
stream.
Additional issues, concerns, and opportunities associated with invasive species in the
watershed, recreational opportunities and access, cultural resources protection and
inventory, and migratory fisheries restoration were also identified.
Management Options were developed to address each of the areas of concern or
opportunities in the watershed. A summary of the Management options is presented in the
following paragraphs. These options are presented in further detail in Chapter10 and
Appendix G of the "Final" RCP document.
Project Area Characteristics
 | Raise the sensitivity and awareness of County, Local, and Municipal Planning
Organizations (MPO’s) to farmland and habitat loss. |
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| Work with local, county, and regional planning organizations to develop and carry out
plans for the protection of environmental amenities in the watershed. |
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| Complete a comprehensive examination the traffic conditions of the watershed. Identify
areas of congestion, its causes, and impacts. Develop a strategy to address these problem
areas utilizing alternative forms of transportation (mass transit, car-pooling, bike
lanes) where possible. |
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| Update comprehensive plans for the municipalities of the watershed that are over 10
years old. Include environmental resource inventories and protection of resources as part
of the document. Complete multi- municipal/multi-county plans where prudent and feasible. |
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| Support implementation of land conservation techniques in subdivision design. |
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| Assess how increasing population is impacting the watershed. Explore establishing
growth areas and rural areas within the municipalities of the watershed. |
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| Update and implement Act 537 sewage management plans that are over 10 years old for the
municipalities in the watershed. Replace on-lot septic systems in the established growth
areas. Assist in upgrading older on lot systems in the established rural areas. |
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| Actively enforce land uses controls for areas along waterways in the watershed.
Especially keeping development out of floodplains. Develop strategies to protect riparian
zones. |
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| Partner with local universities to develop mutually beneficial 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. |
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| Utilize the Rivers Conservation Plan as a tool in protecting, managing, and preserving
the Swatara Creek watershed. |
Land Resources
 | Expand upon the partnership in place between the Lebanon County Conservation District
and Ft. Indiantown Gap (FIG) for environmental resource and endangered species protection. |
| Continue and 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. |
| Support current recycling efforts within the watershed. Consider expanding theses
efforts as an alternative to further landfill development. |
| 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 (Bottle Bill) |
| Encourage local farmers to enroll their property in agricultural security areas, set
aside programs and conser- vation easements. |
Water Resources
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| Implement the remaining projects for reclaiming AMD impacted streams in the upper
Swatara Creek water- shed developed by Dan Koury in the Swatara Creek Reclamation
Document. |
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| Utilize the 1998 - Swatara Creek Watershed Rehabilitation Plan by Dan Koury as a model
to develop reha- bilitation plans for agricultural and urban runoff problems in each of
the major drainages in the watershed. |
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| 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. |
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| Develop and implement streambank stabilization and
habitat enhancement projects for the streams in the watershed. |
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| Develop a comprehensive management plan for the Quittapahilla Creek watershed. |
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| Develop an agreement for habitat and water quality improvement in Manada Creek with Ft.
Indiantown Gap. |
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| Develop a watershed organization for protection and enhancement of the Little Swatara
Creek. |
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| 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 develop- ment. |
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| Make the stream corridor more user friendly. |
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| 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. |
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| Develop areas for handicap access to Swatara Creek or other tributaries in the
watershed. |
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| 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 en- hancement plan for other stream sections in the
watershed. |
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| Support the development of the shad population into the watershed. |
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| Develop an educational program for elementary and secondary schools on water quality
and the responsible use of the watershed. |
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| Inventory riparian buffers in the watershed. Identify areas that need to have riparian
buffers established. |
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| Inventory NPS pollution problems in the major drainages of the watershed, develop a
hierarchy and imple- mentation plan for addressing these problem areas. Promote the
development of conservation landscaping and management practices to reduce this sediment
load. |
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| Expand sewage capacity in the areas with the highest projected growth rates. |
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| Work to ensure that development does not occur in floodplain areas. |
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| Investigate possible uses for by-products of mining operations in the watershed. |
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| Stay involved with the Swatara State Park Project. Support completion of a study to
determine if a reservoir in the park is a preferred option for a supplementary water
supply for Lebanon County and flow augmentation for the Susquehanna River. |
Biological Resources
| Preserve ecological and visual amenities in the watershed. Utilize both voluntary
protection and market pur- chase 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. |
| Educate the public to the dangers and modes of transport of invasive species, including
the zebra mussel, to reduce the chances of infestation in the watershed. |
| Identify riparian buffers in the major drainages of the watershed. Identify areas for
further riparian buffers creation to assist wildlife travel corridors. |
| Consider and if appropriate complete Natural Heritage Inventories for Lebanon and
Schuylkill Counties. Assess the watershed for species of special concern. Develop and
implement a plan for protection of these resources. |
| Inventory wetlands in stream corridors for protection and possible enhancement. |
| Look into and if appropriate, establish a local chapter of PA Cleanways. |
Cultural Resources
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| Encourage and develop educational programs on the environment in the watershed and
especially Swatara State Park. |
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| Develop better access to Swatara Creek and its tributaries for recreational use. |
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| 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. |
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| Expand upon the recently developed Swatara Creek Water Trail. |
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| Increase recreational opportunities within the watershed, including park, recreational
fields, stream accesses, etc. |
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| Increase passive recreational opportunities in the watershed. |
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| Complete proposed enhancements to Quittie Creek Nature Park. |
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| Develop a plan for the preservation of historic resources in the watershed. |
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| Complete a comprehensive park and recreation plan for the watershed. Address
handicapped access as a portion of this report. |
Swatara State Park
| Maximize the recreational potential of the state park. |
| Support any development of the state park to increase tourism as an economic presence
in the region. |
Swatara Creek Greenway
| Implement management options developed in the greenways plan. |
| Develop a trail and greenway master plan for the entire watershed. |
| Create an overlay zone for stream buffers in the watershed. |
| Increase partnerships with public and private entities to foster land stewardship. |
| Expand greenway initiatives into Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties. |
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