Upstream | Downstream Connecting Our Communities

2013 Annual Report

Connecting our communities.

4500 Worth Street | Philadelphia, PA 19124 ph 215.744.1853 web www.ttfwatershed.org twitter @ttfwatershed

Design: Felice Croul Associates Photos: Albert Yee, Allison Ostertag

Here at TTF, we’re in the matchmaking business — connecting our upstream and downstream communities to improve the health of our waterways. We’re the connector between citizens and programs that help improve the quality of their water, the water they drink

We’re ere bridging the gap between people and their water. and the parks their families play in. We implement programs that

educate neighbors about watershed issues and how they can TTF is dedicated to improving the health and vitality of our

make a difference right in their own backyards. Whether planting

watershed by engaging our communities in education, stewardship,

a creekside buffer or cleaning up a park, we’re all on the path to

restoration and advocacy.

cleaner water and a stronger relationship with nature.

Here at TTF, we’re in the matchmaking business — connecting our upstream and downstream communities to improve the health of our waterways. We’re the connector between citizens and programs that help improve the quality of their water, the water they drink

We’re ere bridging the gap between people and their water. and the parks their families play in. We implement programs that

educate neighbors about watershed issues and how they can TTF is dedicated to improving the health and vitality of our

make a difference right in their own backyards. Whether planting

watershed by engaging our communities in education, stewardship,

a creekside buffer or cleaning up a park, we’re all on the path to

restoration and advocacy.

cleaner water and a stronger relationship with nature.

/2

of our watershed is covered by paved surfaces.

Paved surfaces are a major contributor to stormwater runoff, which happens when rain doesn’t soak into the ground. As the runoff flows it becomes polluted.

Runoff

is why

40%

of our

waterways aren’t clean enough.

From your street to your creek,it’s all connected.

Learning how our man-made environment affects the natural environment is the first step in taking action to improve our waterways.

A mature oak tree can consume over

4 40,000 gallons of water a year.

Trees help to reduce stormwater runoff.

TTF has planted 2,000 native trees and shrubs across our watershed.

1 220 freshwater

mussel filters

gallons of water each day.

TTF and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary reintroduced 50 mussels into Tacony Creek.

/2

of our watershed is covered by paved surfaces.

Paved surfaces are a major contributor to stormwater runoff, which happens when rain doesn’t soak into the ground. As the runoff flows it becomes polluted.

Runoff

is why

40%

of our

waterways aren’t clean enough.

From your street to your creek,it’s all connected.

Learning how our man-made environment affects the natural environment is the first step in taking action to improve our waterways.

A mature oak tree can consume over

4 40,000 gallons of water a year.

Trees help to reduce stormwater runoff.

TTF has planted 2,000 native trees and shrubs across our watershed.

1 220 freshwater

mussel filters

gallons of water each day.

TTF and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary reintroduced 50 mussels into Tacony Creek.

Improving ving the watershed from upstream to downstream.

Protecting Upstream Tributaries Abington Junior High School Fall ‘13: Planting 300+ native trees, shrubs, and grasses to complete the second phase of buffer planting along creek headwaters. The first phase — a 16,000 square foot buffer — was planted in fall 2012.

TTF works closely with key stakeholders including the

and volunteers, these tours provided an opportunity to showcase

Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), Philadelphia Parks &

innovative projects, including one that TTF created — our rain

Rock Lane Park

Recreation (PPR), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC),

garden in Vernon Park.

Spring ‘14: 25 area residents gathered to plant 100 trees along

Cheltenham Township and School District, Abington School

Teacher Training

District, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS),

Fairmount Water Works (FWW) and TTF teamed up to provide

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) and others to support

Understanding the Urban Watershed: Making the Classroom to

Growing Upstream and Downstream

green infrastructure and stream restoration initiatives.

Schoolyard Connection for teachers in our watershed.

In spring 2014, TTF and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration

Tacony Creek Park

This training introduced educators to new events and resources

Trust (PERT) announced that their newly established partnership

Working with PPR, PWD, and neighbors we raise awareness of

within our region.

would receive $442,000 over 36 months through the William Penn

watershed issues and encourage park use. We reinforce the

Environmental Camp

Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Initiative. These funds

ongoing restoration of Tacony Creek Park by engaging people

Nine young women participated in a camp focusing on water

will be used to demonstrate stream restoration and green

in fun and educational activities — from plantings, cleanups and

issues throughout the city and our watershed! Funded by the

infrastructure projects and inform municipal stormwater permits

storm drain marking to nature and bird walks. New to our fun

Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater

and public investments, using monitoring data through science

activities — photo expeditions! We hosted an outing for budding

Philadelphia, the two week program focused on environmental

based efforts.

young photojournalists from Juniata Park, who explored the park

careers with an emphasis on water. Led by FWW and TTF, campers

and creek on a gorgeous day. We exhibited their photos at our

traveled throughout the urban watershed to learn about water

organizations aligning their work to protect land, restore

the Lower Merion Conservancy, Wissahickon Valley Watershed

summer block parties.

quality issues.

streams, test innovative approaches in ecologically significant

Association, and others.

This year, hundreds participated in our second Healthy Trails

the stream, adding 15,000 square feet of riparian buffer to this Tookany Creek tributary.

This initiative is a collaboration of leading conservation

places, and monitor results over time. Organizations include:

including PEC, Temple, Villanova, and Saint Joseph’s universities,

This effort will support staffing, monitoring, and operational

5k Run/Walk and “Celebrate Your Park” block parties.

the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the National

projects to:

These signature events allowed TTF to introduce the community

Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the Open Space Institute,

• Implement and monitor on-the-ground green infrastructure,

to its restored park… and gave us insight into the activities and

and more than 40 additional national and regional organizations,

• Support citizen volunteer efforts to advocate for improved

improvements community members want.

water quality and restoration

Engaging Our Stakeholders Managing Rainfall Tour

tree planting, and wetland construction projects

Awards According to Julie Slavet, TTF Executive Director,

Creekside Buffers at Abington Jr. High School & Cedarbrook

funding from the Water Resource Education Network (WREN) of

“We’ll be able to take the lessons we’ve learned by being

Middle School plus Vernon Park Rain Garden all received:

the PA League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

part of PWD’s Green City, Clean Waters program and apply

through a Growing Greener grant from the PA Department of

these upstream. Access to these leading environmental and

TTF launched Managing Rainfall: TTF Stormwater Tours with

Environmental Protection. Targeted at municipal officials, staff,

• National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat ® • National Audubon Society Bird Habitat Recognition

academic institutions will enable a small organization like ours to ensure quality projects, education, and monitoring...”

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Community

Greening Award

Improving ving the watershed from upstream to downstream.

Protecting Upstream Tributaries Abington Junior High School Fall ‘13: Planting 300+ native trees, shrubs, and grasses to complete the second phase of buffer planting along creek headwaters. The first phase — a 16,000 square foot buffer — was planted in fall 2012.

TTF works closely with key stakeholders including the

and volunteers, these tours provided an opportunity to showcase

Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), Philadelphia Parks &

innovative projects, including one that TTF created — our rain

Rock Lane Park

Recreation (PPR), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC),

garden in Vernon Park.

Spring ‘14: 25 area residents gathered to plant 100 trees along

Cheltenham Township and School District, Abington School

Teacher Training

District, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS),

Fairmount Water Works (FWW) and TTF teamed up to provide

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) and others to support

Understanding the Urban Watershed: Making the Classroom to

Growing Upstream and Downstream

green infrastructure and stream restoration initiatives.

Schoolyard Connection for teachers in our watershed.

In spring 2014, TTF and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration

Tacony Creek Park

This training introduced educators to new events and resources

Trust (PERT) announced that their newly established partnership

Working with PPR, PWD, and neighbors we raise awareness of

within our region.

would receive $442,000 over 36 months through the William Penn

watershed issues and encourage park use. We reinforce the

Environmental Camp

Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Initiative. These funds

ongoing restoration of Tacony Creek Park by engaging people

Nine young women participated in a camp focusing on water

will be used to demonstrate stream restoration and green

in fun and educational activities — from plantings, cleanups and

issues throughout the city and our watershed! Funded by the

infrastructure projects and inform municipal stormwater permits

storm drain marking to nature and bird walks. New to our fun

Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater

and public investments, using monitoring data through science

activities — photo expeditions! We hosted an outing for budding

Philadelphia, the two week program focused on environmental

based efforts.

young photojournalists from Juniata Park, who explored the park

careers with an emphasis on water. Led by FWW and TTF, campers

and creek on a gorgeous day. We exhibited their photos at our

traveled throughout the urban watershed to learn about water

organizations aligning their work to protect land, restore

the Lower Merion Conservancy, Wissahickon Valley Watershed

summer block parties.

quality issues.

streams, test innovative approaches in ecologically significant

Association, and others.

This year, hundreds participated in our second Healthy Trails

the stream, adding 15,000 square feet of riparian buffer to this Tookany Creek tributary.

This initiative is a collaboration of leading conservation

places, and monitor results over time. Organizations include:

including PEC, Temple, Villanova, and Saint Joseph’s universities,

This effort will support staffing, monitoring, and operational

5k Run/Walk and “Celebrate Your Park” block parties.

the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the National

projects to:

These signature events allowed TTF to introduce the community

Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the Open Space Institute,

• Implement and monitor on-the-ground green infrastructure,

to its restored park… and gave us insight into the activities and

and more than 40 additional national and regional organizations,

• Support citizen volunteer efforts to advocate for improved

improvements community members want.

water quality and restoration

Engaging Our Stakeholders Managing Rainfall Tour

tree planting, and wetland construction projects

Awards According to Julie Slavet, TTF Executive Director,

Creekside Buffers at Abington Jr. High School & Cedarbrook

funding from the Water Resource Education Network (WREN) of

“We’ll be able to take the lessons we’ve learned by being

Middle School plus Vernon Park Rain Garden all received:

the PA League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

part of PWD’s Green City, Clean Waters program and apply

through a Growing Greener grant from the PA Department of

these upstream. Access to these leading environmental and

TTF launched Managing Rainfall: TTF Stormwater Tours with

Environmental Protection. Targeted at municipal officials, staff,

• National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat ® • National Audubon Society Bird Habitat Recognition

academic institutions will enable a small organization like ours to ensure quality projects, education, and monitoring...”

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Community

Greening Award

Recognizing a Year of Watershed Growth at the

Watershed ter Mil Milestones estones to Award Ceremony & Reception

TTF presented our third successful Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception on May 21, 2014. We brought the celebration into our watershed by hosting it at Tacony Creek Park’s Juniata Golf Club. Watershed leaders from across our region networked and celebrated all of our accomplishments.

We had the opportunity to honor some fantastic watershed stewards and showcase the work they’ve done to improve

Honorees Friend of the TTF Watershed Aine Doley Friends of High School Park Hasan Malik

our watershed. We also inaugurated our Legacy Award, which

TTF Watershed Municipal Leader

we bestowed on TTF’s first President, Gerry Kaufman.

PowerCorpsPHL Rick Howley, Philadelphia Water Department & Rob Armstrong, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

TTF Watershed Educator Arcadia University Wissahickon Charter School

TTF Watershed Corporate Steward Cardone Industries

TTF Watershed Non-Profit Steward NorthEast Treatment Centers

TTF Watershed Youth Champion Chris Carrington, Sabina Knapp, Michael Le & Elizabeth Le, Abington School District students

TTF Watershed Legacy Award Gerry Kaufman

Donors & Partners Individuals

Businesses

Charles Adams & Kim Tieger Dr. Gary & Donna Berkowitz Judith Bishop Representative Bob Brady Commissioner Bruce Castor Joanne Dahme Robert Dromboski & Laura Frank Robin Eisman Nic Esposito Molly Finch Said Gharrafi & Karen Shaffran Barbara Gold William & Mary Hangley Wendy Green Harvey Jim and Bonita Hay Stephen & Erica Heverin Howard & Mary Hurtig Gerald Kaufman & Shelly Yanoff Stephanie Kleban Gregory Lech David Major & Evelyn Esken Herman & Marciene Mattelman Representative Stephen & Deborah McCarter Jon McGoran Benjamin & Susan Myerov Anthony & Kathleen Naccarato Kimberly Oxholm Iris Parker Lorna & Murray Rosenberg Jeffrey Schultz Justin Schurr Elliott & Ellie Seif Patrick Starr Amy Steffen & Linda Stern Jason & Caitlin Stevens Phyllis Stickney Representative John Taylor Thomas Vernon Betsy & Sheldon Wolf Judy Wicks David & Ilene Winikur John & Mary Wynne

AKRF, Inc. Amazon Bird Watcher’s Digest Cake Life Bake Shop Campbell Thomas & Co. Cerulean, LLC CH2MHILL Cheltenham Printing Company Collins Nursery Conner Strong & Buckelew Designs-By-Nancy Diamond Auto Ernst Conservation Seeds, Inc. Firestone & Company LLC Haegele Gardens LLC KJK Associates Langan Lindy Communities Matrix New World Engineering, Inc. Meliora Design NAM Planning & Design, LLC Ocean Prime Octoraro Native Plant Nursery O’Brien & Gere Pennoni Associates Inc. Philadelphia Insurance Companies Primex Garden Center Roofmeadow Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC Shift_Design Sustainable Choices, LLC Sweet Magnolia The Dovetail Artisans The Frankford Gazette Think Green LLC Valley Shepherd Creamery WEEDS, Inc. Whole Foods Market Jenkintown Yards Brewing Company

Organizations Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Awbury Arboretum Briar Bush Nature Center

Community Academy of Philadelphia Fairmount Park Conservancy Fairmount Water Works Friends Hospital Friends of High School Park Friends of Vernon Park GreenTreks Network Juniata Action Committee Juniata Golf Club Keep Philadelphia Beautiful Lower Merion Conservancy Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Pennsylvania Environmental Council Pennsylvania Horticultural Society PHS Meadowbrook Farm Philadelphia Youth Network Sustainable Business Network/GSI Partners Temple University Villanova University Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association

Government Abington Township Abington School District Cheltenham Township Cheltenham School District Jenkintown Borough Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia Montgomery County Conservation District Rockledge Borough Springfield Township Philadelphia City Planning Commission Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Philadelphia Streets Department Philadelphia Water Department

Foundations Arizona Community Foundation Cora Brooks Foundation Merck Foundation Thomas Scattergood Foundation William Penn Foundation Water Resources Education Network of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

Recognizing a Year of Watershed Growth at the

Watershed ter Mil Milestones estones to Award Ceremony & Reception

TTF presented our third successful Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception on May 21, 2014. We brought the celebration into our watershed by hosting it at Tacony Creek Park’s Juniata Golf Club. Watershed leaders from across our region networked and celebrated all of our accomplishments.

We had the opportunity to honor some fantastic watershed stewards and showcase the work they’ve done to improve

Honorees Friend of the TTF Watershed Aine Doley Friends of High School Park Hasan Malik

our watershed. We also inaugurated our Legacy Award, which

TTF Watershed Municipal Leader

we bestowed on TTF’s first President, Gerry Kaufman.

PowerCorpsPHL Rick Howley, Philadelphia Water Department & Rob Armstrong, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

TTF Watershed Educator Arcadia University Wissahickon Charter School

TTF Watershed Corporate Steward Cardone Industries

TTF Watershed Non-Profit Steward NorthEast Treatment Centers

TTF Watershed Youth Champion Chris Carrington, Sabina Knapp, Michael Le & Elizabeth Le, Abington School District students

TTF Watershed Legacy Award Gerry Kaufman

Donors & Partners Individuals

Businesses

Charles Adams & Kim Tieger Dr. Gary & Donna Berkowitz Judith Bishop Representative Bob Brady Commissioner Bruce Castor Joanne Dahme Robert Dromboski & Laura Frank Robin Eisman Nic Esposito Molly Finch Said Gharrafi & Karen Shaffran Barbara Gold William & Mary Hangley Wendy Green Harvey Jim and Bonita Hay Stephen & Erica Heverin Howard & Mary Hurtig Gerald Kaufman & Shelly Yanoff Stephanie Kleban Gregory Lech David Major & Evelyn Esken Herman & Marciene Mattelman Representative Stephen & Deborah McCarter Jon McGoran Benjamin & Susan Myerov Anthony & Kathleen Naccarato Kimberly Oxholm Iris Parker Lorna & Murray Rosenberg Jeffrey Schultz Justin Schurr Elliott & Ellie Seif Patrick Starr Amy Steffen & Linda Stern Jason & Caitlin Stevens Phyllis Stickney Representative John Taylor Thomas Vernon Betsy & Sheldon Wolf Judy Wicks David & Ilene Winikur John & Mary Wynne

AKRF, Inc. Amazon Bird Watcher’s Digest Cake Life Bake Shop Campbell Thomas & Co. Cerulean, LLC CH2MHILL Cheltenham Printing Company Collins Nursery Conner Strong & Buckelew Designs-By-Nancy Diamond Auto Ernst Conservation Seeds, Inc. Firestone & Company LLC Haegele Gardens LLC KJK Associates Langan Lindy Communities Matrix New World Engineering, Inc. Meliora Design NAM Planning & Design, LLC Ocean Prime Octoraro Native Plant Nursery O’Brien & Gere Pennoni Associates Inc. Philadelphia Insurance Companies Primex Garden Center Roofmeadow Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC Shift_Design Sustainable Choices, LLC Sweet Magnolia The Dovetail Artisans The Frankford Gazette Think Green LLC Valley Shepherd Creamery WEEDS, Inc. Whole Foods Market Jenkintown Yards Brewing Company

Organizations Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Awbury Arboretum Briar Bush Nature Center

Community Academy of Philadelphia Fairmount Park Conservancy Fairmount Water Works Friends Hospital Friends of High School Park Friends of Vernon Park GreenTreks Network Juniata Action Committee Juniata Golf Club Keep Philadelphia Beautiful Lower Merion Conservancy Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Pennsylvania Environmental Council Pennsylvania Horticultural Society PHS Meadowbrook Farm Philadelphia Youth Network Sustainable Business Network/GSI Partners Temple University Villanova University Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association

Government Abington Township Abington School District Cheltenham Township Cheltenham School District Jenkintown Borough Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia Montgomery County Conservation District Rockledge Borough Springfield Township Philadelphia City Planning Commission Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Philadelphia Streets Department Philadelphia Water Department

Foundations Arizona Community Foundation Cora Brooks Foundation Merck Foundation Thomas Scattergood Foundation William Penn Foundation Water Resources Education Network of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

Support & Revenue REVENUE AND GAINS Contributions

$26,264

Grants

$155,451

Municipal Dues

$83,000

Program Fees

$185,801

Total Support and Revenue

$450,516

Board rd of Directors OFFICERS Gerald Kaufman, President, Citizen Joanne Dahme, Vice President (Philadelphia),

SUPPORT & REVENUE 2012 – 2014

Philadelphia Water Department

Bryan T. Havir, P.P., AICP, Vice President (Montgomery County), $450,516

$500,000

CONTRIBUTIONS GRANTS

Cheltenham Township

Laurie Harvey, Treasurer, Maillie LLP Ian Litwin, Secretary, Philadelphia City Planning Commission

MUNICIPAL DUES

$400,000 PROGRAM FEES

BOARD Joan Blaustein, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

$274,092

TOTAL REVENUE

$300,000

Christian Soltysiak, Jenkintown Borough Wendy K. Green-Harvey, SEPTA Susan Harris, Citizen

$155,451 $26,264

$28,622

$12,470

$ 100,000

Fred Lewis, Senior Environment Corps, Center in the Park Emma Melvin, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Beth Pilling, Montgomery County Planning Commission

$83,000

$150,000 $83,000

$200,000

$185,801

Stephen Heverin, Springfield Township

Michael Powers, Abington Township Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, Philadelphia City Council Rodman Ritchie, AKRF, Inc. Derick Scudder, Juniata Action Committee Patrick Starr, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Amy Steffen, Friends of High School Park

0

Robert P. Thomas, AIA, Philadelphia Parks Alliance 2012 – 2013

2013 – 2014

Sarah Wu, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability John Wynne, Rockledge Borough

Support & Revenue REVENUE AND GAINS Contributions

$26,264

Grants

$155,451

Municipal Dues

$83,000

Program Fees

$185,801

Total Support and Revenue

$450,516

Board rd of Directors OFFICERS Gerald Kaufman, President, Citizen Joanne Dahme, Vice President (Philadelphia),

SUPPORT & REVENUE 2012 – 2014

Philadelphia Water Department

Bryan T. Havir, P.P., AICP, Vice President (Montgomery County), $450,516

$500,000

CONTRIBUTIONS GRANTS

Cheltenham Township

Laurie Harvey, Treasurer, Maillie LLP Ian Litwin, Secretary, Philadelphia City Planning Commission

MUNICIPAL DUES

$400,000 PROGRAM FEES

BOARD Joan Blaustein, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

$274,092

TOTAL REVENUE

$300,000

Christian Soltysiak, Jenkintown Borough Wendy K. Green-Harvey, SEPTA Susan Harris, Citizen

$155,451 $26,264

$28,622

$12,470

$ 100,000

Fred Lewis, Senior Environment Corps, Center in the Park Emma Melvin, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Beth Pilling, Montgomery County Planning Commission

$83,000

$150,000 $83,000

$200,000

$185,801

Stephen Heverin, Springfield Township

Michael Powers, Abington Township Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, Philadelphia City Council Rodman Ritchie, AKRF, Inc. Derick Scudder, Juniata Action Committee Patrick Starr, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Amy Steffen, Friends of High School Park

0

Robert P. Thomas, AIA, Philadelphia Parks Alliance 2012 – 2013

2013 – 2014

Sarah Wu, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability John Wynne, Rockledge Borough

4500 Worth Street | Philadelphia, PA 19124 ph 215.744.1853 web www.ttfwatershed.org twitter @ttfwatershed

Design: Felice Croul Associates Photos: Albert Yee, Allison Ostertag