Connections That Count: TTF Watershed Partnership's Annual Report 2016 - 2017

Connections

A n n u al R epor t 2 016

that Count.

Restoring the relationship between people and their creeks.

TTF’s mission is to improve the health and vitality of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Creek and watershed by collaborating with our municipalities and leading our communities in education, stewardship, restoration, and advocacy.

We’re building a to our loc

In today’s paved and developed landscape, it’s easy to forget that we are still dependent upon clean water and other natural resources for our very survival. TTF’s mission is to remind us that our actions — both large and small — directly affect the quality of the creeks and rivers near our homes. Through education, hands-on activities and policy guidance, TTF makes restoration a reality and develops ongoing respect and care for our impaired local waterways.

For 12 years, TTF has partnered with our communities to demonstrate just how important our connection to nature is, and how we can help sustain the health of the land around us for years to come.

stronger connection ocal waterways.

We are proud of our achievements, which over time will improve the quality of local creeks and streams from Abington to Juniata Park, Germantown to Frankford and everywhere in between.

Our volunteers have become our best advocates, encouraging their friends and neighbors to do their part for clean water too.

And we are proud of our participation in critical initiatives, such as the Delaware River Watershed Initiative and the Alliance for Watershed Education created by the William Penn Foundation.

Partners include the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Temple and Villanova Universities, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, and the Stroud Water Research Center. We also work with the Circuit Coalition and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy on trail efforts and the PowerCorps PHL environmental workforce development team on park and green stormwater efforts.

These collaborators have been of immeasurable help as we expand our efforts to engage our communities and connect them to one of our most valuable resources: clean water.

We’re making the right connections.

Valuable Internships Arcadia University is a long-time TTF partner, providing interns including Morgan Miller, a student who spent two summers with us, planning and staffing community events, helping us fulfill our mission.

Storm Drain Marking Storm drain markers show the direct connection from streets to creeks, because “only rain should go down the drain.” Volunteers marked 500 storm drains throughout our watershed.

Cheltenham Elementary School Teachers involve students in the Streamkeeper program, and teach clean water topics in their classrooms. We have recognized them as TTF Watershed Educators.

Tacony Creek Park Pokémon GO, the popular game, inspired us to host a Pokémon Safari in the park!

The Tacony Creek Park Keepers friends group was officially approved and a new website was launched to inform neighbors of park activities and how to become involved.

We’re making the right connections.

Tookany-Tacony Frankford Watershed

Jenkintown Creek At the Abington Meetinghouse, we extended the buffer of native trees and shrubs by 350 feet, planted live stakes in the streambank, and installed a rain garden and bioretention swale.

We stabilized 270 feet of streambank and planted 245 trees and shrubs in the wetland and vernal pool at McKinley Elementary School. These projects clean and slow down polluted runoff while improving critical habitat.

Montgomery County

Valuable Internships

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Arcadia University is a long-time TTF partner, providing interns including Morgan Miller, a student who spent two summers with us, planning and staffing community events, helping us fulfill our mission.

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Streamkeepers Je nki

This team of volunteers continues to grow, playing a key role in advocating for clean water, as well as gathering and sharing information about the health of our creeks.

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Engaging Diverse Communities – Delaware Estuary Science and Environmental Summit, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Technical Advisory Committee, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

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Teachers involve students in the Streamkeeper program, and teach clean water topics in their classrooms. We have recognized them as TTF Watershed Educators.

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Connecting Trails & Watershed Issues in Urban Neighborhoods – Board of Directors Meeting, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

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Pokémon GO, the popular game, inspired us to host a Pokémon Safari in the park!

The Tacony Creek Park Keepers friends group was officially approved and a new website was launched to inform neighbors of park activities and how to become involved.

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We hosted tours of upstream projects for the Montgomery Planning Commission and Natural Lands Trust. Staff embarked on a kayak tour from Penn’s Landing up the Delaware River and along the Frankford Creek from the Betsy Ross Bridge to Torresdale Avenue. These tours showcase the challenges and opportunities of our beautiful urban creek system.

It’s been an extraordinary year.

We’ve accomplished so much.

TTF greatly expanded our efforts to connect people to their creeks right down the street, which are hidden and impaired

Excellence in GSI Award

by decades of neglect. By involving the community, businesses,

We were honored by GSI (Green Stormwater Infrastructure) Partners

students and other advocates as volunteers in hands-on efforts,

of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia

we have made critical strides to repair our waterways.

for our restoration efforts in the public project category. We are

Jenkintown Creek Restoration

extremely proud of this recognition, which belongs to all whose

The Jenkintown Creek continues to be the focus of our

work made this restoration possible, including property owners,

restoration work, which began in 2014. We’re expanding plantings

contractors, volunteers, and funders.

and establishing new restoration sites. We extended the 2014

Our partnerships make it all possible.

buffer which starts behind the Abington Friends Lower School, so that it now protects 850 continuous feet along the creek’s headwaters.

At the Abington Meetinghouse, volunteers from A Step Up Academy, Abington Friends School and AmeriCorps donated 770 hours to install a bioretention area, rain garden, and creekside buffer to improve water quality. Over 200 student volunteers planted 235 trees and shrubs and installed fencing to prevent deer from browsing these new plants. The rain garden is visible to passersby on Meetinghouse Road and has received many positive comments from community members. We are grateful to the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great who donated granite curbing to match this feature with the historic Abington Monthly Meeting landscape.

We often rely on our partners to share their expertise, assist us with grants, and provide dedicated volunteers, whose participation turns our goals into reality.

Partnerships Abington Friends School Abington Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Abington Township and Environmental Advisory Council Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Audubon PA & Wyncote Audubon Society Manor College Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Pennsylvania Environmental Council Saint Basil Academy Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great Stroud Water Research Center Temple University Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership

Recognizing our Watershed Heroes

It’s been an extraordinary year.

We’ve accomplished so much.

Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony

TTF held our 6th annual Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony

Water Commissioner. Pennsylvania Representatives

and Reception on May 24, 2017, and presented 19 awards in

Jason Dawkins and Steve McCarter, as well as Anthony Bellmon

seven categories.

of U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle’s office, were in

More than 100 people attended the ceremony at our headquarters

attendance to recognize our honorees.

in the historic Globe Dye Works. Olney Christian School students

Our Partner Alliance supports our programs and makes our

created watercolor and tissue paper butterflies, which reflected

annual Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony possible.

two themes: “Our Beautiful Home” and “Clean Waters, Clean City.”

Over forty businesses and organizations, both large and small,

The keynote speaker was Philadelphia Water Department

contribute to our efforts and enjoy a range of networking and

Commissioner Debra McCarty, the City’s first female

promotional benefits. They are critical partners to our success!

TTF greatly expanded our efforts to connect people to their creeks right down the street, which are hidden and impaired

Excellence in GSI Award

by decades of neglect. By involving the community, businesses,

We were honored by GSI (Green Stormwater Infrastructure) Partners

students and other advocates as volunteers in hands-on efforts,

of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia

we have made critical strides to repair our waterways.

for our restoration efforts in the public project category. We are

Jenkintown Creek Restoration

extremely proud of this recognition, which belongs to all whose

The Jenkintown Creek continues to be the focus of our

work made this restoration possible, including property owners,

restoration work, which began in 2014. We’re expanding plantings

contractors, volunteers, and funders.

and establishing new restoration sites. We extended the 2014 buffer which starts behind the Abington Friends Lower School, so that it now protects 850 continuous feet along the creek’s headwaters.

At the Abington Meetinghouse, volunteers from A Step Up Academy, Abington Friends School and AmeriCorps donated 770 hours to install a bioretention area, rain garden, and creekside buffer to improve water quality. Over 200 student volunteers planted 235 trees and shrubs and installed fencing to prevent deer from browsing these new plants. The rain garden is visible to passersby on Meetinghouse Road and has received many positive comments from community members. We are grateful to the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great who donated granite curbing to match this feature with the historic Abington Monthly Meeting landscape.

Honorees – May 24, 2017 Friend of the TTF Watershed

TTF Watershed Non-Profit Steward

Judy Mackey

Fairmount Water Works

Our partnerships make it all possible.

Pamela Miller

Simple Cycle

We often rely on our partners to share their expertise,

TTF Watershed Educator

TTF Watershed Corporate Steward

assist us with grants, and provide dedicated volunteers, whose

Frankford Friends School

Chick-Fil-A Aramingo

participation turns our goals into reality.

Wade Huggins, Cheltenham Elementary School

Steve Miano

Partnerships

Kristopher Hovis, Cheltenham Elementary School

Abington Friends School

Katherine Falso, Cheltenham Elementary School

Abington Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

Michael Ferris, Cheltenham Elementary School

Abington Township and Environmental Advisory Council

Elisabeth Farnsworth, Cheltenham Elementary School

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

TTF Watershed Municipal Leader

Audubon PA & Wyncote Audubon Society

Abington Township

Manor College Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Pennsylvania Environmental Council Saint Basil Academy Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great Stroud Water Research Center Temple University Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership

TTF Watershed Youth Champion Julisa Pantojas Casey Harkins Jason Herndon Cashmere Williams

TTF Watershed Legacy Award Don Baugh, Upstream Alliance Susan Harris, Cerulean, LLC

Donors & Partners Businesses

Individuals Leigh & Carol Altadonna Carlos Alvarez John Basinski Judith Bishop Elizabeth Boyd Christine Brady Joan Brooks Dan Brown Dave & Marion Brown Catherine Callan & Jim Napolitano Pete Carter Sarah Clark-Stuart AeLin Compton Michael Connor Rich Conroy & Marlene Morano Herb & Barbara Cooper Laura Craig & Michael Cloud Felice Croul Joanne Dahme Mary DiGirolamo Susan Doering Lisa Donahue Diane Ehrich Elaine Ellison Madeline Emde Janet Everly William Ewing Jenifer Eyre Mary Felley Kevin Gallagher Sharon Garfield Lissette Goya William & Mary Hangley Susan & Marc Harris Ellen Hart Laurie Harvey Bryan Havir Bonnie & Jim Hay Brenda Hayes Jane Henderson Stephen & Erica Heverin Heather Hill Carolyn Hirsh Jody Holton Barbara Hughes Christine Hunter Nathaniel Johnson

Gerry Kaufman & Shelly Yanoff Maria Kiernan John Kiernan Paul Kirk Tyler Krechmer Stefanie Kroll Ed & Deb Lennon Deborah & Stephen McCarter Tom McKeon Kimberly Mehler Rosanne Mistretta & Steve Miano Brynn Monaghan Luanda Morris Susan & Benjamin Myerov Anthony & Kathleen Naccarato Howard Neukrug Iris Parker Tariq Parvez Linda Pascale Anna Post Brian Reice Scott Richelson Rodman Ritchie Lorna & Murray Rosenberg Sappington Family Jeffrey & Mary Satterthwaite Ruth Seeley Geoffrey & Cecily Selling Rich Sheldon Marcy & Ethan Simon Julie Slavet & John Walber Shirley Spirk Rita Stevens Phyllis Stickney Robert Thomas Kim Tieger & Charles Adams Caroline West & Jonathan Sprague Janet & Loren Wetzel Noelle Wister Lisa Wool David & Patricia Workman Janet Starwood Florida Yunker Jonathan & Cecile Zorach

Anita’s Guacamole AstraZeneca Cake Life Bake Shop Chick-fil-A Aramingo Ernst Seeds FedEx Fill A Bagel Globe Dye Works Good Spoon Soupery Helen’s Pure Foods Mugshots Coffeehouse Philadelphia Brewing Company Philadelphia Distilling The Dovetail Artisans The PA Carbon Reduction Fund, supported by WGL Energy Services and Sterling Planet and managed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council Whole Foods Market Jenkintown

Partner Alliance Businesses A.D. Marble & Company Advancement Company, LLC AKRF, Inc. AquaReale ArcheWild Native Nurseries Birchtree Catering CalVan Environmental Campbell Thomas & Company Cardone Industries, Inc. Cedar Run Landscapes Cerulean, LLC Collins Nursery David Brothers Landscape Services Fine Garden Creations LLC Firestone & Company, LLC Kevin Gallagher Consulting LLC Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller Heritage Business Systems, Inc. Infrastructure Solutions Services J. Miller & Associates, LLC Jomar Textiles Inc. Liberty Tree and Landscape Maintenance Lindy Property Management Co. Meliora Design Metz Engineers Michael Baker International

Government North Creek Nurseries NV5 O’Brien & Gere Octoraro Native Plant Nursery, Inc. PECO Pennoni Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Philadelphia Insurance Companies Portfolio Associates Primex Garden Centers Roger Estes Design Roofmeadow Roofmeadow Services, Inc. Ruppert Landscape Shearon Environmental Design Sustainable Choices TD Bank ThinkGreen LLC Total Benefit Solutions, Inc. W.B. Mason Weeds Inc.

Organizations Abington Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Alliance for Watershed Education American Rivers Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Partner Alliance Organizations Abington Friends School Fairmount Park Conservancy I.U.P.A.T. District Council 21 Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Pennsylvania Environmental Council Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia Teamsters Local Union No. 169 Temple University University of Pennsylvania Master of Science in Applied Geosciences Villanova University/Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association Wyncote Audubon Society

Abington School District Abington Township Cheltenham School District Cheltenham Township Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Jenkintown Borough Montgomery County Conservation District Montgomery County Planning Commission Naval Support Activity Philadelphia Philadelphia Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez Philadelphia Councilwoman Cherelle Parker Philadelphia City Planning Commission Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation Philadelphia Office of the Managing Director Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Philadelphia School District Philadelphia Water Department Pennsylvania Representative Donna Bullock Pennsylvania Representative Jason Dawkins Pennsylvania Representative Madeline Dean Pennsylvania Representative Stephen McCarter Pennsylvania Senator Christine Tartaglione

Rockledge Borough Springfield Township U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle U.S. Representative Dwight Evans U.S Senator Bob Casey

Foundations Claneil Foundation Joseph Robert Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Teleflex Foundation William Penn Foundation

Revenue & Spending

FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2016 7/1/16 – 7/1/17 (in thousands)

Unrestricted

SUPPORT & REVENUE

Temporarily Restricted

Total

REVENUES AND GAINS Contributions

$28,941

$28,941

Grants and Agency Support

$142,198

$163,764

$305,962

Membership Dues

$83,000

$83,000

$240,000

$240,000

$22,254

$22,254

Program Fees In-Kind Contributions Investment Return Other

$729

$729

$5,829

$5,829

TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE $522,951 $163,764 $686,715

NET ASSETS RELEASED FROM RESTRICTIONS $89,050 ($89,050)

TOTAL UNRESTRICTED REVENUES & OTHER SUPPORT $612,001 $74,714 $686,715

EXPENSES Program

$530,653

$530,653

General & Administrative

$74,991

$74,991

Fundraising

$36,672

$36,672

TOTAL EXPENSES

$642,316 $642,316

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS ($30,315) $74,714 $44,399 NET ASSETS BEGINNING OF YEAR

$213,019 $108,304 $321,323

$182,704

END OF YEAR

$183,018 $365,722

1%

OTHER & INVESTMENT RETURN

4%

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS

5%

FUNDRAISING

6%

CONTRIBUTIONS

12%

GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE

46%

PROGRAM FEES

27%

SUPPORT & REVENUE 2016

GRANTS & AGENCY SUPPORT

16%

MEMBERSHIP DUES

EXPENSES 2016

83%

PROGRAM

Board of Directors & Advisors OFFICERS 2016

BOARD OF ADVISORS 2016

Rodman Ritchie, P.E., PP, President

Glen Abrams, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Laura Craig, Ph.D., American Rivers

AKRF, Inc.

Joanne Dahme, Vice President, Philadelphia

Larissa Klevan, Philadelphia City Planning Commission

Stefanie Kroll, Ph.D., Academy of Natural Sciences of

Philadelphia Water Department

Bryan Havir, P.P., AICP, Vice President, Montgomery County

Susan Harris, Cerulean, LLC

Cheltenham Township

Laurie Harvey, CPA, Treasurer,

Maillie, LLP

Susan Myerov, Secretary

Abington Township Environmental Advisory Council

Pennsylvania Environmental Council

Rosanne Mistretta, At Large

Abington Friends School

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016 Aelin Compton, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Michael Connor, PE, LEED AP BD + C, The RBA Group –

an NV5 Company

Carolyn Hirsh, Lindy Property Management Maria Kiernan, Independent Consultant Nate Johnson, Roofmeadow Services, Inc. Luanda Morris, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Tariq Parvez, TD Bank

Drexel University

Gerry Kaufman, Citizen Fred Lewis, Senior Environment Corps Rev. Derick Scudder, Juniata Action Committee Patrick Starr, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Andrew Sharp, Philadelphia Office of Sustainability Michael Stokes, AICP, Montgomery County Planning Commission Robert Thomas, AIA, Philadelphia Parks Alliance

4500 Worth Street | Philadelphia, PA 19124 ph 215.744.1853 web www.ttfwatershed.org Connect with TTF

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