Wissahickon Creek to receive state grant for $1M for restoration project

PA State Sen. Vincent Hughes and PA State Rep. Mary Jo Daley will present Montgomery County Commissioners a ceremonial check for a $1 million grant award for floodplain restoration along the Wissahickon Creek located in Whitemarsh Township. 

Montgomery County has begun work on a floodplain restoration project along the Wissahickon Creek, and the county has contracted with Biohabitats to complete the design for this project, beginning with the initial survey and assessment phases. 

The goals of the project are: 

• Reduce flooding and improve water quality by preventing pollution and sedimentation downstream through the use of nature-based stormwater management strategies to control and treat the stormwater discharge on-site. These strategies will reduce the volume and velocity of floodwater downstream, increase infiltration rates on-site, reduce runoff rates of known pollutants of nitrogen and phosphorous, and stabilize the soil on the site;
• Restore the local terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem by recreating wildlife habitat through improvements in riparian buffers and stream channel/wetland restoration;
• Improve community aesthetics and provide a sense of place on the site by enhancing the environmental quality and visual appearance of the existing site, connecting the community to the waterway, creating educational opportunities on-site, and providing scenic beauty along the roadway.
   

The 11-acre project site, owned by Montgomery County, experienced flood and wind damage from Hurricane Ida and the related tornado in September 2021. In November 2021, it was further damaged and stripped of vegetation during cleanup efforts. As a result, the Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC) decided to explore the options for a floodplain restoration. 

The county received a $1 million Statewide Local Share Account (LSA) grant to partially fund this project. The Whitemarsh Wissahickon Floodplain Restoration Project will serve as a highly visible Montgomery County demonstration restoration project with the potential to restore a vital floodplain, create needed habitats, and connect the public with a valuable aesthetic and educational resource.  

Project Phases 

• 2024: Survey and Assessment, Project Feasibility and Concept Design 
• 2025: Design Plan Development and Permit Review Process 
• 2026: Bid Document Development, Review, and Analysis

(Construction is estimated to begin in Spring of 2026)