Pachella Gully Sedimentation Reduction & Stormwater Management Project

Overview

Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) will restore an actively growing 500-foot stormwater-carved ditch along the access trail leading to Forbidden Drive located behind Pachella Ball Field in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park.

The pace of the ditch’s growth has increased dramatically since this issue was first identified with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) in 2014, threatening two buried drinking water mains that cross the access trail.

Along with trail restoration, this project will reduce future stormwater issues by using green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). Further benefit of using GSI within this project is the reduction of sediment and phosphorus pollution entering the Wissahickon Creek, a drinking water source for 350,000 Philadelphians. Ultimately, this project will improve water quality and trail safety for the park’s over 2 million annual visitors.

In addition, FOW will work with volunteers to install native trees and shrubs to improve the site.

Highlights:

• Friends of Wissahickon (FOW) will restore an actively eroding 500-foot gully to protect critical PWD infrastructure
• This will reduce sediment & phosphorus from entering Wissahickon Creek, improving water quality
• FOW will improve the Pachella Access Trail drainage & safety
• FOW & volunteers will plant native trees & shrubs

For more information, contact capitalprojects@fow.org.