CONGRESSIONAL FACT SHEET
BUSHKILL CREEK AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION STUDY
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
March 2004
DISTRICT: Philadelphia
CONGRESSIONAL INFO: Sen. Spector, PA; Sen. Santorum, PA; Rep.
Toomey, PA-15.
AUTHORITY: This study is authorized by Section 206 of the Water
Resources Development Act of 1996 as amended.
LOCATION: The study area is located along the Bushkill Creek
in Tatamy and Stockertown Boroughs and Forks and Palmer Townships, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania.
STUDY/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The section of Bushkill Creek in
the study area has been locally degraded by natural and induced subsidence
due to human activities that have impacted the creek bed and banks,
eliminated riparian vegetation, riffle and pool habitat, removed woody
debris, reduced channel flow diversity and low flow channel areas. Stream
reaches have been impacted by subsidence activity to a degree that at
certain times and in specific areas, no water is observable for base
flow conditions.
Accelerated sinkhole formation in the study area by the infiltration
of surface water through the bed and banks of Bushkill Creek into the
bedrock below causes piping of soils and subsequent sinkhole formation
at the ground surface near the stream. In order to prevent this infiltration,
restoration activities that consider sealing the stream bottom or otherwise
preventing the infiltrating water from piping or removing overburden
soils are required.
PROJECT BENEFITS: Bushkill Creek was historically stocked
with brown trout but stocking no longer occurs due to the overall stream
degradation due to human impacts. The significance of this project is
that the restoration could improve the habitat conditions suitable for
stocking to resume in this portion of the watershed. Fisheries officials
indicate that future trout stocking plans could include Bushkill Creek
if the habitat is restored.
STUDY/PROJECT STATUS: FY 2004 feasibility funds were
approved in March and will be used to begin the Detailed Project Report
phase. Because the project is still in the early stages of evaluation,
project costs have not yet been determined.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS: An Environmental Assessment will be prepared
as part of the Feasibility phase of the study.
FINANCIAL DATA:
Work Items |
FY 2003 |
FY 2004 |
Federal |
$10,000 |
$80,000 |
Non-Federal |
$0 |
$0 |
TOTAL |
$10,000 |
$80,000 |
SPONSOR: Northampton County
CRITICAL ISSUES: Variability and instability of the karst environment
of the study area in guaranteeing success of a reasonable restoration
plan.