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Congressional Fact Sheet

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.

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