Mission Statement Partnership History Watershed Background Upcoming Events

Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) acts as the crucial link connecting residents, businesses and government as neighbors and stewards of this impaired, but critically important watershed in the Philadelphia metro region. Through educational programming, community outreach, networking services, and project coordination, TTF facilitates, supports, and initiates efforts to restore the health of the watershed, and to mobilize its communities as watershed stewards.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to enhance the health and vitality of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Creek and its watershed.

Partnership History

In 2000, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) launched the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF), a groundbreaking effort to connect diverse stakeholders as neighbors and stewards of the watershed. The partnership was integral in developing the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Integrated Watershed Management Plan (TTFIWMP), a blueprint for restoring this urban stream into a community asset while addressing the mandated requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act and the Federal Stormwater Permit Program (MS4).

In 2005, under PWD’s leadership, the Partnership formally incorporated as an independent nonprofit, composed of environmental organizations, community groups, government entities, and other watershed stakeholders. Now the Partnership has embarked on implementing the TTFIWMP and advancing a wide range of initiatives for the good of the watershed.

The initial Board of Directors was seated in October 2005.  The present Board includes representatives from:

Watershed Background

Map of Watershed

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed covers 29 square miles of land in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.

The watershed has a diverse population that includes portions of the inner city as well as suburban communities. Flow from various tributaries discharge to the Delaware River through the Frankford Creek.

The creek experiences all of the usual urban ills including litter and illegal dumping, channelization of portions of the creek, steeply eroded streambanks, degraded aquatic and riparian habitat, and impaired water quality.

Ideally, the creek should serve as a place for recreation, inspiration, and community connection. Currently, however, in many places, the compromised state of the creek’s health and aesthetics deters residents from enjoying it as a community asset.

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership brings together a network of inspired individuals and groups from localized areas of the watershed for the development and coordination of grassroots solutions.

Upcoming Events

November 15, 2008: Tree & Shrub Planting – Volunteers Needed

Cheltenham Township has secured a grant from the Tree Vitalize Watershed Grant Program.  The grant was awarded to the Township in order to enhance and improve the riparian buffer along Tookany Creek in the George Perley Bird Sanctuary (Rices Mill Road and Glenside Avenue).

The enhancements will include planting native trees and shrubs along the creek.  These additional plantings will help to improve the quality of our creek water by filtering out pollutants as well as help to slow the creek water during flood events.  These goals are part of our “Tookany Creek Watershed Management Plan”.  For more information about the plan, check out the Township website at www.cheltenhamtownship.org

Please come and help plant the riparian buffer.  No experience is needed!  We will teach you how to plant the trees and shrubs.  All of the plants are “volunteer friendly”-- so young, old and anyone in-between can volunteer.  Bring family, friends and neighbors!  The more volunteers we have, the faster the work will be completed and the sooner, our healthy buffer will start growing.

DATE:                   Saturday, November 15, 2008  rain date: (downpour only) Sunday, November 16

TIME:                    9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Come for a few hours or stay all day!

LOCATION:         George Perley Bird Sanctuary

CONTACT:           Barb Duffy, Cheltenham Environmental Advisory Council: 215-885-1506

No registration necessary—just show up!

November 22, 2008: Stream Clean-Up – Volunteers Needed

The signature activity of Friends of Tacony Creek Park is organized clean-ups of various parts of Tacony Creek Park and surrounding areas. Clean-ups are once or twice a month and volunteers are always needed. This is a way to make a difference on the spot, by picking up trash with our other volunteers. Those required to fulfill community service obligations are also welcome.

- All volunteers should wear sturdy shoes/boots, long sleeves, and long pants.

- Trash bags and tools are provided

DATE:                   Saturday, November 22, 2008

TIME:                    10:00 AM

LOCATION:         Bingham St. & Rorer St.

CONTACT:           Friends of Tacony Creek Park at 215-745-8903

December 6, 2008: Used Electronics Drive

Recycle your used electronics, ethically!

Nothing we collect will be tipped into landfills, incinerated as solid waste, or dumped in developing countries! No hazardous wastes will be accepted. Event is open to the public: all are welcome!

DATE:                   Saturday, December 6, 2008

TIME:                    11 AM – 2 PM

LOCATION:             Cedarbrook Middle School

                             300 Longfellow Road, Wyncote PA

                              www.cheltenham.org/cedarbrook

COST:                    $1 per pound (ethical recycling fee)  Net Proceeds Benefit: TTF Watershed Education at Cedarbrook Middle School

CONTACT:             Sarah RobbGrieco at sarah@ttfwatershed.org or 215.208.1613, or TOXTOUR^TM at: www.toxtour.org or 617-233-4120

WHAT TO BRING: Old or Used Televisions, Computers, Monitors, Phones, Keyboards, Drives, Cables, Cords, Peripherals, Copiers, Printers, Cartridges, Fax Machines, Scanners, Laptops, Stereo Equipment, Speakers, CD & DVD Players, Telephones, Remote Controls, VCR's, Projectors, Digital Cameras, PDAs, Speakers, Radios, Answering machines, Camcorders, Electric Typewriters, Video Game Systems, Pagers, Microwaves, Toasters, USB Media, and Magnetic Media like Zip Disks, Audio Tapes, and Floppy Diskettes.

Newsletter

For More Information on the TTF Watershed Partnership

Please Contact:

Sarah RobbGrieco, Executive Director