The Guardians of the Brandywine are watching the waters of the Upper East branch of the brandywine
As our mission is to preserve the rural character of wallace township, our activities focus on the protection and enhancement of the waters and other natural resources of the Upper East Branch of the Brandywine Creek's Watershed, including all of its tributaries.
We believe that the mission requires us to educate the public about the quality of our natural resources and the quality of life enjoyed by our predecessors, and to further inform the public of the challenges to these qualities posed by the pressures of the twenty first century.
Preservation and maintenance of riparian buffers are at the top of the list of the subjects which the public must understand if the brandywine waters and surrounding environs are to be preserved from deterioration. This entails hiring counsel and scientists to gather and analyze data, review planning and land use, and the study the environment. Their findings are then conveyed to the community through Guardians’ educational outreach.
Funds raised by the Guardians of the Brandywine, Inc. will be used to educate the public and protect the Brandywine within the restrictions of the IRS 501 (c) (3), relating to charitable contributions. We believe that the natural resources associated with the Brandywine Watershed are themselves incapable of political affiliation,we intend to see that our organization should also be without political affiliation. We expect to educate all who will hear our message about preservation and conservation of the Brandywine Watershed, regardless of anyone’s political affiliations. As an organization, we have no political affiliation or involvement.Won't you join us?
The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek needs Riparian buffers
Building a line of defense to protect our waters of the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek (EBBC). Watch Our Waters!
The east branch of the Brandywine is located in an area that forms a drainage basin which is the largest in the county, encompassing 290 square miles and accounting for about thirty-eight percent (38%) of the county's land area.
No place along the Brandywine is far from water. The land and each action carried out on the land is inextricably tied to its waters. Whether it is our local streams and tributaries, our freshwater streams and wetlands, these waters provide drinking water, food, and habitat for people, plants, aquatic life and wildlife. Plus these waters along EBBC provide enormous recreational benefits for all Pennsylvanians.
Protecting our present riparian buffers and the need to continue to line these waters with native trees and grasses in the form of riparian buffers is a vital step in the efforts to protect the East Branch of the Brandywine water resources.
We need your help in creating a line of defense by means of riparian buffers to protect our waters here along the EBBC.
What are Riparian Buffers?
Riparian buffers are transition areas between water and the land. They link terrestrial upland ecosystems to stream, river or wetland ecosystems. The buffers we need to protect are the areas that are thickly forested along the stream side area. Although we can plant new buffers, we need to educate the public as to the need to protect our present buffers along our 'high quality' streams as they serve several important functions, and work with the community to preserve this land.
The Science is In! Forested Buffers are our Best Defense!
Read the UEBBC Conservation Plan
Consider:
- Buffers increase property values. Forested stream corridors increase the market value of nearby homes, also increasing local tax revenues
- Buffers reduce flood damage. Forested buffers reduce flooding impacts by increasing storage and infiltration of floodwaters and slowing flood velocities.
- Buffers protect drinking water. Forested buffers filter out pollutants and battle drought - protecting both water quality and quantity.
- Buffers decrease costs of stormwater management. Protecting our present buffers in new land development can reduce or eliminate the need for large and expensive stormwater infrastructure, such as storm sewers and detention basins.
- Buffers filter pollutants. Only forested buffers filter significant amounts of pollutants including sediment, nutrients, toxins, and other contaminates. Pollution removal is maximized when forested buffers widths are over 100 feet or greater.
- Buffers reduce stream bank erosion. Root systems of forested buffers stabilize stream banks and slow down runoff to prevent bank scouring and erosion.
- Buffers cool waters for aquatic life, cool streams by 4 to 9 degrees F. Shaded and cooler streams means healthier streams, particularly for many temperature-sensitive fish such as trout in our UEBBC.
- Buffers are needed to enhance stream habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Leaves, sticks, and other debris from forested buffers provide food, shelter and habitat, increasing biological productivity from the base of the of the food chain and up.
- Buffers battle climate change. Forested buffers help reduce the impact of climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases.
These suggestions were provided with permission from the Campaign for Clean Water for PA - www.pacleanwater.org
Want to be in the know? Then download this 24 page guide "Protecting Streams in PA" and gain background information and useful tips for securing stronger local protections for the East Branch of the Brandywine. The Delaware Riverkeeper Network was kind enough to provide us this guide and are a great resource.
Protections needed for the east Branch of the Brandywine:
- At least 100 foot + buffers on both sides of all streams.
- No increase in the total volume of stormwater runoff from pre-development to post-development.
- Education of the community for woodland preservation commensurate with the proposed Natural Resource Conservation Amendments developed by the Woodland Preservation Task Force.
- Wellhead protection for all new deep community and public wells.
Why We Need Special Protection for the East Branch of the Brandywine:
The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek, has been designated as a High Quality, Trout Stocking stream by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ( PA DEP): several species of concern depend on the quality of water that runs through the Brandywine. These waters are enjoyed and provide both recreational and aesthetic value to our communities.
The Upper East Branch of Brandywine River is valued highly by all residents of Chester County and beyond for its role in supporting a rich diversity of birds, wildlife and aquatic life.
Pipelines Creep into Chester County
Pipelines are creeping into Chester County. We hope this map will help you understand how these pipelines will impact your property and the community you live in.
The three pipelines include
- Williams Transco pipeline project between Caln and East Whiteland, (there is already an approved expansion of the Williams Transco pipeline near Downingtown and Exton).
- The Dominion pipeline project between Honey Brook and East Whiteland affecting Wallace, Upper Uwchlan, West Vincent, West Pikeland, East Natmeal, West Natmeal and Charlestown Townships.
- An 88-mile pipeline is proposed by the AES Corp. of Virginia also known as the Mid Atlantic Express which will run between Sparrows Point, and Eagle in Upper Uwchlan Township .
Thirty Two miles of this pipeline would be in Chester County.
Chester County has vast Open Space and farmland a prime target for expanding the gas lines and adding new gas lines.
The 1938 Natural Gas Act gave what is now the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission full authority over interstate natural-gas pipelines, overriding state or local restrictions such as easements or local land use ordinances.
The question is how natural is natural gas? What will be the effect of massive pipelines on the natural resource here along the Brandywine and its tributaries. Can we depend on our municipalities and local Chester County officials to play a role in protecting these rights, to our private property and our natural and public resources, water, both quantity and quality? We need to protect our watershed and our natural habitat.
State laws recognize the role for municipalities in protecting the natural resources. To see what other townships are doing visit www.damascuscitizens.org. For more information of the impact of gas lines visit www.delawareriverkeeper.org. Don't let the pipes creep into Chester County without a through review of the process by its citizens. Should we allow the Oil and Gas Act to preempt local ordinances?
Stay informed, ask your local officials for further investigation into the by- products of the proposed pipelines creeping into Chester County, PA. Ask your local leaders what is at stake, how can we do it better, how can we get clean energy and protect our quality of life.
