Shawmont Restoration Project will receive funding from Schuylkill River Restoration Fund

Thanks to funding from the 2011 Schuylkill River Restoration Fund, the conservation plan completed in 2010 by the Natural Lands Trust for the Shawmont Waterfront can begin to be implemented. The project is one of seven to be a awarded a total of almost $400,000 that will improve water quality throughout the Schuylkill River watershed. The award program, administered by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, is funded by Exelon Nuclear, the Philadelphia Water Department and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

The Schuylkill Project was awarded $60,000 to implement recommendations set forth in the plan, which encompasses the 5-acre Ottinger Tract, and continues for another half mile from where the Schuylkill Trail comes down along the river to the Flat Rock Dam. The community of Shawmont has recently negotiated for this land to become part of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and now is working to improve and enhance the Shawmont section of the waterfront as a permanent natural greenway. This funding will help to start to realize this vision. Work will focus on enhancing the quality of plant materials which will ultimately help improve the properties of filtering and water absorption for the Shawmont Valley.