Through a grant partnership that includes the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and Hampden Township, the Alliance’s Pennsylvania office hosted a Watershed Festival on Tuesday, June 14th at the Hampden Township Park. The festival celebrated the local Conodoguinet Creek and Yellow Breeches Creek, as well as a newly installed native meadow swale, an example of green infrastructure in the park.[one_full background_image=”https://www.allianceforthebay.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/osprey-landing-in-nest-with-fish_credit-paul-warren-2007_become-a-part-of-our-work_1.jpg” ][imageframe link=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/29388462@N06/23225422080/” ] Over a hundred local friends and family members perused booths hosted by a multitude of organizations, learning more about stormwater, native plants, pollinators, integrated pest management, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Penn State Master Gardeners, the Cumberland County Conservation District, the Yellow Breeches and Conodoguinet Watershed Associations, and Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center were just a few of the many organizations that devoted their time to the festival.
The air was filled with live folk music by Shawan and the Wonton, and the Wild Hymns. An Artisan Grilled Cheese Food Truck joined in on the fun for those in need of dinner. Skelly and Loy, the engineering firm responsible for the installation of the new native swale, was also present at the festival to describe their work to attendees. Hampden Township partnered with the Alliance and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to design the swale, which uses soil and native plants to clean stormwater before it reaches ground water.  The newly engineered swale will also help manage sinkholes, which had been an issue at the site. Hampden Township hired Skelly & Loy, Inc. to construct the swale.[one_full background_image=”https://www.allianceforthebay.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/osprey-landing-in-nest-with-fish_credit-paul-warren-2007_become-a-part-of-our-work_1.jpg” ][imageframe link=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/29388462@N06/23225422080/” ] The festival was part of township efforts to engage the public in managing stormwater runoff. Hampden Township is one of the most progressive municipalities in the state, being the first township to adopt a stormwater fee to aid their stormwater management efforts. The Alliance’s Pennsylvania team was thrilled to be involved with such an active and engaged township, and contribute to helping its residents learn more about the Alliance’s work and watershed restoration as a whole.