With more than 8 miles of urban riverfront, and a variety of ecological, land ownership, and funding considerations, where are the most feasible and most valuable places to restore the shoreline? PEC assessed the entire stretch of riverfront and it now working to initiate restoration projects that are most ready to move forward.

PEC’s ecological restoration work has built upon local and regional efforts to develop trails and greenways along urban river fronts. Our initial work focused on the East Coast Greenway trail alignment along the North Philadelphia Delaware waterfront. PEC’s North Delaware Riverfront Greenway Master Plan (2005) provided a blueprint for a riverfront trail and open space network from New Frankford Creek up river to Poquessing Creek. Included in the plan was the intention to restore habitat for birds and wildlife, to replant the riparian area with native trees and shrubs, and to restore tidal wetlands and mud flats.

PEC was then funded by the Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program to identify and prioritize ecological restoration opportunities within this urban river reach (click here to see a map of the assessment area). Habitat, land characteristics like size and environmental condition, and recreational criteria were defined and applied to individual waterfront parcels. Focusing on the land between the proposed trail and the river, each parcel was scored according to the potential to restore wildlife habitat. See the links below for the Philadelphia North Delaware River Greenway Ecological Assessment and Prioritization Report (November 2009) for the full study details.

Click here to review the Final Ecological Restoration Assessment on Philadelphia North Delaware Riverfront Greenway.

Click here to view all report attachments (46MB)

PEC is using the scoring results to initiate restoration projects along the North Delaware River. Our objective is to design and install ecological restoration projects as riverfront trails and parks are created. See the Lardner’s Point, Bridesburg, Neshaminy, and other emerging projects links for examples of restoration projects.

PEC’s work is imbedded within a Regional Restoration Initiative led by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. PEC leads an urban waterfront workgroup that is contributing to the Partnership’s larger strategy to prioritize restoration opportunities across the Estuary. The urban waterfront workgroup includes representatives from regulatory agencies, consulting firms, nonprofits, and others interested in restoration. Some of our partners include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Philadelphia Water Department, Delaware River City Corporation, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and the Philadelphia Horticultural Society.