Linford Good, VP of Marketing & Planning

Aerial photo of work underway on the stream and floodplain restoration of Kurtz Run shown at the southeast corner of campus.

In August earthmoving equipment started removing sediments and fill that built-up over many years in the stream and floodplain that runs through campus.
Removing the sediments provides several benefits.

1. About three feet of sediments containing nitrogen and phosphorous collected in the floodplain. Removing the sediments also removes the pollutants
that are trapped in it.

2. High stream banks eroded away when storm water filled the channel. Removing sediments stabilizes the stream so storm water no longer erodes away  the banks. Eroding stream banks placed sediments containing nutrients in the waterway. In high concentrations this sediment contributes to pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

3. A wider, flatter floodplain improves water quality by creating a highly vegetated wetland to filter sediments and pollutants. It also provides additional flood flow storage and infiltration opportunities.

4. Improves natural habitat along reach of stream, both in-stream and along the riparian stream corridor.

Small trees being planted.

As earthmoving finishes in October the planting of trees, shrubs and plugs of grasses, rushes and sedges begins. There will be 51 native species trees, 675 shrubs and 25,600 plugs planted, some this Fall, others in the Spring of 2013. Partners on the project include LandStudies of Lititz, design and construction management, B. R. Kreider of Manheim, excavation, and RGS Associates of Brownstown, land planning.