Common Ground Newsletter - Tinicum Conservancy

TC Newsletter-Spring '13-4-23-Replaced map and seal:TC Newesletter-Spring '13 4/23/13 6:29 PM Page 1 

Spring 2013 

Common Ground 

Protecting our rural character and natural resources 

through community-based land conservation. 

Heaney’s Run, a direct tributary to Tinicum Creek. Photograph by Martie Kyde. 

Water Wise 

Why it’s so important to protect our creeks and streams. 

A glance at a map or a tour around 

Tinicum makes it pretty clear how central 

water is to the township’s character, 

criss-crossed as it is with so many 

creeks and streams. The Tohickon 

Creek to the west and south and the 

Tinicum Creek running through the 

center are the largest. Smaller, but still 

familiar and well-marked creeks include 

Beaver, Rapp, Swamp, Smithtown, 

and Roaring Rocks. Our 

watershed is also home to many 

smaller streams, both named and unnamed. 

And of course Tinicum’s eastern 

border lies along the Delaware 

River for a stretch of 10 miles. 

Residents and visitors enjoy many 

benefits of these waterways. Some 

seek out recreational opportunities, 

like fishing, kayaking, and swimming. 

Many believe that a clean-running 

stream enhances property values. Others 

study the various wildlife that live 

in and around these riparian habitats 

and aquatic communities. Some just 

appreciate the beautiful scenery. And 

certainly, all of us who live here and 

rely on wells for our drinking water 

recognize the importance and value of 

pure, clean groundwater. 

All of Tinicum’s creeks and 

streams eventually empty into the 

Delaware River, which provides drinking 

water for over 15 million people in 

Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, 

and Delaware. 

Protecting our water supply is as 

critical to the Tinicum Conservancy’s 

mission as protecting the land—and 

doing so has been affirmed by the 

Bucks County Commissioners, the 

state of Pennsylvania, and the federal 

government. 

The available avenues for protection 

can sometimes be as intricate as 

the waterways themselves, but understanding 

them is the first step towards 

maintaining Tinicum’s water quality 

and quantity. 

As required by the federal Clean 

Water Act, the PA Department of Environmental 

Protection (PaDEP) has 

established a Water Quality Standards 

program. Designed to safeguard the 

water of our creeks, streams, and the 

rivers they feed, these standards establish 

criteria for water use and protection 

from pollution. They set limits on 

both "point" and "nonpoint" source 

pollution. “Point” refers to a single 

source of pollution, such as a factory’s 

industrial waste or a sewage treatment 

plant’s discharge into a river or stream. 

Point pollution was greatly reduced by 

the 1970 Federal Clean Water Act. 

“Nonpoint” source pollution isn’t 

from a single source, but from the cumulative 

effect of everyday activities, 

like driving a car or fertilizing a lawn. 

Fertilizer, if applied excessively or right 

before it rains, can wash off a lawn and 

into surface waterways. The nitrates 

and phosphates in fertilizer have the 

same effect on algae as on lawns— 

they make them grow. Overgrown 

algae can devastate creeks and streams, 

continued on page 8


Message from the President 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

Boyce Budd, President 

Tom Casola, Vice President 

Ellen Chapman, Treasurer 

Richard S. Bowles III 

Karen Budd 

Bill Cahill 

Betsi Campbell 

Jeff Keller 

Stuart Louden 

Chuck Scholer 

Hellyn Sher 

OFFICE STAFF 

Jim Engel, Executive Director 

Kelly Germann, Resource Protection Mgr. 

Maria Fell, Administrative Assistant 

NEWSLETTER 

Kris Becker 

Tom Casola 

Hellyn Sher 

Tinicum Conservancy 

965 River Road 

P.O. Box 206 

Erwinna, PA 18920 

610 294-1077 

610 294-2906 (fax) 

tinicumconserv@epix.net 

www.tinicumconservancy.org 

The Tinicum Conservancy is a 

501(c) (3) non-profit 

organization. Donations are tax 

deductible as allowed by law. 

Dear Members and Friends, 

The volunteers and staff of the 

Conservancy are delighted and gratified 

by the Tinicum community’s enthusiastic 

response to our recent 

capital campaign, The Forever Fund. 

Some 140 individuals and families donated 

a total of $270,000—surpassing 

our goal. This outpouring of support 

indicates that the Tinicum community 

understands both parts of our mission, 

namely to preserve the land with conservation 

easements and then to steward 

those easements through the 

years—to protect our irreplaceable resources 

for the benefit of the entire 

community. Doing so, as I see it, provides 

three long-term benefits for all 

who live and all who will live in this 

area: 

• First, a strong land conservation 

program prevents inappropriate development. 

Examples are those scattered 

clusters of homes built where no infrastructure 

exists, which strain local 

water resources, and burden existing 

home owners with additional taxes to 

pay for new infrastructure. 

• Second, a strong program not 

only preserves farms, but can encourage 

farming and beneficial agricultural 

uses. Everywhere in the country, the 

market for locally grown food is expanding 

dramatically. Can we count on 

buying food grown in California and 

trucked 2,500 miles for the foreseeable 

future? Why would we want to? 

Shouldn’t it be an imperative to protect 

our best agricultural soils and existing 

farms as invaluable and renewable 

components of our local foodshed? 

• Third, a strong program protects 

our most important natural resource – 

water. All life depends on a plenteous 

supply of clean water. We hear daily 

of water crises all over the world including 

in our own country. Protection 

of this invaluable resource is a public 

policy imperative and that means watersheds, 

riparian land along watercourses, 

and heavily forested areas 

which form natural sponges for water 

collection. 

So every time another conservation 

easement is placed on one of our 

farms (over forty of our farms are already 

protected), on open land which 

has lots of road access but no proximity 

to existing infrastructure, or on land 

bordering one of our watercourses or 

heavily forested uplands, you and those 

who will follow are receiving a direct 

benefit. 

Thank you for your generosity. 

Your investment in the Tinicum Conservancy 

and unwavering commitment 

to conservation inspire all of us who 

serve this organization. 

2 TINICUMCONSERVANCY.ORG Spring 2013


Vital Volunteers 

Into our third decade, Tinicum 

Conservancy remains a volunteer-centric 

organization. We have fantastic 

volunteers who get our mailings out, 

make our public events run smoothly, 

and monitor 4400+ acres of conserved 

land. And, as you will read at 

right, we have a fantastic volunteer 

who lightens the load around our office. 

We are grateful to all the volunteers, 

but right NOW, we could 

especially use more folks doing what 

Marge Copenhaver does. If you have 

an afternoon a week, or one day a 

month (or one anything a month!), our 

small office staff would love to have 

your help with: 

General office work. Want to learn 

more about land conservation? Make 

your own hours helping to: 

• Conduct conservation-related 

research 

• Assemble landowner information 

packets 

• Assist with filing and data entry 

Like looking at gorgeous photos of 

Tinicum? We always have pictures of 

conserved properties that need to be 

scanned and catalogued. 

And also…Calling All Container 

Gardeners! We are the lucky recipients 

of some donated planters to be set 

outside the TC office. Now we just 

need someone to donate plants (shadeloving) 

and time to fill them. 

Wish List 

- Hand tools (screwdrivers, 

hammers, etc.) 

- Dustbuster or small vacuum 

- Cordless drill 

- Picture-rail moulding 

Special Thanks: Margaret Copenhaver 

“I love volunteering for the Tinicum 

Conservancy,” says Marge Copenhaver, 

volunteer par excellence, who 

gives one day a month of her precious 

time in the Conservancy office. “I admire 

what Tinicum Conservancy is 

doing. I’m learning 

something about land 

protection and how a 

land trust works. I really 

like the people and 

how appreciative they 

are. Plus, I get to see 

how the organization 

interacts with its members 

and donors. This 

is the kind of work I’m 

good at and enjoy 

doing. And I feel that I 

am doing something for a worthwhile 

cause.” 

Marge and her husband, Tom, live 

in New Hope but have a house on 

Bridge Five in Tinicum. They have 

been members of the Conservancy 

for over ten years, having joined just 

after they purchased their home in 

Tinicum. Like so many people, they 

want to see sprawl and uncontrolled 

development curtailed in Bucks 

County. Since 1994 Marge has worked 

independently as a statistician for 

Janssen Co., part of Johnson and 

Johnson. She is involved in data collection 

for clinical trials and studies on 

humans, analyzing data for accuracy 

and writing clinical reports. 

As soon as she started cutting 

back on work, Marge decided to volunteer. 

Initially, she worked for Habitat 

for Humanity, but claims that she 

was “inept” at it. Then she read in 

Common Ground that volunteers 

were needed to help with TC office 

work. Marge figured that, as a “detail 

oriented” and “somewhat compulsive” 

person, she might be useful. 

So began a wonderful relationship, 

certainly a real asset for 

the Conservancy and a 

satisfying undertaking 

for Marge. She helps 

Administrative Assistant 

Maria Fell with 

data entry and mailings. 

For Kelly Germann 

she combs the 

conservation easement 

files, scans pictures, 

and keeps a spreadsheet 

for monitoring 

reports. Both Maria and Kelly made 

“training” a breeze; so while Marge reports 

that she’s learning a lot at the office, 

it was easy to fit right in and 

immediately make an impact. 

Marge’s one-day-a-month commitment 

to the Conservancy “is critical 

to the fulfillment of our mission,” 

says Maria. “Simply put, if it wasn’t 

for Marge and our other regular volunteers, 

we couldn’t get everything 

done. And besides the assistance 

Marge provides, she brightens everyone’s 

day when she is here.” Marge 

loves to walk along the canal towpath 

with her dog and loves the Delaware 

River. Her enthusiasm for her volunteer 

work is contagious. “I hope I can 

do more in the future,” she says. Good 

news for the Tinicum Conservancy! 

- Karen Budd 

Spring 2013 TINICUMCONSERVANCY.ORG 3


Camp Galil’s Sixty-One Acres Protected 

Camp Galil has been connecting children 

and young adults to the land 

along Tinicum Creek for sixty-seven 

years. Every summer campers learn 

about themselves, leadership, the environment, 

and more while enjoying the 

beauty that Tinicum offers. 

Camp Executive Director Sharon- 

A dramatic property located entirely along Tinicum Creek. 

Waimberg said that the camp’s board 

of directors feels “connected to the 

land.” From their perspective, the 

Camp Galil experience is closely tied 

to its Tinicum landscape. Galil’s leadership 

wanted to ensure that the beauty 

of the land and the creek remains forever 

protected. So entering into a conservation 

easement with Tinicum 

Conservancy was a natural for them. 

Preserving the land feeds into the programs 

the camp runs each summer. 

Waimberg expressed great satisfaction 

in recognizing that neighbors of the 

camp had also preserved their properties, 

so they know “that long after we’re 

gone, campers can come here and experience 

the same beauty that is here 

now.” In fact, Galil is linked to more 

than 480 acres of open space and is 

one of 11 connected easements that 

stretch to Ralph Stover State Park and 

the Tohickon Creek. 

there is also a strong focus on Jewish 

culture: Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming 

the Sabbath) and Shabbat dinner, Israeli 

folk dancing, Havdalah (marking 

the end of the Sabbath with singing 

and music), Israeli history, culture and 

Hebrew. Over the years thousands of 

campers, aged 8 to 16, have spent their 

Fruits of their labor: campers and 

counselors in Galil’s organic garden. 

An undated photo shows happy campers crossing the footbridge over Tinicum Creek. 

The camp was founded in 1946 as 

part of Habonim Dror North America 

(the progressive Zionist Labor Youth 

movement). At the beginning the camp 

was quite primitive—no electricity and 

sketchy water pumps. Although Galil 

still focuses on leadership, personal 

growth, and Jewish values in a kibbutzstyle 

setting, it is no longer quite as rustic. 

Galil provides full camp activities, 

including the familiar: sports programs, 

organic gardening, arts and 

crafts, nature, performing arts, aquatics, 

outdoor adventure, obstacle 

courses, and, of course, campfires. But 

One of the property’s many spectacular 

streamside places for a quiet retreat. 

summers in Tinicum. Youngsters come 

from as nearby as Doylestown and as 

far away as Japan. 

Camp Galil’s sixty-one acres off of 

Red Hill Road contain over 3700 

stream feet of Tinicum Creek and another 

780 feet of a tributary stream; 



the entire property lies within the 

Tinicum Creek Exceptional Value watershed. 

The easement was made possible 

because of the camp’s generosity 

and desire to protect the land, but also 

in large part through public funding, 

specifically Bucks County’s Natural 

Areas grant program. The County Natural 

Areas Inventory ranks the 

Tinicum Creek watershed and the 

Tinicum Creek Conservation Landscape 

as “conservation priorities” so a 

conservation easement on Camp Galil 

made perfect use of these public 

funds. 

The property is home to a feature 

of Tinicum Creek which has been interpreted 

as an “elbow of capture,” 

where the creek makes a dramatic 90- 

degree turn east on the way to the 

Delaware River. It is thought that the 

upper Tinicum Creek was once a tributary 

of the Tohickon Creek that was 

“captured” by a smaller tributary of 

the Delaware through headwaters erosion. 

This smaller creek became the 

lower Tinicum Creek. 

The riparian corridor along the 

creek is the most ecologically significant 

aspect of the property. The 

streamside forest in the west, south, 

and east contains sycamore, basswood, 

silver maple, black walnut, and white 

ash trees. Wildflowers and breeding 

habitat for amphibians are other features 

of the forested floodplain terrace. 

Successional red cedar woodland 

occupies a band along Galil’s northern 

boundary. A very steep hemlockforested 

slope borders Tinicum Creek 

on the southeast side, opposite the 

camp. The riparian corridor, including 

floodplain and floodplain terrace, are 

outside the area of active camp use. 

Most of the actual camp facilities are 

clustered in the center of the parcel. 

Neighbor June Rothkopf loves 

having Camp Galil next door, as it reminds 

her of her own childhood summercamp 

days. She is glad that kids 

enjoy their camp years in our “country” 

area. 

Clay Heckler contacted Tinicum Conservancy 

four years ago about conserving 

his property in Ottsville. 

Because the property was zoned commercial, 

the process was not straightforward 

and included some long 

delays. But Mr. Heckler persisted. 

The long-range views from the top of 

the property are some of the best in 

the area, looking down the sweep of 

fields and hills to the south of Park 

Road/Ridge Road. With Jose Garces’ 

Luna Farm (formerly Wenner) adjoining 

Mr. Heckler’s, and the Hoffman/Shivo 

preserved farm just 

beyond that, there is now a 130-acre 

stretch of preserved land in the 

northwest corner of the township. 

All three of the properties have been 

actively farmed, and the Garces property 

is growing organic produce destined 

for the Iron Chef ’s restaurant 

group. 

Thanks to Clay Heckler for continuing 

the conservation process. Protecting 

his property means another 

piece of Tinicum’s rural character will 

remain. 

Sugie Weiss was introduced to Bucks 

County in 1946 when she visited her 

cousin Mary Woodruff ’s farm on 

The name “Galil” refers to the famously 

scenic area of northern Israel 

surrounding the Sea of Galilee. This 

Galil flourishes along the scenic area 

of Tinicum Creek. 

- Peggy Enoch 

Persistent to the End: Landowners go the distance 

Rapp Creek. Sugie and her family, 

over the years, became part of the 

New York City-Bucks County connection. 

Sugie and Marty purchased 

their property, which lies mostly in 

Tinicum, but extends partly into 

Nockamixon Township in 1967. In 

December, they signed the easement 

conserving it. It adjoins the alreadyconserved 

Mirick property for a total 

of 62.5 acres. Sugie is looking forward 

to spending more time here in Bucks 

and calls the land “incredible,” adding, 

“We have treasured this property 

since we bought it, and have enjoyed 

it as a retreat from urban life.” Their 

sons grew up swimming in Beaver 

Pond and learning first-hand about 

the diabase geology that provides the 

huge rocks on their land. 

The Weisses encountered roadblocks 

in their pursuit of protecting 

the land “in perpetuity.” On finally 

closing the transaction, they expressed 

their appreciation for 

Tinicum Conservancy’s support in 

“sticking with us through thick and 

thin.” We are grateful for Marty and 

Sugie’s persistence in completing the 

easement! 

- P. E. 



Meet Our New Trustees 

Tinicum Conservancy is pleased to introduce 

three new trustees. “We are delighted 

to add these talented 

individuals to our board. Their diverse 

backgrounds both complement and 

supplement the skills of our current 

trustees,” says TC President Boyce 

Budd. Each will serve a three-year 

term. 

vancy supporters for 20 years. Chuck 

holds a B.A. in Political Science from 

Allegheny College, and an MPA in 

Public Management from NYU Wagner. 

He began his professional career 

as a land use/zoning officer with the 

Paterson, NJ Planning Department. 

Chuck was President of Bradford 

School in Philadelphia, and owner and 

President of Braxton School of Virginia. 

He founded Performance Training 

Institute in New Jersey. Chuck 

founded and owns Braxton School of 

Puerto Rico, which trains students in 

remedial math, English, and Spanish. 

He owns First Caribbean Educational 

Group, a consulting organization assisting 

schools in maintaining satisfactory 

progress under No Child Left Behind. 

Chuck has been a consultant to 

a number of New Jersey non-profit 

Work Force Investment Boards, ensuring 

they meet performance standards 

to continue their funding streams. 

Hellyn Sher has had a home in 

Tinicum since 2001. Initially a parttime 

resident, she moved to Uhlerstown 

full time in 2004 after many 

Dr. Richard S. Bowles, III, Ph.D. 

makes his home in Erwinna. He recently 

retired from the position of Executive 

Vice President and Chief 

Ethics & Compliance Officer at 

Merck. Rick holds a B.S. and M.S. in 

Chemical Engineering from Columbia 

University, as well as a Ph.D. in Chemical 

Engineering from Princeton University. 

He has published and lectured 

widely on the topic of Quality Management. 

He is a member of The 

American Institute of Chemical Engineers 

and The Compliance and Ethics 

Chuck Scholer 

Chuck Scholer and his wife, Sue, have 

been Tinicum residents and Conser- 

Hellyn Sher 

years in New York. Her professional 

background is in publishing, having 

worked as an editor at magazines and 

in books. Switching gears a bit, she has 

most recently been a bread baker at a 

dairy farm across the river in Hunterdon 

County. Locally, she has been an 

active volunteer for Tinicum Township, 

the Tinicum Civic Association 

and the Hunterdon Land Trust. She is 

a native of Washington, DC and has 

also lived in Ketchum, Idaho and 

Chicago, IL where she went to college 

at The University of Chicago. 

Rick Bowles 

Leadership Council. Rick is a Past 

President and board member of Raritan 

River Concerts, a Past Chairman 

and board member of Merck Cares, 

and Treasurer, Zen Mountain 

Monastery in Mt. Tremper, NY. 

As Chuck, Hellyn, and Rick take their 

new positions, our outgoing Conservancy 

trustees won’t be straying too far. 

Peggy Enoch will continue on the Re- 

Accreditation and Events Committees; 

she also maintains our easement files. 

Jonathan Reiss will continue to serve 

on the Finance Committee, and Anita 

Jensen as a project consultant. We 

thank them for their time, commitment, 

and enthusiasm. 



Growing Green 

An updated “Public and Protected Lands” map. New easements + additional member support = good growth. 

For more than twenty years, the 

Tinicum Conservancy has been the 

leading conservation group working to 

make sure Tinicum’s natural resources 

and rural character are protected. The 

increasing green on this map is just one 

illustration of our efforts. Our successful 

track record helping to protect 

more than seven square miles in Upper 

Bucks is due in large part to the dedication 

of volunteers and staff that 

make our everyday operations and 

conservation successes possible. More 

than 500 Conservancy members provide 

the financial resources needed for 

us to take advantage of the next conservation 

opportunity and ensure our 

community’s long-term protection. 

If you haven’t donated to the 

Conservancy before, or if your membership 

has lapsed, please consider 

what new milestones we can reach with 

your support. We receive no government 

money for operations and depend 

on your generous gifts. Annual 

individual and family memberships at 

the $50, $250, or $1,000 Friends of 

Tinicum level are critical to our success. 

Beyond member support, when 

possible we partner with municipalities 

and other conservation groups. An example 

of the former is a newly conserved 

75-acre farm in Bridgeton 

Township, near the Tinicum border. 

Held and farmed by the same family 

for generations, the easement was 

made possible by Bridgeton Township’s 

allocation of municipal open 

space grant funds. We thank the 

Bridgeton supervisors for their collaboration 

and support. This easement is 

reflected in the newest patch of green 

at the very top of this map. 

- Jim Engel 



continued from front page 

A view of the Tohickon Creek making its 

A map shows degradation of insufficiently protected Bucks County streams. 

For now, Tinicum waterways appear healthy. 

What “special protection” designations mean 

High Quality (HQ) Water either 

supports a high quality aquatic community, 

shows long-term high quality 

water chemistry, or is listed as a Class 

A Wild Trout Stream. Degradation of 

HQ water is not permitted, except for 

“necessary economic or social 

development.” 

Exceptional Value (EV) Water 

meets all the requirements of High 

Quality water plus one of several additional 

conditions which may include 

location, recreational significance, and 

ecological significance. No degradation 

is permitted. No exceptions for 

social or economic justifications. 

using up the oxygen and suffocating 

aquatic life. 

Protecting our watersheds from 

these pollutants—from stormwater 

runoff, pesticides, household hazardous 

wastes, gas drilling wastewater—is 

a clear priority. 

PaDEP regulations set limits on 

discharges into waterways and establish 

waste treatment requirements to ensure 

preservation of water quality. Waterways 

PaDEP considers most 

important are provided special protections. 

(See box at left.) The state’s highest 

designation protecting a stream 

from harmful discharges is “Exceptional 

Value.” 

Tinicum Creek received the Exceptional 

Value (EV) designation in 

1994. The creek begins in Tinicum 

Township where Beaver Run meets 

Rapp Creek. Rapp Creek begins at 

Lake Warren in Nockamixon Township. 

Beaver Run begins in Bridgeton 

before making its way into Tinicum. 

Both creeks are designated EV waterways, 

as part of the Tinicum Creek watershed. 

Winning the EV designation for 

the Tohickon Creek is an ongoing goal 

for local municipalities and conservation 

groups, including Tinicum Conservancy. 

We maintain the Tohickon 



making its way east, along the Tinicum-Bedminster border. Photograph by John Clement. 

meets the criteria for EV status and 

ought to be protected at the highest 

level. The Conservancy first petitioned 

PaDEP for an EV designation in 1995, 

and despite 20 years of additional support 

data (some of which were supplied 

by TC-funded studies), PaDEP 

has never ruled on the matter. Decisions 

have been postponed based on 

reconsideration of several environmental 

criteria, including slightly elevated 

water temperatures along certain 

sections of the creek. (Water temperature 

is one factor the state uses to make 

an evaluation.) The petition is still 

pending as further stream temperature 

data will be collected and analyzed during 

2013 and early 2014. This critical 

water resource, the longest waterway 

which lies entirely within Bucks 

County, is afforded some protection 

under the federal Lower Delaware 

Wild and Scenic River System designation. 

However, the fight to ensure 

stronger protection for the Tohickon 

continues. 

Achieving the highest state and 

federal classifications for our watercourses 

is one way to protect our 

water. Smart municipal planning is another. 

Tinicum Township has enacted 

a variety of zoning ordinances that establish 

riparian buffers, protect steep 

slopes, woodlands, stream valleys, wetlands, 

and floodplains—ordinances 

that contribute to the overall health of 

our watersheds. 

Placing conservation easements 

on lands with direct impact on our 

water (such as headwaters areas, floodplains, 

and riparian corridors) is another 

way. Many landowners have 

donated such easements. In some 

cases, there is funding available from 

Tinicum Township and Bucks County 

to help conserve these important properties. 

Along with our partners, the 

Tinicum Conservancy has protected 

more than 1360 acres along Tinicum’s 

major waterways. (On page 4, you can 

read about the easement at Camp Galil 

which was made possible in part by 

Bucks County Natural Areas grant 

program.) 

The Conservancy’s Land Protection 

Policy says we will consider conservation 

easements within Tinicum 

Township, immediately adjacent to it, 

or along one of the tributaries to our 

Tinicum streams. This reflects our understanding 

that to preserve our water 

quality and quantity, we need to protect 

the waters upstream, as well as those 

within our borders. 

- Tom Casola 

Water-related picks 

for your next movie night… 

Last Call at the Oasis (2011) A “playful 

title for a film that couldn't be more 

deadly serious. A thorough examination 

of the epic crises threatening the 

world's water supply…this documentary 

tells you to be afraid, very afraid,” 

according to the LA Times. 

Blue Gold: World Water Wars (2009) 

Pollution, mining, and wetland destruction 

are among the reasons water has 

become a precious commodity and 

governments, corporations, and private 

investors are racing to control it. 

Flow: For the Love of Water (2009) 

A look at “politics, pollution, human 

rights, and the emergence of a domineering 

world water cartel.” 

Frontline: Poisoned Waters (2009) 

How development, agriculture, and 

industry pose threats to the country’s 

water supply. Looks at the West Coast 

(Puget Sound) and the East (the Chesapeake 

Bay). 

Water Wars (2009) This documentary 

about Bangladesh posits that understanding 

“the plight of this downriver 

delta nation is to understand what all 

of us will face in the coming years.” 

Martin Sheen narrates. 

…and for the night table 

Water: The Epic Struggle for 

Wealth, Power, and Civilization by 

Steven Solomon. HarperCollins 

(2010). 

The Big Thirst: The Secret Life 

and Turbulent Future of Water by 

Charles Fishman. Free Press (2011). 

The Ripple Effect: The Fate of 

Fresh Water in the Twenty-first 

Century by Alex Prud’homme. 

Scribner (2011). 

River Republic: The Rise and Fall 

of America’s Rivers by Daniel 

McCool. Columbia (2012). 



Save These Dates! 

Opportunities for exercise, good deeds, and education. 

WALKS ON CONSERVED 

PROPERTIES 

Walk the conserved property of 

Martie and Neil Kyde 

Saturday, June 15 at 10 am. 

This property was heavily impacted 

by Hurricane Sandy. Come and learn 

about the unique and exciting ways 

the landowners are using that impact 

to improve the forest’s health. Refreshments 

served. Ottsville. 

Walk the conserved property of 

Sally Mirick 

Saturday, October 5 at 10 am. 

Botanist Sally Mirick will lead a walk 

on her property which abounds in diabase 

rock, native plants, and aquatic 

organisms. Tributary to Beaver Creek 

runs through the property. Bring 

your boots and be ready for some 

challenging walking! Ottsville. 

Tour Jose Garces’ Luna Farm 

Saturday, September 28 at 10 am. 

The weekend home of Jose Garces 

and his family doubles as a kitchen 

garden for some of the chef ’s restaurants. 

The farm manager will show us 

the operation. Ottsville. 

VOLUNTEER 

Stream planting and restoration of 

Swamp Creek 

Saturday, May 18 at 9 am. 

The natives planted by volunteers last 

year are flourishing. Now we need to 

control invasives that threaten to 

choke them out. Our partner is 

Delaware River Keeper. Meet at Erwinna 

Covered Bridge. 

Control exotic invasive plant 

species at The Giving Pond 

Saturday, June 8 from 8-11 am. 

Our partner is the Department of 

Conservation and Natural Resources 

(DCNR). The Giving Pond Park in 

Upper Black Eddy. 

Volunteer days and property walks 

contact: Karen Budd at 610 294- 

9069 or kbudd3030@gmail.com for 

directions and to register. 

FIELD TRIPS 

Bird-watching walk with 

Diane Allison 

Saturday, June 1 from 8-9:30 am. 

Diane, a former board member of 

Bucks County Audubon, is an international 

birdwatcher and a local expert, 

having lived in Tinicum for over 

35 years. Dress for the weather and 

bring your binoculars. 

Appreciating local produce 

Saturday, September 7 from 9-11 am. 

Spend a morning with farmers John 

Crooke and Stefan Streit learning– 

and tasting–why CSAs (communitysupported 

agriculture) are so popular. 

Limited to 15 so register now! 

Schneiderwind Farm. 

Field trips are free. Contact: Bill 

Cahill at 610 294-9732, or 

cahill@ptd.net for directions and 

to register. 

Enhanced Tax Incentives 

In 2013, going green can save 

you some green. 

A voluntary conservation easement is 

always a smart way to preserve the land 

you love, while retaining private property 

rights. Donating an easement now 

can also be a way to gain significant 

federal tax benefits since Congress renewed 

tax incentives for conservation 

easements through 2013. 

How easement donors can benefit: 

• The maximum deduction donors can 

take has been raised from 30% to 

50% of their adjusted gross income 

(AGI). 

• Qualifying farmers and ranchers can 

deduct 100% of their AGI. 

• Donors can take deductions over a 

period of 16 years (instead of six). 

It’s possible Congress will extend these 

incentives again, or make them 

permanent—in March the Rural Conservation 

Extension Act was reintroduced 

in the Senate. If Congress does 

not act, the tax benefits will expire at 

the end of the year. If you have been 

considering an easement, now is an especially 

good time to act. The Tinicum 

Conservancy will be happy to answer 

your questions and explain the process. 

Contact Jim Engel at 610 294-1077 or 

tinicumconserv@epix.net. 



Resource Protection Notes 

Thousand Cankers Disease and Emerald Ash Borer threaten important PA trees. 

Two pests are posing serious threats to 

Pennsylvania’s ash and black walnut 

populations, both of which are key 

components of the state’s forest 

ecosystems, landscapes, and hardwood 

industry. Thousand Cankers Disease 

and the Emerald Ash Borer have both 

been confirmed in Bucks County. 

Large-scale management and control 

options do not exist for either. 

shaped exit holes left by emerging 

adult beetles. Vertically split bark may 

appear over larval feeding galleries. As 

infestation takes hold, foliage wilts, 

branches die, and the canopy thins. 

Heavily infested trees may die within 

3-4 years. Individual trees can be 

treated with sprays and injections, at 

a cost of about $50 a year, per tree 

over many years, so there is an option 

leaves in mid-summer are two signs to 

look for. A thinning canopy from twig 

and branch dieback and ultimately 

thousands of cankers girdling the 

branches and trunk are further identifiers. 

No effective treatment exists for 

TCD. 

The public is encouraged to examine 

trees, know about state and federal 

quarantines and regulations, and follow 

Sticky, purple Emerald Ash Borer traps; D-shaped exit holes left by the 1/2” long beetle; the EAB and S-shaped larval tunnels under bark. 

Pennsylvania’s 300 million ash 

trees are under attack from the Emerald 

Ash Borer (EAB), a beetle native to 

Asia and first detected in North America 

in 2002. It has since spread to 14 

states and Canada, moving aggressively 

throughout Pennsylvania since discovery 

in 2007. The first known case in 

Bucks was documented in 2012. 

Infestations often go unnoticed, 

but one early sign is the appearance of 

jagged holes in the bark where woodpeckers 

feed on EAB larvae. Trunks 

and branches sometimes show D- 

for homeowners (or municipalities) 

with “high-value” trees. 

In 2011 the first case of Thousand 

Cankers Disease (TCD) in Pennsylvania 

was detected in a Plumstead Township 

black walnut. The black walnut’s 

extreme susceptibility to TCD and its 

prevalence in Pennsylvania and eastern 

forests generally means TCD is expected 

to have a severe impact. TCD 

is a disease complex—the combined 

work of a fungus and the walnut twig 

beetle. Tiny (2 mm) holes in the bark 

of branches, and wilting, yellowing 

the simple directive “Don’t Move Firewood” 

(or other raw wood) which limits 

the spread of all tree diseases. 

Much more information on detection, 

quarantines, and how to report 

suspected infestations can be found at: 

tinicumconservancy.org 

emeraldashborer.info 

thousandcankers.com 

dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/insectsdisease 

An infected black walnut’s yellow, flagging leaves; the fungus-produced cankers; at 1.5 mm, the tiny walnut twig beetle is doing major damage. 



P.O. Box 206, Erwinna, PA 18920 

NONPROFIT 

ORGANIZATION 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

PHILADELPHIA, PA 

Permit No. 85 

Rapp Creek. Photograph by John Clement. 

Ten Years of Road Clean-up 

Common Ground readers 

know that we have a tireless 

and dedicated River Road 

Clean-up Crew. Doug Sardo 

got the ball rolling 10 years 

ago and John Moore and Rob 

Morrison have gamely taken 

on the task in recent years. 

Our decade-long participation 

in PennDOT’s Adopt-A- 

Highway Program helps 

ensure that River Road between 

Tinicum Park and Jugtown 

Hill Road presents a 

pristine river view for residents 

and visitors alike. 

Skelton. Between the two official programs, nearly 50 miles 

(and counting!) of Tinicum roads are kept trash free. 

Want to start your own group to cover a stretch of road? 

Contact Marilyn Musiowski at 215 345-6060, ext. 100, or 

mmusiowski@pa.gov for state roads and Doug Skelton at 

610 294-9153 or dskelton@tinicumbucks.org for township 

roads. 

Or consider simply “adopting” a section of road that has 

meaning for you, perhaps the one in front of your own 

home or a route you drive, walk, or bike on a regular basis. 

Not only will you brighten your own landscape, but your 

neighbors will thank you as well. 

You can join our veterans for their 11th year on the 

following Saturdays: 

By the way, we’re not the only Tinicum folks out picking up 

litter. Nearly 20 familes and groups participate in the 

PennDOT program, which covers state roads, and 13 others 

participate in the township program under the 

supervision of Township Public Works Director Doug 

June 22 - August 17 - October 19 

(Rain dates are the following Sundays.) 

Meet at 8 am at the Schneiderwind Farm, on River Rd., 

across from the Frenchtown Bridge. 

Vests, gloves, bags, and water provided!

Common Ground Newsletter - Tinicum Conservancy

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