download the full guide - Lehigh Gap Nature Center

1black rocksanctuaryLocation: The sanctuary is located on a bend of theSchuylkill River, off Rt. 113 (Black Rock Rd.) in Phoenixville.Owner & Contacts: Chester County (120 acres)610-469-1916935 Black Rock Rd., Phoenixville, PA 19460www.chesco.org/ccparksDirections, Access & Parking: From theintersection of Rt. 23 (Nutt Rd.) and Rt. 113 (Bridge Rd.), gonortheast on Rt. 113 for 0.6 miles to the T-intersection with Rt.29 (Gay St.). Turn left and stay on Rt. 113 for about 1.7 milesuntil you reach Black Rock County Preserve on your right. Thereare two parking lots; one at the south end of the sanctuary andanother just south of the Schuylkill River bridge.Site Description: This site was reclaimed from aformer coal “desiliting basin”. In the early 1900’s, wastefrom upstream coal operations contributed over 3-milliontons of silt annually to the river. By the early 1930’s so muchsilt had settled behind the dams and in the river that it wasno longer suitable for navigation or recreation. In 1945 theCommonwealth of Pennsylvania undertook the “Schuylkill RiverProject.” The river was dredged to remove built-up coal siltwhich was pumped into desilting basins built along the river.The basins were constructed of clay-filled berms about twentyfeet high and trapped the coal silt as the water returned to theriver. In the case of Black Rock, an 8,000-foot long berm wasbuilt to create an 80-acre basin.Through the Seasons:Winter: Specialties that might be found in winter includeRing-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Yellow-belliedSapsucker, Winter Wren and Purple Finch.Spring: Look for Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, GreenHeron and Wilson’s Snipe. Warblers and other passerines alsoare present.Summer: Some of the more interesting birds that breed inthe sanctuary include Wood Thrush, White-eyed Vireo, BlackthroatedBlue Warbler and Rose breasted Grosbeak.Fall: Greater and Lesser yellowlegs are present at times.Look for migrating warblers and, later in the season, sparrows.Waterfowl may also be present in fall.ChesterOther Comments: Portable toilet is availableyear-round. • Dogs must be leashed.49Interpretive sign at Black Rock Sanctuary, SRHAAmerican Widgeon, Corey Husic