Ecological Assessment Of The Delaware Riverfront
Ecological Assessment Of The Delaware Riverfront
Ecological Assessment Of The Delaware Riverfront
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<strong>Ecological</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> <strong>Of</strong> <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Delaware</strong> <strong>Riverfront</strong><br />
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<br />
Pier 53 South<br />
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pier 53 S to 70 S<br />
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2009 fisheries survey<br />
Conducted as part of<br />
in-kind in kind services for<br />
grants received by<br />
PWD from DCNR
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SouthPort<br />
<strong>Ecological</strong><br />
<strong>Assessment</strong><br />
Summer 2009 Fisheries<br />
Survey<br />
Conducted as part of an<br />
ecological assessment for<br />
future mitigation
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FINDINGS<br />
High Value Resource<br />
Diverse fish community<br />
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20 different species<br />
resident and migratory fish<br />
Habitat for migratory species “of of<br />
concern” concern<br />
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Blueback<br />
herring<br />
Alewife<br />
American shad<br />
Atlantic Menhaden<br />
Young-of-Year American Shad<br />
Juvenile River Herring
Percent Contribution (%)<br />
60.0<br />
50.0<br />
40.0<br />
30.0<br />
20.0<br />
10.0<br />
0.0<br />
Blueback herring<br />
Alewife<br />
American shad<br />
White catfish<br />
Bay anchovy<br />
American eel<br />
Atlantic menhaden<br />
Satinfin shiner<br />
Common carp<br />
Gizzard shad<br />
Banded killifish<br />
Eastern silvery minnow<br />
Channel catfish<br />
Pumpkinseed sunfish<br />
Bluegill sunfish<br />
Smallmouth bass<br />
Largemouth bass<br />
White perch<br />
Striped bass<br />
Spottail shiner<br />
Yellow perch<br />
Lepomis spp.<br />
Species<br />
Legend<br />
Late Spring<br />
Summer<br />
Fish species collected during spring and summer surveys<br />
Pier 53 S to Pier 78 S
Conclusions<br />
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Pier area is being used by<br />
migratory species as:<br />
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Areas of refuge (predator avoidance)<br />
Foraging (food acquisition)<br />
Reproduction (spawning habitat)<br />
<strong>The</strong>se results were:<br />
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Unexpected and promising<br />
Indicate an extremely precious ecological<br />
commodity along the <strong>Delaware</strong> River<br />
Waterfront in central Philadelphia<br />
Suggest that sustainable urban fisheries may<br />
be attainable
Total fish Passage<br />
45000<br />
40000<br />
35000<br />
30000<br />
25000<br />
20000<br />
15000<br />
10000<br />
5000<br />
0<br />
LEGEND<br />
Total Fish<br />
American shad<br />
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009<br />
Year<br />
Annual Trends In Fish Passage At <strong>The</strong> Fairmount<br />
Fishway, Philadelphia, PA (2004-2009)<br />
Fisway Restoration<br />
1600<br />
1400<br />
1200<br />
1000<br />
800<br />
600<br />
400<br />
200<br />
0<br />
American Shad Passage<br />
American shad passing<br />
through Fairmount<br />
Fishway
Tidal <strong>Delaware</strong><br />
<strong>Riverfront</strong><br />
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2007-2008 2007 2008 surveys<br />
revealed approximately<br />
30-40 30 40 locations of<br />
enhancement or creation<br />
potential<br />
60-100 60 100 acres<br />
Areas of potential wetland creation or<br />
enhancement from Walt Whitman to Benjamin<br />
Franklin bridges
Zone 1: Darby Creek To Schuylkill<br />
Confluence<br />
Potential “Healthy” Enhancement Tidal Wetlands Area
Zone 2: Naval Yard To<br />
Benjamin Franklin Bridge<br />
Potential Tidal Wetland Creation<br />
Sites: Pier 70 “Walmart Site”
Zone 3: Benjamin Franklin Bridge<br />
“DEW-37” Potential Enhancement<br />
To Betsy Ross Bridge<br />
“DEW-36” Potential Creation
Zone 4: Betsy Ross Bridge To<br />
Site “DEW 46”: Pennypack Creek<br />
Confluence<br />
Poquessing Creek<br />
Site “DEW 45”: Potential Enhancement<br />
Project
Additional Studies:<br />
Freshwater Mussels Survey<br />
Dredging surveys<br />
occurred in the<br />
Schuylkill as well as<br />
the <strong>Delaware</strong> River
Thought Extirpated<br />
from PA<br />
Leptodea ochracea<br />
Freshwater Mussels<br />
Rare<br />
Strophitus undulatus<br />
Patchy, Impaired<br />
Elliptio complanata<br />
Scientific Name Scientific Name DE<br />
State Conservation Status<br />
NJ PA<br />
ALASMIDONTA HETERODON DWARF WEDGEMUSSEL Endangered Endangered Critically Imperiled<br />
ALASMIDONTA UNDULATA TRIANGLE FLOATER Extirpated ? Threatened Vulnerable<br />
ALASMIDONTA VARICOSA BROOK FLOATER Endangered Endangered Imperiled<br />
ANODONTA IMPLICATA ALEWIFE FLOATER Extremely Rare no data Extirpated ?<br />
ELLIPTIO COMPLANATA EASTERN ELLIPTIO common common Secure<br />
LAMPSILIS CARIOSA YELLOW LAMPMUSSEL Endangered Threatened Vulnerable<br />
LAMPSILIS RADIATA EASTERN LAMPMUSSEL Endangered Threatened Imperiled<br />
LASMIGONA SUBVIRIDIS GREEN FLOATER no data Endangered Imperiled<br />
LEPTODEA OCHRACEA TIDEWATER MUCKET Endangered Threatened Extirpated ?<br />
LIGUMIA NASUTA EASTERN PONDMUSSEL Endangered Threatened Critically Imperiled<br />
MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA EASTERN PEARLSHELL no data no data Imperiled<br />
PYGANODON CATARACTA EASTERN FLOATER no data no data Vulnerable<br />
STROPHITUS UNDULATUS SQUAWFOOT Extremely Rare Species of Concern Apparently Secure<br />
Recent findings of shells and live specimens in tidal PA areas by PDE are circled
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Implications<br />
Increased potential for recreational<br />
activities<br />
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Increased economic value of the<br />
waterfront property<br />
Developers will need to balance<br />
waterfront development interests with<br />
protection of this high value resource<br />
Increased level of mitigation required<br />
for intertidal or open water takings<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is limited areas of opportunity<br />
for freshwater tidal wetland<br />
enhancement or creation<br />
Current<br />
A conceptual rendering of tidal restoration<br />
along <strong>Delaware</strong> <strong>Riverfront</strong> near Pier 70 South<br />
Post-enhancement
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