Project Descriptions
(Projects marked with an asterisk [*] were part of the "National Showcase Watersheds" in which the Lititz Run Watershed Alliance was highlighted)
The Banta property is a trianglar-shaped piece of land on the northern side of Rothsville Road/772, upstream from Millport Conservancy. Shrub and tree plantings were undertaken at the site in 1993. Three years later, three acres of warm season grasses were planted. Stream improvements, stabilization, and additional tree plantings also took place at that time. A far more extensive restoration project occurred between 2002 and 2005. The project consultant for the Banta site was LandStudies, Inc. From January through March of 2002, LandStudies Inc. completed preliminary design work, surveying and base mapping. Permit applications were completed between April and December of 2002 and submitted in December 2002. The project was scheduled to be constructed in September 2003 with work done both by Flyway Exc, Inc. of Lititz and volunteers. The stream was relocated using Natural Channel Design Techniques and 7000 cubic yards of floodplain were excavated. 3,000 linear feet of the stream were stabilized using approximately twenty-six in-instream devices, including cross vanes, rock vanes, root wats, and j-hook vanes. A wetland that is approximately 2,140 feet long and 30 feet wide was created. Grant funding from the Pennsylvania Growing Greener program was used to fund this project. Additionally, forty-two acres of the Banta property have been enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) CREP program.
The Baum dairy farm straddles the Lititz Run just below where the New Haven Tributary enters the stream. The property fronts Creek Road. Project work—primarily agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)—were undertaken between 1998 and 1999. Specifically, streambank fencing, forested riparian buffers, cattle crossings, manure storage, and barnyard spouting and gutters. Partners in the project included the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Lancaster County Conservation District, Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
The Farmers First Project took place along the Lititz Run east of State Route 501 in Lititz Borough. Prior to restoration, bank erosion had been severe. Farmers First bank had considered installing a masonry wall, which would have cost $300,000. LandStudies, Inc. was employed as a consultant, and they came up with a bioengineering design that used plant roots to naturally stabilize the banks instead of a wall. The cost was approximately 1/10th of what the wall would have cost to construct. Before the project began, the parking lot behind the buildings on Main Street went up to the edge of the stream, with a small patch of mowed grass between the edge of the parking lot and the sharp drop off to the stream. The restoration project involved regrading the streambanks. In order to promote more infiltration, four feet of gravel infiltration bed were installed between the parking lot and the edge of the stream. The Farmers First project involved bioengineering. Coir logs, which are made of coconut fiber, were installed to keep the banks from eroding. Burlap fabric was also used to cover the banks until the trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers had a chance to mature. Netting was installed around the plantings to prevent ducks from eating the newly planted vegetation.
A second stream restoration of 900 linear feet was jointly funded by Farmers First and Lititz Borough in 1999 a little bit further downstream. This project is also sometimes referred to as the Cedar-Water Street project. LandStudies Inc. completed the project design. The stream was narrowed, and the banks were regraded to give the stream better access to the floodplain. Natural Channel Design was used to restore pool and riffle sequences. A 0.20 acre wetland was created to filter parking lot runoff on the northern bank of the stream.
The main branch of Lititz Run flows through a portion of the western part of Art Hess’ property, which is located along Becker Road. Restoration efforts were undertaken in 1994-1995. After some regrading work was completed, 1000 linear feet of stream were stabilized with rock. Several fish cover structures were installed. A spring on the property was diverted away from a manure storage area. The pipe now brings the spring’s flow underground, were it discharges under a fish cover structure. Reseeding was also completed.
The Ed Hess property, located along Becker Road, was worked on between 1992 and 1995. The restoration included stabilization of 2800 linear feet of stream improvements, including rock stabilization, mudsills, Christmas tree deflectors, jack dams, tree plantings, regrading, and reseeding. 100 feet of fencing was also installed.
Jim Hess
Jim Hess owns two parcels of land on either side of Newport Road between Orchard Road and Clay Road. His property fronts Moores Run, and he has improved the stream by installing streambank fencing.
The Hurst/Wenger properties are on the northern bank of the Lititz Run, near the intersection of Clay Road and Rothsville Road/772. The first series of restorations to these two properties were completed between 1994 and 1996. The majority of them focused on Agricultural Best Management (BMPs) practices, including streambank fencing, cattle crossings, manure storage, and barnyard piping. Some regarding, instream fish structures, tree planting, and rock and deflector installation was also done. Prior to the 2001 restoration, the stream in this segment was wide and shallow. The stream carried a great deal of sediment and the aquatic habitat was poor. In all, 900 linear feet of stream were restored using Natural Channel Design Techique. By installing a pool and riffle sequence, aquatic habitat was created. A floodplain excavation was undertaken to reconnect the stream to its floodplain. A total of 140 feet of stream was relocated. Native wetland plants were also planted to create a forested riparian buffer. The project cost $55,000.
Jake King
The Jake King farm is located along Becker Road and is bordered on the west by Lititz Run. An unnamed tributary also flows westward through the northern portion of the property. In 1996, 800 linear feet of stream improvements, including rock stabilization, regrading, reseeding, fencing, cattle crossing, and tree plantings were undertaken.
John King
In 1994-1995, 100 linear feet of stream improvements were completed.
Linear Park
Linear Park is located in Warwick Township. Wetlands were created and volunteers helped to plant riparian buffers.
McKennon Property
The McKennon restoration took place east of the Woodstream Corporation property to Oak Street in Lititz Borough, immediately downstream from where the Santo Domingo tributary enters Lititz Run. Approximately 300 linear feet of streambank were stabilized through bioengineering.
The Millport Conservancy is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1983. It owns 40 acres of land adjacent to Lititz Run between Rothsville Road and and E. Millport Road. Restoration efforts were undertaken at the Millport site many times since the early 1990s. In 1994, volunteers from the Donegal chapter of Trout Unlimited took part in 800 linear feet of stream improvements, including rock and deflector installation, riparian buffer planting, and reseeding. In 1996, more tree plantings and bank stabilization took place. Pheasants Forever plants 6 acres of warm season grasses adjacent to the stream. Rocks were brought in to reduce the stream width and armor the banks. A .02 acre bog turtle habitat was created in a constructed wetland. In 1999, a dam was removed from the site, draining a pond. As a result, thermal pollution decreased and 4 acres of wetlands were created. Fish habitat was also improved. Exotic and invasive weed control has been undertaken to allow the native plant population to flourish. In all, between 1996 and 1999, $200,000 was used from a variety of sources to restore 1 mile of stream corridor, 15 acres of warm season grasses, and 5 acres of wetlands. Partners in the effort included: LandStudies, Inc., Donegal Trout Unlimited, PA Fish & Boat Commission, PA DEP, Lancaster County Conservation District, U.S. EPA, Chesapeake Bay Program, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Millersville University, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Millport Conservancy, and Pheasants Forever.
The Millport property also has a “grow out station,” just east of Lititz Run along E. Millport Road, where trees are grown for restoration projects through out the watershed.
The New Street Ecological Park is located along the Santo Domingo tributary between Water Street and Locust Street. The restoration project brought together Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Lititz Borough, and LandStudies, Inc. The floodplain was excavated down to its historic level, 900 linear feet of stream were relocated, wetland pockets were created, and native vegetation was planted.
Newport Square Ecological Restoration
Newport Square is a neo-traditional village development in Warwick Township. It is adjacent to Moores Run, south of E. Newport Road. Project work was undertaken between 2001 and 2003. A variety of restoration work was completed, including restoring 7 acres of riparian buffer, creating 5.26 acres of warm season grass meadows, establishing 1.25 acres of wetlands, and building a 1.12 acre stormwater basin. The project was plagued by drought conditions, which caused many of the plants to have to be planted twice. $75,000 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Fund was used for this project.
Riparian Park, which is a six-acre park owned by Warwick Township, is located at the intersection of Clay Road and Rothsville Road/772. A small (1.5’ high) dam structure was removed at the site and a handicapped fishing ramp was constructed out of wood. In addition to using native plants to create a riparian buffer along Lititz Run, bioengineering was used to stabilize the banks. Rock veins, log veins, and rock weirs were used to improve the in-stream fish habitat. In all, about 600 linear feet of the stream corridor were restored. A 0.25 acre wetland was also created. Partners in the project included Warwick Township, Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Warwick High School, and LandStudies, Inc. The park cost approximately $15,000 to construct between 1996 and 1997.
Santo Domingo Water Quality Facility
The Santo Domingo Water Quality Facility is designed to improve the water quality of the Santo Domingo before it meets the Lititz Run. The project has two components: a forebay for settling sediment out of the water and a 3 acre wetland, where plants absorb nutrients from the water. The project was completed between 1997 and 1998 and required approximately $130,000 in funding. Over 100 volunteers helped plant over 20,000 native plants. Partners in the project included: LandStudies, Inc., Warwick Township, U.S. EPA - Wetlands Division, PA Wetland Replacement Fund, Trout Unlimited, Octoraro Native Plant Nurseries, Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee, Center for Chesapeake Communities, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
The area behind the Sturgis Pretzel Factory was stabilized and regraded in 1994-1995 by Donegal Trout Unlimited volunteers. In 2000, LandStudies added two rock veins to protect the banks from erosion, 40 feet of biostabilization, and tree planting. Natural Channel Design Technique was used to create pools and riffles for fish habitat.
Weidler Farm
A variety of Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) were installed in 2001 at the Weidler property. A cement feedlot built, fencing was installed, and a milkhouse pump and spray irrigation system installed. A cattle crossing was also installed. Money for the tree plantings came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Wenger Farm
The Wenger Farm is located in the southern part of the Lititz Run Watershed, along Creek Road. Lititz Run forms the eastern boundary of the property. The New Haven Run tributary also runs through the parcels. Several Agricultural Best Management Practice (BMPs) were installed on this farm, including fencing and manure management measures, such as barnyard spouting. Mudsills and two cattle crossings were also created. The permits for the work were acquired in 2003 and the construction was completed in 2005.
Wenrich Farm
The Wenrich Farm had restoration work done between 1994 and 1995. 500 linear feet of streamwork was undertaken, including stream improvements, bank stabilization, mud sills, cattle crossings, tree plantings, retention basins, and reseeding. A manure pit was also created.
Wrigley Tract
The Wrigley Tract borders Moores Run in Warwick Township, north of E. Newport Road. The parcel is owned by Warwick Township. The area has been planted with riparian buffers and is part of a wellhead protection area.
Wynfield Business Park
The Wynfield site was formerly agricultural land and has since been developed for 15 acres of industrial use by seven companies. Warm season meadow grasses and a riparian buffer were planted. The retention basin was also planted with plants that are tolerant of wet conditions through funding from the Pennsylvania Wetland Replacement Fund. Other parts of the project were funded with money from the Pennsylvania Growing Greener grants.