Manheim Township is planning its eighth Stream Restoration Project, which will use a $390,000 grant from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC). The grant funds, along with a $50,000 match from the township, will cover the costs related to the design, permitting, and construction of this project. Design and permitting will occur in 2023 with construction anticipated to occur in 2024.

The project is known as Grandview Stream Restoration Phase II and is an extension of Phase I on this unnamed tributary to the Conestoga Creek. Phase I was constructed in the summer of 2020. Phase II consists of 1,650 feet of stream restoration that continues from Phase I and ends at the bridge at the New Holland Pike.

The purpose of this project is to address problematic bank erosion and enhance ecological function by establishing a dedicated floodplain corridor to mitigate potentially erosive and unstable streambank conditions. Anticipated benefits include habitat restoration, increased flood storage, reduced sediment loading, improved biogeochemical processing of pollutants, and numerous other benefits such as increased biodiversity, improved water quality, and increased recreational opportunities.

Manheim Township has already completed seven stream restoration projects and restored a total of 10,860 feet of impaired streams within this priority watershed, thus reducing sediment loading in the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay by 489,777 pounds annually. When completed, this project will add another reduction of 74,052 pounds of sediment annually to that total.

To learn more, contact Declan Murphy, at 717-569-6406, ext. 1140, or dmurphy@manheimtownship.org.