The Little Conestoga Creek Foundation identified the Trillium Place Care Center property as a location where floodplain and wetlands restoration would serve a component of the project’s mission to improve water quality while at the same time reestablishing a vibrant ecosystem and provide education and recreational opportunities for the community. The Little Conestoga Creek is identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) as an impaired stream for aquatic life and recreational use, due to excess sedimentation and pollutants coming from urban runoff and storm sewers, and grazing-related agriculture. Restoration of the floodplain and riparian wetlands was proposed to provide water quality benefits by addressing the impaired, unstable stream condition, and resultant bank erosion. Additional benefits include flood storage, habitat enhancement and significant ecological uplift.
This restoration approach involves significant excavation of legacy sediment to reconnect the active stream channel, floodplain, and groundwater. The excavation results in a wide, flat floodplain with a shallow braided channel system connected to an expansive wetland complex and planted with native herbaceous vegetation. This is consistent with the evidenced historical condition of Mid-Atlantic waterways prior to extensive anthropogenic impacts following European colonization, which was present in the creek’s existing condition.
LandStudies and ELA Group completed final design, PADEP permitting and municipal approvals in 2023 leading to Flyway Excavating constructing the floodplain restoration and restored wetlands in fall 2024 through spring 2025. To ensure sustainability of the restored floodplain, monitoring and maintenance of the project will continue into the future to ensure native plant establishment and to minimize invasive plant intrusion.
The project included excavation of over 1,000 cubic yards of legacy sediment along the roughly 534 linear feet of stream restoration. Approximately 2.14 acres of floodplain and 1.60 acres of wetlands were restored, which included the planting of 36 trees, 67 shrubs, 500 herbaceous perennial plants, and 17,500 wetland and stabilization plugs. As a result of this project, it is anticipated that 1,039 pounds of nitrogen, 202 pounds of phosphorous, and 534,247 pounds of sediment will be reduced from pollutant loads into the Chesapeake Bay on an annual basis.
The floodplain restoration was funded by the PA DEP “Growing Greener Program,” and the Clean Water Fund American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Project partners included: The Steinman Foundation, Little Conestoga Creek Foundation, Trillium Place Care Center, Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA), Lancaster General Health, KBG Injury Law, East Hempfield Township, Manheim Township, LandStudies, Inc., ELA Group, RK&K, and Flyway Excavating, Inc.
Project Stats:
- Length of stream restoration: 534 linear feet
- Floodplain restoration area: 2.14 acres
- Wetlands restored: 1.60 acres
- Plantings:
- 36 trees
- 67 shrubs
- 500 herbaceous perennial plants
- 17,500 wetland and stabilization plugs
- Pollutant reductions:
- Nitrogen: 1,039 lbs/year
- Phosphorous: 202 lbs/year
- Sediment: 534,247 lbs/year
Project Partners:
- The Steinman Foundation
- Little Conestoga Creek Foundation
- Trillium Place Care Center
- Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA)
- Adjacent Landowners:
- Lancaster General Health
- KBG Injury Law
- Restoration Design: LandStudies, Inc.
- Sanitary Sewer Relocation & Trail Design: ELA Group, Inc.
- Supporting Engineer: RK&K
- Construction: Flyway Excavating, Inc.
- Funding:
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) “Growing Greener Program”
- Clean Water Fund American Rescue Plan (ARPA)
