State Awards Grants To Slow Mill Creek Erosion, Create Vegetated Swale in Borough

Last Month, State and local officials announced Bristol Borough is receiving $110,000.00 and Bristol Township is receiving $255,000.00 for watershed restoration projects.

State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Representatives John Galloway (D-140) and Tina Davis (D-141) announced today that Bristol Borough will receive $110,000 in state funding for a watershed restoration project benefitting the Borough.

The borough project will create a vegetated swale at the wooded area between Green and Howell Streets in Bristol Borough. The existing swale has severe erosion, little-to-no vegetation in the flow area, and sediment buildup.

The effort in Bristol Township will help combat erosion of the existing swales and prevent the flow of sediment into Mill Creek, in the Plumridge section of Levittown.

“As we see increased rainfall and flooding impact the residents of Bristol Borough, it is clear we need to implement solutions that help protect the homes and businesses in the area, while combating the devastating effects of climate change,” said Sen. Santarsiero.  “Vegetated swales, like the one that will be constructed on Howell Street, will use native plants to help manage stormwater runoff, filter pollutants and improve water infiltration.”

Converting the existing stormwater swale to a vegetated bioswale will help effectively treat and control the runoff going into the swale by filtering out pollutants and sediments, slowing runoff, and promoting infiltration. Native plants with deep roots and grasses will assist in building up the soil structure and allow water to infiltrate the ground more easily.

“This money will provide critical assistance to Bristol Borough in reducing the impact of heavy rainfall on our communities by constructing the Howell Street Vegetated Swale,” Rep. Galloway said.  “We need support from our local, state and federal government to prepare our communities’ infrastructure for the increasingly violent impact of climate change. This state grant is a step in the right direction.”

Credit: Submitted

“As we are affected by increasingly violent storms, we must be innovative and resourceful in our approaches to mitigating their impact on our communities,” Rep. Davis said.  “It’s not enough to have innovative ideas—we need the money, too, to make these ideas reality, and the Commonwealth has thankfully provided critical fiscal support to Bristol Borough and township  so they can implement one such innovation to its infrastructure.”

Bristol Borough Manager James Dillon echoed the environmental impact of the project saying, “Borough Council will be grateful for this grant, which will be used to benefit the environment.”

Bristol Township Manager Randee Elton described the project, noting, “With this funding, the Township has the opportunity to implement stormwater projects in an effort to reduce sediment in our waterways.  The focus area is along the wooded section of Mill Creek adjacent to the Plumbridge Drive. The existing swales exhibit signs of severe erosion occurring and lacks vegetation which allows sediment to flow directly into Mill Creek. The proposed installation of vegetated swales will improve Mill Creek to protect water quality, promote groundwater recharge, and provide a reduction of pollutants to the waterways.”

“The Township of Bristol is committed to preserving its natural resources and with the acceptance of this grant funding we are one step closer to that goal,” said Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen.

For more information on the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program, visit the DCED website