WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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AQUA Grant Awarded to Willistown Conservation Trust

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Pictured left to right | Patrick Starr, Executive Vice President, South East Region, PA Environmental Council, Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection Program, Kate Etherington, President and Executive Director, Marc Lucca, Aqua Pennsylvania President,  Krisa Seng, Lead Corporate Giving and Community Affairs, Aqua

Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) was recently awarded $9,983 to address water quality monitoring in the Ridley and Crum Creek watersheds thanks to a new grant partnership between Aqua and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). Aqua’s “Protect Your Drinking Water” grant program was designed to fund watershed protection and education projects that address pollutants of concern to public water supplies, such as fertilizer runoff, road salts, and bacteria. This inaugural year focused on upstream areas of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek Watersheds in Delaware and Chester Counties, benefitting Aqua customers in those communities. 

The goal of the program is to raise awareness of and engage new partners in source water protection, which is the first barrier against contamination of public water supplies. Effective source water protection helps reduce public health risks and water treatment costs, among other benefits to communities and the environment. PEC’s Water Team will administer the new grant program in partnership with Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, thanks to a generous donation through the company’s Essential Foundation. 

Since 2017, WCT’s Watershed Protection Program’s monthly water chemistry sampling protocol is designed to capture the variability and rapid change in water quality in small order streams as a result of human activity. This research helps us to understand how human actions on the landscape impact the quality of local waterways and make targeted recommendations within the community to foster high quality water for all downstream users. Funding will provide support for another year of monthly water chemistry data collection at 10 sample sites sites and the publication of an updated State of our Streams Report to educate and engage streamside landowners in the headwaters of Ridley and Crum Creek.

The WCT’s Watershed Protection Program has meticulously examined how human activities upon the landscape influence water quality. Water chemistry is an excellent tool to rapidly gain an understanding of what is happening in the stream, and this research is targeted to capture the potential changes across the watershed and over time that exists in small headwater streams.  

Small order streams and wetlands are at high risk for degradation due to development pressures, stormwater runoff, and climate change, which can lead to overall decrease in system health. These small, often overlooked streams serve as the lifeblood of larger river systems, playing a vital role in regulating water flow, filtering pollutants, and providing habitat for diverse aquatic species. Headwater streams also contribute significantly to the overall health of watersheds, influencing water quality and nutrient cycling downstream. Understanding the ecology of headwater streams helps in the assessment of the impacts of human activities, such as land development and climate change, on freshwater ecosystems. By studying headwater stream ecosystems, we are able to gain insights into fundamental ecological processes and develop strategies for protecting and restoring these essential habitats.

As WCT continues to learn and share more about the baseline of Ridley and Crum Creeks, we are able to foster environmental awareness among local residents by highlighting the connections between human activities, land use practices, and water quality. Residents can learn about the impacts of pollution, urbanization, and other factors on stream ecosystems, empowering them to make informed decisions and advocate for environmental protection and conservation efforts.

Studying water chemistry offers multifaceted benefits for environmental protection, scientific research, water management, public health, and education. By comprehensively understanding the chemical characteristics of water sources, WCT’s community can work collaboratively to address complex water challenges and promote sustainable water resource management practices for all downstream users. WCT believes that we can all work together to improve the health of our shared drinking water sources. Life depends on it. 

WCT is pleased to be among an esteemed group of grant recipients working to protect and restore our local watersheds.

In addition to WCT, other grantees include:

Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association: To install a demonstration rain garden in Upper Providence Township with community volunteers and lead an outreach campaign to educate other landowners on mitigation strategies for stormwater runoff.

Natural Lands: For the creation of a permanent deer exclusion area within the floodplain of Crum Creek at Hildacy Preserve to improve the ecosystem and water quality benefits of the site, which will serve as a public showcase of best management practices for floodplain restoration. 

Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation: To host educational programming along Ridley Creek to empower youth to make connections between past, present, and future while learning to be good stewards of the land and water resources in the area. Programs in the “Colonial Creek Learning Series” will include a STEM camp, a Back-to-School Science Day, and a community-wide Streams Learning Day.

To learn more about WCT’s Watershed Protection Program, visit https://wctrust.org/watershed/. 

About Pennsylvania Environmental Council:
Founded in 1970, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC)’s mission is to protect and
restore the natural and built environments through innovation, collaboration, education, and
advocacy. We work closely with government, business, nonprofit, and community stakeholders
to advance our shared goals in energy and climate policy, trail development and outdoor
recreation, watershed protection and restoration, reforestation, and conservation-focused
economic development. PEC is active throughout Commonwealth, with regional offices in
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College, and Dallas, PA. Learn more at pecpa.org.

About Aqua Pennsylvania:
Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.5 million people in 32 counties throughout the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Visit AquaWater.com for more information or follow Aqua on
Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaWater and on X at @MyAquaWater.

River Otters Return to Make a Splash in Ridley Creek!

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Newtown Square, PA – May 3, 2024 – Willistown Conservation Trust is pleased to announce the return of American river otters (Lontra canadensis) to the headwaters of Ridley Creek for the first time in over 100 years. This exciting development marks a significant milestone in regional conservation efforts and underscores the importance of protecting natural habitats for wildlife. River otters were present in most waterways across North America prior to the arrival of European settlers. As a result of widespread fur trapping and habitat destruction due to human development, otters disappeared from waterways across most of Pennsylvania by the early 1900’s, however focused reintroduction efforts in the 1980s led to a population rebound in northern Pennsylvania. The recent documentation of river otters in the headwaters of Ridley Creek in southeastern Chester County is a monumental event as these animals are highly
sensitive to pollution and habitat degradation and require healthy water conditions. 


The return of river otters to the Ridley Creek watershed is a sign that conservation efforts in the region are having a positive impact on the overall ecosystem. Willistown Conservation Trust has been working to protect open space and restore habitat in the headwaters of the Ridley, Crum and Darby Creek watersheds since 1996. The arrival of river otters coincides with the recent acquisition of the 90 acre Kestrel Hill Preserve, located in the Ridley Creek watershed. This property was saved from development, permanently protecting a critical piece of the otter’s habitat. The work of Willistown Conservation Trust and other local conservation and watershed organizations throughout Chester County has provided space for sensitive wildlife, such as otters, to return to the region. 


Tom Keller, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Furbearer Biologist confirmed this sentiment, noting, “As the state’s wildlife agency, the Pennsylvania Game Commission applauds partners in conservation such as Willistown Conservation Trust. Wildlife in Pennsylvania belongs to all Pennsylvanian’s and the return of the river otter in the Keystone State is a direct result of conservation minded people working together to better their community by restoring first their environment which then translates to the wildlife that call it home. This is a great example of a community caring about a watershed and a species responding to that passion and dedication.”


In addition to being indicators of healthy ecosystems, river otters play an important role in the environment. River otters are a keystone species in aquatic ecosystems: as a predator, they regulate prey populations, their foraging and den building behaviors modify habitat structure for other wildlife, and their presence in the ecosystem influences community dynamics. Most importantly, they serve as indicators of ecosystem health, and contribute to overall biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Protecting and conserving otter populations and their habitats is essential for maintaining the ecological balance and functioning of freshwater ecosystems.

Welcome to Creek Week 2023!

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By Watershed Protection Program Director Lauren McGrath

Welcome to Willistown Conservation Trust’s 2023 Creek Week! We are so excited to have you join us on a meandering exploration of stream ecosystems — from the tiniest single-celled member of the biofilm to one of the largest rodents on the planet — there is so much to learn about in the Watershed Program’s favorite ecosystem. 

This year’s Watershed Protection Program Co-ops Sarah Barker (front) and Sally Ehlers (back). Photo by Anna Willig

This year, we begin with one of the most critical pieces of determining a stream’s health and function: water temperature. Water temperature dictates the ability of stream life to survive and thrive, and as stream temperatures increase, so does the stress level of sensitive species, like brook trout and macroinvertebrates; a perfect segue to day two of Creek Week, where we will be learning more about the life cycles of different stream insects! Dragonflies, mayflies, and riffle beetles all play an important role in ecosystem health in all of their life stages.  

On day three, we look at what powers the insect base of the food chain: Biofilms! These microscopic ecosystems are all around us and play important roles in transforming light and chemicals into energy, often without much celebration. Learn more about how biofilms are present all around the world — even within your own body.

While we love to celebrate the diversity of endemic, or native, macroinvertebrates, we would be remiss if we did not dedicate a day to learn about one of the newest arrivals to local streams: the New Zealand mudsnail. Join us on day four to take a deep dive into a potentially disruptive new arrival, which has been documented around southeastern Pennsylvania in the last several years. These little snails can form populations so dense that they remove the biofilm from a stream completely! 

While invasive species can be very small like the New Zealand mudsnail, invasive species can also be quite large. Day five brings us face to face with the infamous Northern snakehead, an Asian fish that was first discovered in 2004. Learn more about this frightful predator’s unique adaptations that make it difficult to fully remove from a waterway. 

Finally, we end with the colorful Tale of Charlie Woodscomb: a True Beaver Pioneer. Learn more about the behaviors of beaver through the eyes of Charlie, known fondly as Chompy, as he explores his environment looking for a healthy ecosystem to build a life.

We hope to see you out in the stream, and we invite you to join us for our Watershed Volunteer Day on June 24 and our Streams Learning Evening on June 26!

Fish Shocking

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On Saturday, October 22, the Watershed Protection Program joined scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University’s Fisheries Team (ANS) to survey for fish in Ridley Creek at Ashbridge Preserve. It was a beautiful Saturday morning — crisp, bright, and perfect for learning more about the wildlife that calls Ridley Creek home! This event provided a unique opportunity to get a fish’s eye view of stream health, and it would not have been possible without the wonderful support of the talented Fisheries Team members Dr. David Keller and Paul Overbeck.

The morning started with a primer on fish survey protocols. Paul walked volunteers through the mechanics of electrofishing, a sampling technique where a small electric current is passed through the water to stun fish just long enough to be scooped up in a net and placed in a bucket. The scientists headed into Ridley Creek and began to survey, and immediately there was action in the water! 

As stunned fish began to fill the buckets, they were brought to shore and placed in aquariums to be studied. Within a short period of time, over 10 species of fish, crustaceans, and amphibians were documented. The Fisheries scientists quickly began to identify the wildlife and share what the presence of these creatures means for the ecosystem of Ridley Creek and surrounding landscape. Once the fish were observed in the aquariums, they were all safely released back into Ridley Creek. 

Included in the fishes that were identified was the American eel (Anguilla rostrata), a fish that migrates thousands of miles in its lifetime. This fish breeds in the Sargasso sea and migrates to headwater ecosystems — like at Ashbridge Preserve — where they can live over 25 years before completing their migration. The presence of this incredible fish showcases the connectivity of Ridley Creek with no large barriers to stop their movement to and from the Atlantic Ocean. American eel populations are declining due to large dams that block their migration, contribute to habitat loss, and overfishing of young eels.

Another fascinating fish present in the stream is the cutlip minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua). These fish are easy to identify up close, with a specially adapted three lobed, lower lip. These fish prefer gravel and rocky bottomed streams and are unable to thrive in polluted waterways where fine sediment buries rocky habitat. 

Black nose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) are one of the most visibly common fishes in the headwaters of Ridley Creek and were abundant in the sample collected by ANS scientists! These fish are small, with big fish growing to be less than 4 inches long, but they school in shallow clear waters and can often be seen from the stepping stones at Ashbridge Preserve.

Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) is the largest minnow native to eastern North America and they are abundant in the Ridley Creek headwaters! They are excellent targets for anglers, and their energetic behavior has earned them the nickname “freshwater tarpon.”

Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris) is well known to anglers as a sport fish, but this fish is actually an introduced species in Pennsylvania waterways! Since being introduced some time in the 1880s, they are actively stocked in waterways throughout the state.  

In addition to the fish that were sampled from Ridley Creek, ANS brought preserved specimens of fish of interest, including the northern snakehead (Channa argus), an aggressive invasive fish that has been spreading throughout the Delaware River watershed. 

This exciting and fascinating experience highlighted the importance of the ways that our activities on the landscape impacts the many lifeforms that call Ridley Creek home. The presence or absence of different species of fish can inform researchers of the health of Ridley Creek. There is a clear relationship with the development of the landscape and the decreasing health of freshwater ecosystems resulting in the loss of indicator species. As species disappear from the ecosystem, the entire system becomes weaker. As we head into a future that includes more frequent large storms, it is important that we focus on understanding how we can strengthen and improve the health of our systems to create resilience — the first step in this process is looking at who is present in the ecosystem. 

A huge thanks to the Fisheries Team for sharing their immense knowledge and skill! Click here to learn more about ongoing Fisheries research!

For more information on the research being conducted by the Watershed Protection Program and the lessons we have been learning about water quality in Ridley, Crum, and Darby Creeks, please explore the State of Our Streams Report.

— By Watershed Protection Program Director Lauren McGrath

2022 Lenape Sojourn

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By Watershed Protection Program Director Lauren McGrath; Photos by Kate Etherington

On August 16, 2022, Executive Director Kate Etherington and the Watershed Team attended the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania’s 5th Rising Nation River Journey and signed the Treaty of Renewed Friendship. The Lenape people are the original inhabitants of Delaware, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Southern New York, and were stewards in the Delaware River Watershed for over 10,000 years before the arrival of European settlers. 

The group of nearly 50 individuals and organizations gathered in the sunny courtyard of Founders Hall at Haverford College, a longtime collaborator with the Lenape Nation, to celebrate the culmination of the River Journey. The ceremony began with smudging, or burning of ceremonial incense, performance of drumming and singing and the sharing of Lenape stories to share the significance of this event by Chief Shelley DePaul, Chief Gentle Moon Demund, and Tribal Council Storykeeper, Adam Waterbear DePaul. The Treaty signing then began, with supporting organizations and individuals taking turns to sign the document. “WCT recognizes the Lenape Nation as the original stewards of this land, and as an organization working to protect the land and waters within the Delaware River Watershed, we are honored to be invited to sign this Treaty, to carry on the tradition of land and water stewardship, and look forward to learning from and partnering more closely with the Lenape Nation in the years to come,” said Kate Etherington. The three week River Journey takes place every four years in August. The goal of this trip down the Delaware (or Lenape Sipu), is to “promote awareness that the Lenape people living in Pennsylvania are carrying on their ancestral traditions, culture and spiritual beliefs, and that they are engaged in numerous projects to provide practical ways for all citizens to respect and protect our homeland and the health, welfare, and future of the next seven generations of our children”1 as well as to elevate that Pennsylvania is one of the only states that does not recognize its indigenous peoples. 

Musicians opened the ceremony with traditional drumming and singing (Photo: Kate Etherington)

The Treaty of Renewed Friendship is an acknowledgement that the Lenape are the indigenous caretakers of these lands and signatories agree to support the Lenape Tribe in their own unique way including: Hosting Cultural / Educational programs, partnering as caretakers of the Lenape homeland and Delaware River, assisting in Lenape Language revival projects, assisting in displays/exhibits of Lenape culture, helping the Lenape people to obtain and/or protect sacred land sites, encouraging updated curriculum in public schools, attending Lenape functions, volunteer service and support, distributing information, financial assistance1. In signing the Treaty of Renewed Friendship, WCT joins a growing list of like minded organizations to collaborate and work towards shared goals of moving forward in our work of promoting respect and protecting the natural environment for future generations. Click here to read the full Treaty.

Chief Shelley DePaul introduces and reads through the Treaty of Renewed Friendship in advance of the signing (Photo: Kate Etherington)

From a historical perspective, WCT’s program area contains at least one important landmark in Lenape Nation history. Okehocking Reservation (a portion of which is now known as Okehocking Preserve), is one of the first Reservations in the United States and many of the Lenape People were moved onto this parcel of land as colonization settled into the Southeastern Pennsylvania landscape. The majority of the Lenape in this Reservation were forcibly removed and driven westward to form communities in Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin in the late 1800’s2. 

In addition to the historic significance of the Lenape People in Chester County, there is a growing understanding in the scientific and land trust communities that to create climate resilient environments, we must turn back to the ancestral stewards of the landscape and work towards incorporating the knowledge and ethic of these cultures into the work of conservation. WCT is grateful for the opportunity to sign the Treaty of Renewed Friendship with the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania and focus efforts in the next four years to elevate their voices and knowledge, grow in our understanding of stewarding the landscape, and building meaningful connections with the natural environment.  

Click here to learn more about the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania and to see upcoming events and educational opportunities (including language classes!) from the Lenape Nation, and be sure to visit the curated exhibit at Haverford College from January through July of 2023.

Wanishi! 

References: 

  1. https://www.lenape-nation.org/
  2. https://glenprovidencepark.org/2011/11/21/the-okehocking-before-the-settlers/

OUR NATURE PRESERVES

Our nature preserves are open to the public 365 days per year from sunrise to sunset, providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. Willistown Conservation Trust owns and manages Hartman Meadow, Ashbridge, Kirkwood, Kestrel Hill and Rushton Woods Preserves. We maintain these lands to preserve and enhance … Learn more about our nature preserves.