Philadelphia and Cheltenham Litter Polluting Upper Rock Creek Kelly O Day Litter from the Wadsworth shopping area, Cheltenham Avenue, Limekiln Pike, Ogontz Avenue and the 3 large Cheltenham shopping malls makes its way to Rock Creek and seriously pollutes the Creek. Photo 1 shows a Creek trash build-up just east of Ogontz Ave.. Litter flows or is wind blown from the streets and shopping mall parking lots and is carried by storm sewers or overland flow to the Creek where it gets caught by rocks, tree branches and woody debris jams. Map 1 shows the visible parts of Rock Creek which starts just east of the Cedarbrook Plaza, flows south-east toward Limekiln Pike where it enters the buried Route 309 Conduit and emerges just east of Ogontz Ave., then flows north-east between Cheltenham Mall and Cedarbrook Middle School. Photo 1: Upper Rock Creek Trash, east of Ogontz Ave Map 1: Map of Upper Rock Creek with photos of conduit openings a b. Rock Creek enters Route 309 Conduit b c Route 309 Conduit passes under Limkiln Pike and Route 309 a. Rock Creek emerges from conduit c. Rock Creek emerges from Route 309 Conduit 1
To assess the impact of street litter on Rock Creek, it will be helpful to understand where run-off from six littered drainage areas discharge to the upper Rock Creek. 1. Philadelphia Separate Storm Sewer System ( MS4) Area T-096 2. Philadelphia Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Area T-097 3. Philadelphia Combined Sewer System Area (CSO) T-01. 4. Cedarbrook Mall 5. Cheltenham Plaza 6. Cheltenham Mall Map 2 shows the 3 Philadelphia stormwater drainage areas and outfall locations and highlights the 3 Cheltenham shopping malls that drain to the upper Rock Creek. Map 2: Map of PWD s Upper Rock Creek Stormwater Drainage Areas and Outfall and 3 Cheltenham Shopping Centers PWD MS4 Area: T-096 26 acres PWD MS4 T-096-01 Cedarbrook Plaza PWD MS4 T-097-01 PWD MS4 Area: T-097 62 acres PWD MS4 T-097-02 PWD CSO T-01 PWD CSO Area: T-01 261 acres Cheltenham Mall Mall Cheltenham Plaza Since the timing of rainfall events is dynamic, run-off conditions are unpredictable, making direct run-off litter observations difficult. In addition, 2 of 4 Philadelphia outfalls are not visible to observers. To assess the run-off trash loads from these 6 potential sources, we will have to combine the best available street litter information, outfall locations, Creek trash observations, and the hydraulic relationships (upstream/downstream) between sources and trash build-ups to get a sense for the relative trash load for each source. 2
Upper Rock Creek Segments Subdividing a creek into segments based on changes in pollutant loads or creek characteristics is a standard practice in water quality modeling. We will use a similar segmentation approach to subdivide the Creek into 3 segments based on locations of outfalls and/or overland flow contributions. RC-1 from beginning of visible portion of Upper Rock Creek to PWD outfall T-097-01 RC-2 from PWD outfall T-097-01 to beginning of Route 309 Conduit RC-3 from end of Route 309 Conduit to Curtis Dog Park Segment RC1 is the headwaters of Rock Creek which first appears as an open creek just south-east of Cedarbrook Plaza. Most of the Creek flow in segment RC1 comes from Philadelphia s MS4 Area T-096, Ivy Hill Cemetery and Cedarbrook Plaza. A February, 2013 Trash Photo Survey of litter in/ around Cedarbrook Plaza and Upper Rock Creek provides documentation of the litter/ rash conditions for Segment R1. Map 3 is an aerial photo that shows the February, 2013 survey litter and Creek trash photos locations near the Cedarbrook Plaza. Map 3: Aerial photo of RC1 with photo survey locations Photo CP1 shows the litter by the Cedarbrook Plaza - Wyngate Townhouse fence gate. CP1 Photo CP2 shows an extensive build-up of litter behind the Pathmark Grocery store. Photo CP-3 shows the litter behind the Sprint Store. CP2 Photo CP-4 shows the litter by the Ross Store. RC1-Tr1 and Tr2 photos show the trash conditions in segment RC1. CP3 RC1 The February, 2013 photo survey shows that litter around Cedarbrook Plaza is finding its way to segment RC1 of Rock Creek. CP4 3
CP1: Litter by Plaza - Wyngate Townhouse Fence Gate RC1: Litter and Trash Photos - February, 2013 CP2: Litter Behind Pathmark Grocery Store CP3: Litter Behind Sprint Store CP4: Litter By Ross Store RC1-Tr1: Trash in Rock Creek Downstream of Cedarbrook Plaza RC1-Tr2: Trash in Rock Creek Downstream of Cedarbrook Plaza 4
Segment RC2 extends from PWD outfall T-097-01 to the beginning of Route 309 Conduit, just west of Limekiln Pike, as shown in Map 4. Map 4 : Aerial map of Segment RC2 showing PWD outfalls T-097-01 and 02 PWD Outfall T-097-01 RC2 PWD Outfall T-097-02 Creek trash in this segment comes from RC1 and any trash in PWD s 2 MS4 outfalls, T-097-01 and 02. The following series of photos show the trash conditions around T097-01 on 4/18/13. Photo RC2-1 shows the T-09701 outfall. Some trash is visible in the left side of the photo. Photo RC2-2 shows trash caught in the channel rocks just below the T-09701 outfall concrete apron. Photo RC2-3 shows a close-up of the trash and the T-097-01 outfall apron. PWD s MS4 outfall T-097-01 is discharging trash to the upper Rock Creek. We will need further studies to determine the quantity, frequency and types of trash discharged from this outfall. 5
Photo RC2-1: PWD MS4 outfall T-097-01. Note trash caught in left channel wall. Photo RC2-2: PWD MS4 outfall T-0970-01. Note trash at apron edge and in rock channel. Photo RC2-3: PWD MS4 outfall T-0970-01. Note trash in outfall rock channel. 6
Photo RC2-Tr1 shows the creek trash caught in a woody debris jam below PWD s 2 MS4 outfalls, both T-097-01 and 02. This trash is a mixture of segment RC1 trash discharge and PWD s 2 MS4 outfall discharges to RC2. Photo RC2-Tr1 - Shows creek trash below PWD s 2 MS4 outfalls: T-097-01 & 02 Photo RC2-Tr2: Downstream end of RC2 - as Rock Creek enters Route 309 Conduit Photo RC2-Tr2 shows downstream end of RC2 as it flows into the Route 309 Conduit. The modest amount of trash caught in the woody debris indicates that most of RC2 trash is staying in RC2 and not contributing a significant trash load to RC3. 7
Segment RC3 extends from the downstream end of the Route 309 Conduit to the Curtis Dog Park. The trash conditions in RC3 are dramatically worse than RC2, indicating that the combination of trash in PWD s T-01 CSO outfall and litter in Ogontz Ave and the 2 nearby shopping malls run-off is adding significantly more trash than that being discharged from RC2. Map 5 shows an aerial photo of the Segment RC3 from Route 309 to the Pedestrian Bridge. Route 309 is on the left, the Cedarbrook Middle School ball field is north of the Creek and the Cheltenham Mall is south of the Creek. Segment R2 enters R3 through the Route 309 Conduit which also includes flow from PWD s T-01 CSO outfall. Map 5: Aerial photo of Segment RC3 Between Route 309 - Shoppers Lane Area to Pedestrian Bridge Showing Key Features and Trash Photo Survey Locations Pedestrian Bridge RC3-Tr5 RC3 Manhole 2 Route 309 Conduit Cut Tree RC3-Tr2 RC3 Manhole 1 RC3-Tr4 RC3-Tr1 RC3-Tr3 Cheltenham Mall Outfall Ogontz Ave outfall & Concrete Channel The Creek trash photo locations are marked with a small blue dot. 8
Photo RC3-1 shows the 309 Conduit as it discharges to the Creek on the east side of Ogontz Ave. The T-01 label on the conduit indicates the discharge of PWD s CSO outfall just upstream of this location. Also notice the small outfall in the north wing wall as well and the concrete drainage channel just visible in the lower left potion of the photo. The north wing wall outfall handles roadway run-off from Ogontz Ave., while the left side concrete drainage channel handles run-off from the Ogontz Ave storm drain outfall and an unlined drainage ditch. Photo RC3-1: Route 309 Conduit Discharge - includes PWD CSO outfall T01 Photo RC3-2 shows the S Ogontz Ave storm drain outfall and an unlined drainage ditch by Shoppers Lane. Both discharge to the concrete channel on the left side of Photo RC3-1 and visible on the bottom of Photo RC3-2. Photo RC3-2: S Ogontz Ave Outfall by Shoppers Lane and Ogontz Ave. Note unlined drainage ditch to right with trash Notice the litter to the left of the outfall and in the drainage ditch as well as in the concrete channel. This litter has been blown by wind or carried by stormwater to this point;. It will be carried directly to Rock Creek in the next rain storm. 9
Photo RC3-3 shows the heavy litter build-up in the unlined drainage ditch by Shoppers Lane and Ogontz Ave.. Photo RC3-3 Ogontz Ave - Shoppers Lane Area Unlined Drainage Ditch Filled with Litter Photo RC3-4 Concrete Drainage Ditch from Ogontz Ave Street level to Rock Creek Photo RC3-4 shows the concrete drainage channel as it drops from the Ogontz Ave street level to the Rock Creek. The litter on the east side embankment is visible in the upper left area of this photo. 10
Photo RC-5 shows the Cheltenham Mall outfall that discharges to Rock Creek. Trash, including plastic bags, is evident in this photo, indicting that the Cheltenham Mall parking lot run-off contributes trash to Rock Creek. Photo RC3-5: Cheltenham Mall Outfall - Visible Trash below outfall 11
The Creek trash in RC3 is an order of magnitude greater than the RC2 level. The next 6 photos try to convey the magnitude of the trash accumulation in the Route 309 to Pedestrian Budge stretch. Photo RC3-Tr1 - Just Downstream of Route 309, upstream of Cut Tree Photos RC3-Tr1 and Tr2 shows the Creek trash conditions just downstream of Route 309 and upstream of the cut tree shown in Map 5. The quantity and extent of trash along the Creek show that it is much worse than the trash observed in Segment RC2. Photo RC3-Tr2: Just downstream of Route 309, upstream of Cut Tree 12
Photo RC3-Tr3 shows the trash build-up on woody debris on the right side, just upstream of Manhole 1, which is visible in the photo. Photo RC3-Tr3 Trash caught on woody debris downstream of Cut Tree and upstream of Manhole 1 Photo RC3-Tr4: Trash Rock Creek downstream of Cheltenham Mall outfall, Just upstream of Manhole 2 Photo RC3-Tr4 shows the trash just upstream of Manhole 2. This location is downstream of Cheltenham Mall s outfall. 13
Photo RC3-Tr5 shows the trash conditions just below the Pedestrian Bridge. While the trash level is less than the upstream RC3 levels, it is still excessive. Photo RC3-Tr5: Segment RC3 trash conditions just downstream Pedestrian Bridge Photo RC3-Tr6 shows the trash conditions adjacent to the Curtis Dog Park, approximately 3,500 feet downstream of Route 309. While somewhat less than the trash level closer to Route 309, it is nevertheless excessive. Photo RC3-Tr6: Segment RC3 trash conditions adjacent to Curtis Dog Park 14
Assessment of RC3 Trash Loads Segment RC3 has 5 distinct potential trash sources that collectively cause this segment to have the worst Creek trash conditions of the 3 Upper Rock Creek segments and possibly the entire Tookany - Tacony - Frankford creek network. Map 6 shows the estimated trash load rankings for each of the 5 potential RC3 trash sources. These rankings are based on several field observations: 1. RC 2 trash load just upstream of 309 Conduit entrance is limited 2. There is an dramatic trash load increase immediately downstream of Route 309 Conduit discharge 3. N Ogontz Ave outfall drains a small area with limited litter 4. S Ogontz Ave outfall and unlined ditch have visible litter and trash visible in the concrete channel 5. PWD s T-01 CSO drainage area is 260+ acres, with visible street litter 6. Cheltenham Mall Outfall is downstream of extensive trash build-up just east of Route 309 Map 6: Segment RC3 Trash Load Rankings Segment RC3: Estimated Trash Load Rankings Rank Source Comment 1 T01 260 + acre drainage area with visible street litter 2 S Ogontz Ave & Unlined Ditch Visible trash in channel 3 Cheltenham Mall Outfall Visible trash in outfall 4 RC2 Load Little visible trash near condiut entrance 5 N Ogontz Ave Outfall Limited drainage area Trash load ranking based on expected portion of trash load attributable to each source. Field measurements needed to confirm actual ranking. RC2 Load N Ogontz Ave Outfall T01 Load S Ogontz Ave & Unlined Ditch Cheltenham Mall Outfall 15