Hampton nears stream cleanup goal

Representatives from Gateway Engineers attended the Hampton Township Council meeting on Aug. 9 to update the community about progress being made toward achieving annual goals for reduction of sediment into local streams.

In January 2018, council approved a list of projects that would meet requirements set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, including work involving the Deer Creek and Little Pine Creek watersheds.

“Since 2018, some of the specific projects have changed, but the overall goal of sediment reduction is still on track,” said Ashley Neptune, environmental engineer with Gateway.

The minimum amount of reduction required for the township is 250,000 pounds over a five-year period. Hampton’s total stands at roughly 226,000 pounds, and after the completion of a Wildwood Stream restoration project, the goal will be met.

Councilman Rock Kernick asked the team from Gateway if the projects would help mitigate flooding.

“Unfortunately, these measures are more for water quality and will not have a positive or negative effect on flooding,” Neptune replied.

One promising note for the township is that new construction, especially commercial, has stringent requirements with regard to water runoff. For example, rainwater retention ponds, of which there about 89 in Hampton, help keep flow out of streams.

In turn, such measures help the township meet its sediment reduction goal.

“The PADEP allows you to count new construction projects toward those 250,000 pounds, even if the work is not funded by the township,” said Neptune.

She and Ryan Berner, another Gateway Engineers representative, explained that municipalities get the most “bang for their buck” when they perform stream bank restoration, at a price of about $200 per linear foot.

“You get about 115 or 120 pounds of sediment reduction out of a linear foot,” Berner said.

The Deer Creek and Little Pine Creek projects aim to help clear the water of silt, suspended solids, microorganisms and detrimental nutrients. After those projects are completed, though, more work will be necessary.

“Despite the cost, there is no real end in sight. Each year, the township will either be repairing existing work or beginning new projects to adhere to the regulations, so we just need to plan for it,” said municipal manager Christopher Lochner.

Hampton is situated with high-quality streams that can support a variety of wildlife, making water quality a major topic in the area for the foreseeable future.

“I am proud of what we have done here in Hampton. We are at the forefront of stormwater treatment. It’s especially important in this area where we do experience so much flooding,” said Kernick.

Detailed information outlining the township’s watershed projects can be found at www.hampton-pa.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2904.