Call on DEP To Recommend Highest Level of Protection for Beaver Creek Tributary in Delco
Your help is needed to protect the water quality of Beaver Creek and its tributaries, which flow through Chadds Ford Township and Concord Township in Delaware County. Call on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to advance an Exceptional Value (EV) designation, the state’s highest level of protection, for this Beaver Creek tributary.
DEP is accepting comments until February 12th.
What is an Exceptional Value designation?
The State assigns every stream in Pennsylvania classifications called “designated uses” that determine the level of protection for each stream’s water quality.
The state’s cleanest streams can earn “special protection” classifications, which include “High Quality” (HQ) and “Exceptional Value” (EV), if they meet certain criteria. Individuals and organizations can urge DEP to upgrade a stream to special protection status by submitting a petition demonstrating that the stream meets the necessary criteria.
For HQ streams, DEP won’t issue a permit allowing a project applicant to degrade the stream’s water quality unless the applicant demonstrates that “allowing lower water quality is necessary to accommodate important economic or social development in the area.” In EV streams, DEP prohibits project applicants from degrading the stream’s water quality, without exception.
Why should DEP support redesignating this tributary to Beaver Creek to EV status?
In June 2014, local organization Beaver Valley Conservancy submitted a petition to the DEP to ask it to redesignate Beaver Creek to a higher level of protection. In response, DEP assessed Beaver Creek’s water quality and determined that a half-mile long tributary to Beaver Creek (Unnamed Tributary 00009) meets the necessary criteria to qualify for a High Quality (HQ) designated use, the state’s second highest level of protection. However, since land surrounding this tributary was recently donated to the First State National Park, the tributary now meets the necessary criteria to receive an Exceptional Value (EV) designation, the state’s highest level of protection from pollution.
This tributary now fulfills the necessary criteria to receive an EV designation because it has outstanding water quality and is located in a National Recreation Area. Protecting this tributary will help maintain, and potentially enhance, the water quality of Beaver Creek.
DEP wants to hear from you! Submit a comment urging DEP to produce a report that recommends Unnamed Tributary 00009 receive a designated use of Exceptional Value. We encourage you to personalize your comment with reasons why you think it’s important for the state to protect the health of Beaver Creek and its watershed.
How can I learn more about stream classifications and redesignations?
To learn more about stream redesignations, including how to submit a stream redesignation petition to DEP, or support an existing petition, watch our webinar, “Protecting the Delaware River Watershed with Stream Redesignations” or contact Jack Byerly, Advocacy Coordinator with Clean Air Council (jbyerly@cleanair.org, 215-567-4004, ext. 109).
Beaver Creek Dam in First State National Park. Image Source – National Park Service
