Water Quality Projects and Best Management Practices

Swatara Creek Riparian Buffers

Description: Homes along Swatara Creek Road were once plagued by frequent flooding. Londonderry Township utilized a FEMA grant to buy residents out of damaged properties, and has since planted riparian buffers in place of the homes. Some buffers have edible berry shrubs for the community, and other buffers are hosts to many flowering trees and shrubs, but all buffers have native plants working to infiltrate stormwater and support local pollinator populations. Currently, trees and shrubs are protected by green tubes, as the trees mature, we will remove the tubes and allow a forest to grow.

Funding Source: Various; PACD, DCCD, PA American Water

Acreage: 9

Sunset Golf Course Meadows 

In the Fall if 2016, Harrisburg International Airport required Sunset Golf Course to remove over 175 trees on the front nine of the golf course. In 2017, Sunset made the decision to transform into a more open links style course, creating a more open green, and unbeatable views spanning three counties. 

Sunset received funding from a Federal grant to complete the required renovations. After the improvements were complete Sunset planted over ten acres of native wildflower meadow plantings to enhance the links look. Native species including Little Blue Stem, Black Eyed Susan, Flat Topped White Aster and many other variety’s were selected to bring beauty, nourish pollinator species, and infiltrate and retain water. 

In 2020, the Golf Course was presented with a grant opportunity through DCNR and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: A Turf to Meadow Conversion grant program to combat water and air pollution, reduce mowing and maintenance costs and support local pollinators. Sunset Golf Course and Park reduced an additional five areas of turf grass, planting more wildflower meadow instead. Reducing these five acres of turf will reduce mowing and maintenance costs by over $3,500 yearly. 

Sunset Park Riparian Buffer

In the Spring of 2021, a multifunction riparian buffer was planted along the stream with flowering trees, and berry plants including elderberry and highbush blueberry.

Riparian buffers work to infiltrate and filter storm water, before it enters the stream. Additionally, the native plants provide habitat and food sources for our local pollinators.

Sunset Meadows

During the Sunset Golf Course Meadown Expansion project, we added nearly 1 acre of meadow grasses to the island near the parking areas of Sunset Park.

The meadow grasses will infiltrate storm water and provide for our native pollinators.