This first issue of the Pennsylvania Watershed Advisor (PWA) is produced by Landstudies, Inc. to promote watershed-based planning in Pennsylvania. It is intended to provide a forum for the presentation of watershed planning ideas and projects. Contributions for future issues are welcome.
| Community Cooperation Is
Restoring Lititz Run Watershed Watershed Planning Is Possible in Pennsylvania (commentary) Blending Natural Resources & Land Planning Profile: Kelly M. Gutshall Profile: Mark A. Gutshall Upcoming Events Watershed-Based Planning Model (Diagram) |
Published By: Landstudies, Inc. |
Community Cooperation is Restoring Lititz Run Watershed
The Lititz Run watershed project began in 1952 with the restoration and stabilization of a 100-foot section of the stream by the Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Their streambank stabilization efforts continued for the next 25 years.
Landstudies became involved with the project in the winter of 1995, recommending Trout Unlimited expand their interest outside the streambanks and begin addressing the entire watershed. Landstudies' proposed watershed planning approach included four components: Community organization, public outreach and education, management and planning, and project implementation.
Community Organization
The organizational component involves the establishment of the Lititz Run Watershed Association. An interim board of directors and committee chairs will be appointed. Committees include:
- education
- project implementation
- agriculture
- communications
- funding
- planning
Public Outreach & Education
Public outreach includes an interpretive display that illustrates the watershed on a 10' X 5' board. The board is being displayed throughout the community in high pedestrian traffic areas such as banks, school board meetings, and shopping centers. There is enough detail on the board for residents to see where their homes are located in proximity to the nearest tributary. Three illustrative categories of best management techniques are shown and summarized including education, land use planning and natural resource management.
Management & Planning
Watershed-based planning includes mapping restoration assessment and evaluation of the watershed, as well as coordination with numerous individuals and agencies. The types of projects that have been implemented - or are being planned - include
- a regional water quality manage facility
- bioenigineering
- agricultural best management techniques
- forested riparian buffer planting
- wetland creation
- warm season grass establishment
- non-point source pollution credit trading
- natural resource compensation areas
Project Implementation
Implementation of restoration projects includes volunteer coordination, subcontracting, permitting and plant and product acquisition.
Since the Littitz Run Watershed Restoration Project began in 1992 the stream banks have been stabilized by community groups who have volunteered their labor and local businesses that have donated materials, equipment and expertise.
Support from Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Warwick Township, Lititz Borough, Lancaster County Planning Commission, Lancaster County Conservation District, Warwick School District, and the Millport Conservancy have made, and are continuing to make the Lititz Run restoration possible.
Watershed Planning is Possible in Pennsylvania
Commentary by Mark Gutshall
Contrary to conventional wisdom, watershed planning in Pennsylvania is possible and necessary to improve the quality of life for residents of the Commonwealth.
From the 1700's to the early 1900's, Pennsylvania watersheds were degraded by rampant resource extraction of timber, iron ore, and coal. Mills processed, and canals and rail lines distributed, these valuable commodities. Pennsylvania was one of the wealthiest states in the union then due to its abundance of resources and transportation networks. Watersheds defined our communities and provided a sense of place during this time. These activity hubs were located on or adjacent to the Susquehanna River Harrisburg, Lancaster, Marietta, Columbia, Tunkhannock, Williamsport, Lock Haven and the Wyoming Valley.
The natural resources were depleted and the water quality degraded economic decline followed due to the lack of planning.
Today, Pennsylvania is fragmented into more than 2,500 political boundaries. Land use planning is conducted at the local level of government. As unplanned urban sprawl spreads, our communities deteriorate along with our sense of place. Regional planning is discouraged because the status quo is often subsidized and politics fail to cross geographic boundaries.
How does watershed planning fit into this equation? Since watersheds do not follow political boundaries, efforts made at the watershed level will, by nature, require the involvement and coordination of multiple geo-political entities (municipality, borough, county, state).
A practical way to establish watershed-based planning in your area is to set basic non-confrontational goals such as water quality improvement, stream corridor management, and creation of passive recreational areas. Watershed-based land management can reduce maintenance and therefore makes this approach economically feasible for the landowner.
Watershed-based planning encourages communication with adjoining townships and counties. Once this door is opened, the private sector has the opportunity to participate. School districts, colleges, civic associations, non-profits, land conservancies, and local businesses become interested as the process creates a sense of place and ownership in their community.
Watershed planning is proactive and improves the quality of life for the residents of Pennsylvania.
Watershed planning is possible in Pennsylvania.
Blending Natural Resources & Land Planning
Landstudies continues to provide regulatory compliance services such as wetland consulting permitting environmental site assessments. However, the focus of the firm in the past 1.5 years has concentrated on integrating natural resource management with land use planning . The firm is now assisting townships and watershed associations with their resource management. Moreover, Landstudies is combining natural resource management with promoting community benefits and education.
Within the last three years, two landscape architects have been added to the staff to develop and increase Landstudies' land use management capabilities.
"When expertise is required outside our capabilities, we rely on a network of consultants. Our relationship with firms in the areas of computer mapping (GIS), urban planning and zoning and easement coordination is strong" said Mark Gutshall Landstudies founder.
Landstudies, Inc. secured a $5,000 grant from the Chester County Conservation District for Pocopson Township to implement cost effective storm water best management strategies for the Maintenance Facility on Route 52. Strategies incorporated included: an infiltration wetland pond, water conservation landscaping. wetland meadow detention basin and a roof water "no gutter" infiltration system.
PROFILE: Kelly M. Gutshall
by Gordon Hesse
Kelly Meloy Gutshall is a registered landscape architect in Pennsylvania and Maryland. As a member of Landstudies, Inc., she brings strong land planning and development experience to the firm's environmental consulting and watershed planning services. Her background is broad, involving projects that have ranged from small residential projects to multi-million dollar commercial and corporate projects.
Born in Lancaster in the early 1960's, Kelly decided upon a career in landscape architecture when she was a senior in high school.
"I've always loved the outdoors and nature," she said, "and this field seemed to combine well with my creative side,"
Kelly attended Pennsylvania State University at University Park, earning her degree in Landscape Architecture in 1984. While there, she was influenced by Geography Professor Pierce Lewis, a man she credits with shaping much of her professional approach. "He taught us how to look at the landscape and environment, to see how humans have created the landscapes of today through the study of the movements and migrations of people."
After graduating Kelly worked for a design-build firm on Long Island. There she worked on residential projects with $500,000 budgets under the mentoring of John Rym, a well-known, seasoned landscape architect. She also gained valuable, hands-on experience in coordinating and supervising these complex projects.
To broaden her experience, Kelly returned to Pennsylvania to work at a land planning firm in Philadelphia. There, she said, referring to the frenetic level of activity, "It was the midst of the '80's development boom.. the volume and scale of work will probably never be the same again." Despite the intense work schedule and long hours, she considered it a valuable experience in planning work. "It was my first opportunity to combine native ecosystems and design." Working in Philadelphia also provided the opportunity to develop a large professional network.
Then the romance that began in college with a forestry science student became a life-long commitment. She married Mark Gutshall, now the principal of Landstudies, inc., and moved to Wilmington. They now have two daughters, Kristine and Brooke.
Kelly became a consultant with architects Art Bernardon in Kennett Square and Cee Jay Frederick in West Chester.
Although hearing impaired, Kelly likes to see what some might consider a disability, a strength.
"I am very focused and efficient with my work. Every correspondence is in writing. . . something my attorney loves!" Diagnosed as a "sensory neural hearing loss," the effects are that the clarity of sounds, rather than volume, is reduced. Since Kelly does not use the phone for business, the fax and e-mail help her keep in touch with clients.
Kelly has developed strength in design through the integration of buildings with their surroundings. She has collaborated with architects on environmentally sensitive and award winning projects. She has designed, managed and collaborated on residential, commercial, retail and industrial projects throughout the region. She is experienced in environmental site analysis, feasibility and zoning studies, and re-zoning strategies as well as construction documentation, grading and drainage design for a wide range of projects.
PROFILE: Mark A. Gutshall
by Gordon Hesse
Mark Gutshall is the founder of Landstudies Inc. Started in 1989, Landstudies has grown from a one person environmental consulting office to a firm with a full-time staff of six offering an array of natural resource management services integrated with cost-efficient land use planning.
Mark was born in Philadelphia and raised in Springfield, PA. His father was a U.S. Navy destroyer captain who became a high school guidance counselor after his military service.
The frequent hunting fishing and camping trips Mark took with his father instilled in him a strong value for Pennsylvania's natural resources. This interest was complemented by his extensive involvement in the boy Scouts of America and a backpacking trip to Philmont, New Mexico.
After receiving a B.S. in Forest Science at Penn State, Mark landed a job in Media with an environmental consulting firm. There he specialized in wetland consulting and natural resource management. He also received certification by Society of Wetland Scientists.
After nearly three years there, he started a natural resource management division for a consulting company in Kennett Square while living in Wilmington. It was also at this time he married a fellow Penn State student, the former Kelly Meloy, a registered landscape architect.
Because he saw potential work in Annapolis, Baltimore, Harrisburg and West of West Chester, Mark founded Landstudies in Oxford, centrally located to all these areas. He believed the area was underserved and, for quality of life reasons, wanted to live in a more rural setting.
Due in part to investing time on building community consensus at a grassroots level, his firm has blossomed and developed unique areas of expertise. This past spring Mark coordinated speakers and sponsors for "Where Urban Meets Rural in Lancaster County: Alternate Land Planning Considerations," a workshop for land use planning professionals. Held at the Millport Conservancy in Lititz, registration fees benefited the Lititz Run Watershed project.
Landstudies' extensive experience in ecological restoration projects and watershed planning have developed a reputation for quality in Pennsylvania and the surrounding mid-Atlantic states.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 10-11 Annual Chesapeake Bay Executive Council meeting, 1:30 p.m. Ramada inn, Market St., Harrisburg. Contact: Chris Novak (717 787-1323.
Oct. 27-30 Pennsylvania Planning Association annual conference. Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion. Contact: Jodi Snyder (717) 236 2079.
Oct. 23, 24, 30, Nov. 4 DCNR Keystone Programs Pre-application grant workshops. Call (717) 783-2868 for info.