College Township – Â鶹ÊÓƵ Fri, 25 Jul 2025 19:39:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-favicon_logo-32x32.jpg College Township – Â鶹ÊÓƵ 32 32 Educational Material for Thompson Woods Preserve /projects/educational-material-for-thompson-woods-preserve/ Fri, 25 Jul 2025 19:39:02 +0000 /?post_type=projects&p=19469 Read More... from Educational Material for Thompson Woods Preserve

]]> Thompson Woods Preserve (TWP) is a 43.36-acre natural area consisting of trails and natural ecological features. This public preserve offers a unique natural setting within walking distance of the surrounding urban environment of downtown State College and the Pennsylvania State University. TWP property is jointly owned by College Township and the Borough of State College. The preserve operates under normal municipal park rules in addition to having specific regulations set forth to protect the natural habitat. The TWP Committee considers education as a preventative tool in maintaining the preserve and to protect it from influences that could disrupt its biodiversity, the forest and watershed attributes. Students’ work provide information and research on the relationship of invasives at TWP, its emerging relationships and threats, as well as best management practices.

Sustainable Communities Collaborative Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
Leana Topper
Teaching Professor of Biology
lvm12@psu.edu
814-863-6920

]]> Reducing Stormwater Basin Runoffs in College Township /projects/reducing-stormwater-basin-runoffs-in-college-township/ Fri, 25 Jul 2025 18:19:42 +0000 /?post_type=projects&p=19438 Read More... from Reducing Stormwater Basin Runoffs in College Township

]]> College Township, adjacent to State College and Penn State University Park’s campus, has experienced significant urban growth. Due to its location in the Spring Creek watershed and Chesapeake Bay watershed, sedimentation control due to stormwater runoff is important. This project involves retrofitting a 1.38-acre stormwater management basin in Penn Hills to include a runoff reduction function. The existing basin was originally constructed in the mid 1980’s to provide peak runoff control from 70 acres of the subdivision. Approximately 17% of the drainage area (12 acres) is impervious. The basin is currently vegetated with meadow grasses and wildflowers and consists predominantly of Hagerstown and Opequon Soils. These soils (Hydrologic Soil Group B) are well drained and have good infiltration characteristics. The township is interested in converting the basin from a peak-rate design to an infiltrating design that would provide significant sediment reductions. Preliminary analysis indicates that the basin can be retrofit to provide a minimum of 2.4 ac-ft. of runoff reduction from the 12 acres of tributary impervious area in Penn Hills. The Project would involve stormwater analysis, swale analysis, etc. 

Sustainable Communities Collaborative Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
Jeffrey Catchmark
Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Bioethics
jmc102@psu.edu
814-863-0414

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