Jacob Reiff Stream Restoration

Lower Salford Township sought to restore a degraded stream corridor within Jacob Reiff Park, addressing years of severe bank erosion and sediment loss, and a disconnected floodplain that had taken a toll on the local watershed. ARRO partnered with the Township to develop the concept design and oversee the engineering and permitting for what would become a streambank restoration effort along the West Branch of Skippack Creek which runs through the park.

The project was executed in two phases, with the success of Phase 1 directly leading to the Township's decision to proceed with a second phase of restoration further downstream. Combined, the two phases are anticipated to remove nearly 2 million gallons of water from the water shed system, helping to reduce flooding both locally and downstream.

Phase 1

Phase 1 addressed approximately 705 linear feet of degraded streambank, where banks as high as 6 feet had become severely eroded and near-vertical, preventing the stream from accessing its floodplain and continuing to erode with each storm event. ARRO proposed the concept design to the Township and the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, focusing on cutting back the steep banks to create a more gradual slope, re-grading the floodplain to restore natural connectivity, and stabilizing the streambank through native vegetation establishment. ARRO's services included:

• Full engineering design and survey stake out
• Permit applications through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP Chapter 105) and Montgomery County Conservation District (MCCD)
• Coordination with PADEP's MS4 staff to ensure the project received sediment reduction credit toward the Township's MS4 permit requirements

Design and permitting were completed between 2019 and 2020, with construction following between 2021 and 2022.

Phase 2

Phase 2 extended the restoration effort an additional 500 linear feet downstream, employing similar design approaches with the addition of a riffle pool feature. This feature addresses eroded material entering the stream from an adjacent farm at a higher elevation, creating stepped, shallow pools using riprap stone ledges that slow water velocity, dissipate erosive energy, and prevent further streambed degradation. As with Phase 1, ARRO provided engineering design, survey stake out and guidance, and permitting through DEP and MCCD, including coordination with PADEP to secure MS4 sediment reduction credit for the Township. Design and permitting were completed between 2023 and 2025, with construction currently underway.

A Collaborative Success

The Jacob Reiff Stream Restoration is a testament to what can be accomplished when engineering expertise and community collaboration come together. ARRO proposed the original concept design and assisted the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy with the technical information needed for grant funding applications. Construction across both phases was carried out by Lower Salford Township's Public Works Department, with ARRO providing survey stake out and guidance, while the Conservancy's volunteers performed native plantings along the restored streambank and floodplain. The result is a healthier, more resilient stream corridor within Jacob Reiff Park that benefits the Township's residents, local wildlife, and the broader Perkiomen Creek watershed for years to come.