Marple Township, Delaware County, PA

Crum Creek Flood ..... 04-02-05

NORMAL DAY WEST TO "FLOODED" BRIDGE LOCATIONS 11 - 14 & 35

Below is a map of an area (encircled by the red numbers) that has seen increased flooding over the past +/- 8 years. As upstream and local development increases, so does the frequency of the flooding (new impervious surfaces - houses, streets etc.). This encircled map area is only about 1-1/2 miles upstream from a drinking water reservoir. The following links are to data on the USGS website. The links show the "Daily Peak" water flows from 1977 to present. There are other types of data on this site, but the "Daily Peak" represents a heavy rain, more likely to cause a flash flood. Unfortunately, only the highest Peak for each year is available. There is a significant increase shown, starting around 1994, which can be timelined to large upstream development. There is a proposed new development in the midst of this map area (see Pulte Development) that has potential to add to the problem. The first link is active on the USGS site, once on it click "Graph" to see a chart instead of the table values. The second link is to a webpage of copied table data. This data is from a "Real Time" part of the USGS site. It was copied because once its 31 day available period is past it will not be accessible. Links >>> USGS 1977 - 2003 Peak Water Flows for Crum Creek near Newtown Square, Delaware County, PA . and . USGS 04-02-05 thru 04-07-05 Peak Water Flows for Crum Creek near Newtown Square, Delaware County, PA

USGS Daily "Mean Water Flow" charts from 10/01/81 to 04/08/05 copied to a webpage for comparative viewing. USGS Daily Mean Water Flow Charts
The following link is to the website of a multi-township organization concerned about the Crum Creek Watershed and it's surrounding residents. CRUM CREEK NEIGHBORS WEBSITE

Pictures by map location numbers: The "a" suffix numbers were taken slightly before high water period (it was just before dark and several are blurred from long exposure with camera shake). The "b" suffix numbers were taken the following day while stream was still swollen but receding. The "n" suffix numbers were taken during a "normal" flow period on 04-21-05 ..... 1a 2a 2n 3a 4a 5a 5b 5n 6a 6b 7a 7b 7n 8a 8b 8n 9a 9n 10a 11a 12a 12b 12n 13a 13b 13n 14a 15a 15b 16a 16b 16n 17a 17b 17n 18a 18n Pulte driveway with spring water 19a 20a 20n 21a 21b 22a 22b 22n 22n down tree 22n down tree height measurement to surface 10 feet from base 23a 23b 23n 24a 24n 25a 25b 25n 26a 26b 26n 27a 27b 27n 28a 28b 28n 29a 29b 29n 29c 30a 30b 30n 31a 31n 32a 32n 33a 33n 34a 34n 35a 35n 36a 36n 37a 37n

Here is a link to a page with a Pennsylvania DEP site for area map watershed information (flood plains etc.). This DEP map shows a few listed items at the flooded Crum Creek Bridge area, as well as several downstream after the lower reservoir. It also shows the 100 year and 500 year floodplains. The 500 year floodplain has now been reached twice within six months. Link >>> PA DEP Water shed data

A copy of an email to the township commissioners.

Marple Manager & Commissioners,

. . This is additional information for the flooding pictures given to you last night at the 4-4-05 Commissioners Workshop Meeting. Attached is a word file and a picture file showing a street map of the approximate locations of the camera for the pictures.
. . I will send a follow up email with the picture files attached. It is a very large file of the same data that I gave you a copy of on a compact disk last night. I will not attach it to this email incase the size prevents delivery.
. . One of the reasons for these pictures is to show that the Crum Creek area from above the Crum Creek Road Bridge (pictures 12-14) down past Old Marple Road (pictures 22-26) takes on the characteristics of a body of water, no longer just a stream. It swells to the extent that it is no longer fast moving and any addition (upstream or downstream) to that body causes it to swell more. This may have been considered an exceptional storm but it had lasted, at the time of the 4-2-05 6pm pictures, less than a day. And as Mr. Alexander (picture 11 left side) said last night at your Work Meeting he did not get any water in his house this time as he had a few months ago, when he had all the water damage. This was a significant rain, but by this creek's swelling standards it was not even the worst since a few months ago.
. . Are there liability concerns for the township if this Pulte development does not contain the runoff as planned? There are a lot of people on record objecting to the townships approval of this development for just that fear. Since the flooding has grown more consistent with the upstream developments, there is a lack of confidence in planning that exists for this proposed development.
. . An engineer Bill Eads, whom I admired and recently passed, on speaking of HVAC systems said, "With all of the calculations, presumptions, and factors that get applied in engineering, it isn't so amazing that a system occasionally doesn't work, but rather that so many do." I have used that quote to retain my sanity through out the years, when encountering problems on the job. You may want it tucked in the back of your heads when envisioning this project with all of its concerns and issues. .... Thank you for your time, A. Rowles

Here is some information from Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for flood area victims who have water wells. Link >>> WELL SANITATION