Horsham Road - December 2009 |
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| Photo 1: Base paving is placed along a section of Horsham Road.
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Horsham Road - November 2009 |
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| Rough grading is underway along Route 463 (Horsham Road) as the widening project continues.
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| Photo 2: Sub-grade is checked for the widened section of Route 463 (Horsham Road).
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| Photo 3: Utility workers attach a segment of a relocated water main below Route 463 (Horsham Road).
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Horsham Road-October 2009 |
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Photo 1:
Finishers smooth a section of new concrete sidewalk along Horsham Road as part of the improvements under construction at that location.
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Photo 1: View of one of the vernal pools, stocked with logs and branches for cover and basking sites for aquatic animals.
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Photo 2: Wetland enhancement area where new emergent wetlands are becoming established behind the new berm. These seasonally ponded areas are used by ducks and geese, frog, toads and many aquatic invertebrates.
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Photo 3: Almost immediately after construction, many frogs were found using and breeding in these ponds, including the Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanota) (top photo). Close up of the green frog, very happy in small creeks and shallow water ponds (bottom photo).
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Photo 4: Also commonly observed at the new wetlands is the new generation of American toads (Bufo americanus), hatched from the abundant black eggs seen earlier in the season. These toads hop around the shallow pond edges looking for insects.
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Photo 5: The wetland mitigation area seems to be in an active home range of several Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). Here is one older animal, at least 18 years old. These are terrestrial turtles, preferring to spend their time in the woodlands, but seen mud-bathing in the new vernal ponds. They will retreat under logs and leaves in hot weather but come out of hiding when cooling summer showers pass through.
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Photo 6: Also found were smaller, younger box turtles, like this palm-sized juvenile.
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Photo 7: Signs of animals more active at night may also be found throughout the site, including these front and hind foot tracks of the raccoon.
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Photo 8: The final emergence of a large dragonfly from its nymph casing, a process that can take several hours. This one appears to be a newly minted Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) which prefers shallow pools.
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Photo 9: Much showier than its upland cousin is this swamp milkweed, (Asclepias incarnata) whose rose-colored blooms dot the wet meadows (right photo). In bloom mid summer is the blue or pink monkey flower (Mimulus ringens), so named because the flower is thought to resemble the face of a monkey (left photo).
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Photo 10: Surrounding the wetland mitigation site are "conservation boundary" markers indicating the area as preserved open space to remain undisturbed.
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7WM - June 2009 |
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Photo Locations Map:
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The numbers on this map correspond to the numbered photos below.
Click on the map to open a full .PDF of the map.
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Photo 1: A temporary stream crossing was installed in the Little Neshaminy Creek in February 2009 (top photo). The crossing was installed as part of public input to the project, and allowed for construction vehicles to access the north side of the mitigation site without traveling through local residential streets.
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Photo 2: After the temporary stream crossing was removed, the stream channel was restored to its pre-existing condition.
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Photo 3: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers came to the site to observe the Little Neshaminy Creek area following the removal of the temporary stream crossing. Pictured above, the field view group views the restored channel, bank and riparian edge.
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Photo 4: Along with the installation of the temporary stream crossing, temporary access roads were put in place for the construction vehicles to move between the north side and south side of the mitigation site. After the removal of the temporary stream crossing, the access roads were also removed. Pictured above, the access road is being removed. The area will be seeded and mulched, and riparian trees are scheduled to be planted in the fall.
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Photo 5: PennDOT, the Construction Team, the Design Team and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are pictured in front of the former temporary stream crossing. These groups worked together over the past year on the concept and design of the temporary stream crossing after input from local residents highlighted the concern of having large construction vehicles on local residential roads. The use of the temporary stream crossing had little effect on the surrounding communities and met all project needs and goals.
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7WM - March 2009 |
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Photo Locations Map:
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The numbers on this map correspond to the numbered photos below.
Click on the map to open a full .PDF of the map.
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Photo 1: Groundwater monitoring wells will be installed throughout the site to collect data that will help evaluate the success of the wetland creation sites. This photo shows a completed installation of a monitoring well near the site entrance off County Line Road.
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Photo 2: In this photo, earth being removed from the mitigation site has been stockpiled in a staging area for transportation to an off-site location.
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Photo 3: Construction access is provided by placing geotextile and stone to improve stability for construction equipment in upland areas The stone will be removed at the end of construction activity.
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Photo 4: As a result of public input, a temporary stream crossing was installed at the Little Neshaminy Creek. The crossing will allow for construction vehicles to access the north side of the mitigation site without disturbance to local residential streets. Looking northwest, this photo shows the temporary stream crossing. Eight (8) pipes are used to maintain flow while a stone overlay provides support for construction vehicles. After major construction activity is complete on the north side of the mitigation site, the stream crossing will be removed.
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Photo 5: Construction mats have been installed at sensitive areas within the site to minimize compaction of the soils along the haul road. The mats help protect the mitigation site and result in easier driving conditions for large construction vehicle. The mats will be removed at the end of construction activity.
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Photo 6: A weir structure is installed at the southern spillway of Creation Site B. Several of these structures will be installed throughout the mitigation site. Their purpose is to help regulate water levels in the wetlands to enhance the success of the mitigation site.
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Photo 7: Berms will be installed to help retain water in each creation site. This photo, looking northwest, was taken in Creation Site C and shows the rough grading for one of these berms.
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