ENCLOSURE D
Project Impacts
9.A. (1-8).
Describe the impact on national, state, or local park, forest, or recreation
areas; natural, wild, or wilderness areas; national, state, or local historical
sites; national natural landmarks, national wildlife refuges; archeological
landmarks; state game lands; federal, state, local, or private plant or wildlife
sanctuaries.
There are no national or state parks, forests, or recreational areas within the project area. One
local park and recreation area, Springton Manor Farm, is located downstream of the S.R. 4021
Bridge over the North Branch of Indian Run. Springton Manor Farm is part of a William Penn
Manor that remains in active cultivation. The farm is open to the public, and provides recreation
in the form of hiking on a nature trail, observation of wild and cultivated plant species,
observation of domesticated farm animals, and limited fishing (catch-and-release) within an
agricultural pond.
Improvements to the bridge and roadway approaches will not alter the recreational or historical
value of Springton Manor Farm. The proposed replacement will occur in a wooded section of
the park, away from the nature trail and other public uses. There are no national natural
landmarks or wildlife refuges within the project study area. There are no state game lands, or
plant and wildlife sanctuaries located within the project area.
9.A.(9).
Describe the impact on areas identified as prime farmland.
According to the Soil Survey of Chester and Delaware Counties (1959), there are two soils
identified as prime farmland soils within the project study area. The project area is underlain
with Glenelg channery silt loam, 15-25% slopes, Glenville silt loam, 0-3% slopes, Glenville silt
loam, 3-8% slopes, and Wehadkee silt loam, 3-8% slopes. Glenville silt loam, 0-3% slopes and
3-8% slopes, are considered to be prime farmland in Chester County. However, the land
upstream of the project area is not cultivated, consisting of residential land and woodland. A
majority of soils under Springton Manor Farm downstream of the bridge are prime farmland and
cultivated; however, the land use within the project area is woodland. Areas adjacent to the
existing bridge will experience some permanent impacts as a result of the bridge replacement and
roadway improvements; however, no agricultural uses will be permanently impacted.
No productive agricultural land is located within the project study area. The project will be
entirely state-funded. Therefore, this project is not subject to Act 100 or Act 43 regulations.
9.B.(1)(a).
Discuss the environmental impacts on aquatic habitats including food chain
production.
The existing aquatic habitat of the North Branch of Indian Run is typical of a small tertiary
perennial waterway in a suburban and rural setting. As a tributary of Indian Run, the North
Branch of Indian Run is an unstocked High Quality-Cold Water Fishery (HQ-CWF), supporting
native species throughout the year. The project activities will occur on the primary and
secondary floodplains, but will not disturb the two wetlands located within the project area. The
project will use appropriate Erosion and Sedimentation procedures to prevent sediment and
contamination from reaching the waterway. Any vegetation or sedimentation change will be
incidental and temporary. Therefore, no permanent negative effect on the aquatic habitat is
anticipated in this section.
9.B.(1)(b).
Discuss the environmental impacts on general aquatic habitat, including:
nesting, spawning, rearing, resting, migration, feeding, escape cover, other.
The North Branch of Indian Run is likely to provide the required aquatic habitats for the nesting,
rearing, resting, migration, feeding, and escape cover of freshwater aquatic species. Although
the waterway is not stocked, it is likely to support native fish populations. The proposed project
will not have any permanent impact on the aquatic habitat of the waterway. The widened bridge
will block sunlight to a small portion of the streambed and bank directly below the bridge; this
area is already partially shaded by the existing bridge crossing. Therefore, the bridge will cause
minimal impact to the aquatic habitat of the North Branch of Indian Run.
9.B.(2).
Discuss the environmental impacts on water quality and streamflow,
including: natural drainage patterns, flushing characteristics, current
patterns, groundwater discharge for baseflow, natural recharge area for
ground and surface waters, and storm and floodwater storage and control.
No redirection, channeling, or dredging of the waterway is anticipated for this project. The
bridge will be replaced and the roadway will be slightly widened at approaches to the waterway.
The bridge replacement will not alter the existing drainage patterns, flushing characteristics,
currents, water discharge, storm and floodwater storage, or natural recharge area around the
North Branch of Indian Run. Stormwater will not be redirected, and will remain available to
natural recharge and storage areas along the waterway.
9.B.(3).
Discuss the environmental impacts on water quality, including: prevention of
pollution, sedimentation control and patterns, salinity distribution, and
natural water filtration.
An Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan has been developed to protect the waterway from
these factors during construction activities. This plan includes the use of silt fences, straw bale
barriers, and construction fencing around wetlands near the project area. No changes in sediment
patterns and water filtration are anticipated from the replacement of the existing bridge over the
North Branch of Indian Run. The construction of the bridge may have minor impacts on water
quality during construction. Any impact to the waterway will be temporary. The streambed and
banks, beyond the permanent impact due to widening, will not be permanently altered by this
project. No changes in salinity distribution or pollution levels are anticipated.
9.B.(4).
Discuss the environmental impacts on recreation, including: game species,
non-game species, fishing, hiking, observation of wildlife, etc.
The upstream section of the project area is not used for recreation. Springton Road over Indian
Run and North Indian Run forms the northern border of Springton Manor Farm, a recreational
and historical facility owned and operated by Chester County. Within the project area, there are
no trails and no fishing. Activities such as fishing and wildlife observation will not be
permanently hindered by this project. There may be temporary noise disturbance during
construction. No hunting or trapping is permitted in Springton Manor Farm. Non-game species
may be temporarily disturbed during construction activities, but no permanent negative impacts
to wildlife are anticipated.
9.B.(5).
Discuss the environmental impacts on upstream and downstream property.
Land adjacent to the existing bridge will be permanently impacted due to replacement of the
bridge and widening of the roadway approaches. Upstream of the project area is private land
that is primarily residential property and woodland. The land use includes deciduous forest,
urban land, and mowed grass and shrubs. Downstream of the project area is a Chester County
park that is used for historical education and recreation. The land use within the project limits is
deciduous woodland. No hiking trails, agricultural uses, or recreational fishing will be affected
by the proposed bridge replacement. The overall land use of property upstream and downstream
of the bridge will not be altered as a result of this project.
9.B.(6).
Discuss the environmental impacts on other environmental factors.
The project study area is located in a rural and residential area of Wallace Township, Chester
County. The preliminary area reconnaissance (PAR) identified no potential areas of concern
within the project area. The project will have No Adverse Effect to two historic resources, the
Springton Manor Historic District/Farm and the proposed Weber/Starret/Fisher/Reed Rural
Historic District. No permanent negative impacts to cultural resources and land use is
anticipated as a result of this project. No other environmental factors were identified within the
project area.
9.C.
Identify all environmental impacts on other adjacent land and water
resources associated with the construction, modification, or operation of the
dam, reservoir, water obstruction, or encroachment in the project area.
There are no other environmental impacts anticipated on adjacent land or water resources
associated with this project. The replacement of the existing bridge along the existing alignment
will slightly widen the shading along the waterway, but will have no long-term effects on the
North Branch of Indian Run, and will not inhibit the flow of water under the bridge.
9.D.
Identify and evaluate the potential cumulative environmental impacts of this project
and other potential or existing projects like it, and the impacts that may result
through numerous piecemeal changes to the resource.
The project will not cause any substantial permanent cumulative environmental impacts, and is
not permanently altering or modifying the waterway. The project will utilize an Erosion and
Sediment Control Plan to minimize disturbance during replacement of the bridge and roadway
approaches.
9.E.
Identify and describe all other dams, water obstructions, or encroachments that
may or will be needed, in addition to those described with this application, to fulfill
the purpose of the current project.
No other dams, water obstructions, or encroachments will be needed to replace the S.R. 4021
bridge over the North Branch of Indian Run.