Although Historic Poole Forge is known for its history and scenic value, it is also a site that is dedicated to environment and conservation efforts, particularly those that involve the Conestoga Creek, which runs through the property.
Because of a major project that included creek reconstruction work, Poole Forge was featured in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife 2019 Annual Report. The report recognizes only one conservation project from each state.
"It's a pretty big deal that they chose us as the project to highlight from the state of Pennsylvania," said Dawn Rise Ekdahle, executive director of Poole Forge. "I am interested in the historic aspect (of the location), but my background is in ecology and the environment. I have a strong passion to improve the environment."
The project was a collaboration between the Lancaster Conservation District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. "Last year, I applied to the Lancaster Conservation District for a grant to do some creek reconstruction to help (prevent) erosion and to protect the large sycamore trees that we have along the creek at the back of the park, adjacent to our new Nature Trail area," Ekdahle explained. "We won the grant, which was funded through Exelon, for $57,000."
The work was performed by the Fish and Wildlife Service with the help of Pheasants Forever, a nonprofit conservation organization. Approximately 900 feet of the Conestoga Creek was reconstructed through the installation of mudsills and rock and hemlock log structures, which protect the creek bank and trees along the banks and prevent erosion.
"This created a new habitat for fish and freshwater organisms, better aeration for the water and cleaner water with less silt and debris from the banks," said Ekdahle. "The water was immediately cleaner, and we are already seeing a more diverse fish and wildlife habitat. So, doing the project has been a tremendous success."
Nathaniel Straw from the Lancaster County Conservation District and Adam Smith from U.S. Fish and Wildlife were the project leaders. "They came back and did a children's ecology program in the summer of 2019," Ekdahle noted. "We had about 25 to 30 kids attend, and they taught them the importance of water quality and improving the creek."
The work at the site also included three other complementary projects. "With the Chesapeake Bay Alliance funding and volunteers, we planted hundreds of native trees and shrubs," Ekdahle noted. "I applied for a Sierra Club grant and we won $500 to create a hummingbird/pollinator garden to go along the Nature Trail."
She said that the efforts are important because the Conestoga Creek that runs through Poole Forge is at the headwaters of the Conestoga River, which eventually makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay. "This is especially critical in our role to clean up the waterways that travel into the Chesapeake Bay," Ekdahle said. "We are hoping to inspire others to do the same."
Poole Forge is located at 1940 Main St., Narvon. For more information, readers may visit http://www.facebook.com/HistoricPooleForge. A Facebook post on July 13 provides a link to the Fish and Wildlife Service's 2019 annual report.
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