Regional Project Profile
F.X. Browne, Inc.

Category: Implemented Retrofit
Type of BMP: Constructed stormwater wetland

| Description | Location | Partners | Cost | Contact |
 

With their knowledge of low impact site development, watershed management and water and wastewater management, F.X. Browne, Inc. designed and built the constructed wetland. The steps to create the constructed stormwater wetland on the site included re-contouring the basin, restricting the outlet pipe, and planting the basin with native wetland plants. For a bioretention diagram, please click here.

To enhance the basin, cattails and sod were completely removed from the basin. Contouring included the construction of an open-faced channel, which will slow down the velocity of stormwater. Outlet pipes were changed and set at a higher elevation to allow for stormwater to pool in order to create the wetland. The basin was replanted with native species, which will filter pollutants and evapotranspirate, providing volume control.

Species planted include Boneset, Cardinal Flower, Aster spp., Goldenrod spp., Smartweed spp., Rush spp, Sedge spp., New York Ironweed, Joe Pye Weed, Blue Vervain, Iris spp., Switchgrass, Little Bluestem. Certain species thrived and spread throughout the basin, like the plantings of Aster and Blue Vervain, while others plant varieties have not spread much from their original planting locations, such as Boneset.

F.X. Browne Inc. has been monitoring the site to take note of fauna adapting to the basin. They have mainly noted good types of insects which is in turn attracting small predators. A notable difference has been established in the biodiversity from the old basin to the new naturalized basin.
 

County:         Lansdale, Montgomery County
Watershed:   Perkiomen Creek

F.X. Browne, Inc. is located at 1101 S. Broad St. in Lansdale, Pennsylvania and is the company’s corporate headquarters. Specializing in civil and environmental engineering, planning, and management, the consulting team naturalized the detention basin on their property.

The basin was completed within a two week timeframe in July 2003. The objective of this retrofit project was to introduce Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the site to improve water quality, beautify the land, and prevent downstream flooding into Perkiomen Creek. This retrofit project demonstrates F.X. Browne Inc.’s involvement in the community through their responsible stewardship as landowners. They plan to utilize the site as an educational tool and continue scientific testing for efficiency against run-off pollution. Their research on the establishment of specific plant and animal species will be influential to their future projects as a firm.