T-VSSI Overview

The Temple-Villanova Sustainable Stormwater Initiative (T-VSSI) leverages the investments in the ongoing research programs and studies of Center for Sustainable Communities (CSC) and Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership (VUSP) to promote sustainable watershed assets through improving the stewardship of the region’s watershed resources. Reports prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), river conservation plans, and other sources document impairments to and the need to remediate the impacts of urbanization and increased stormwater runoff on the region’s waters and watersheds. In order to remediate the impacts of increased stormwater flows and to increase stewardship of the region’s watersheds, the T-VSSI undertakes an intensive Technical Program and Outreach Program.

The Technical Program is executed by an interdisciplinary group of researchers (i.e., engineers, planners, horticulturalists, ecologists…) who develop programs to enhance the management of privately held lands that are critical to the health of watersheds and related ecosystems. The same group of researchers also provide a public Outreach Program. Improved stormwater management and stewardship of the region’s watershed resources are supported through the public Outreach Program designed to transfer information and technology gained through the design and long-term monitoring of demonstration BMPs.

The outputs identified herein will produce short-term outcomes such as facilitating municipal acceptance of innovative stormwater practices, increasing municipal participation in Act 167 stormwater studies and encouraging the engineering community to design innovations stormwater management solutions. Principle long-term outcomes will include improved water quality through the reduction of sediments, nutrients, and other pollutants and an increase in viable habitat.