Past Projects

Past Projects

Project: D. Miller Stream Restoration

Date Completed: Completed in June 2026

Stream: Little Conowingo Creek, Conowingo Watershed

Location: Goat Hill Rd, Peach Bottom – South side of road

Project Goal: 3,400 ft- Stream bank fencing (both sides); 3.77acres - Forest buffer installation;

Work Done: 3,400 ft- Stream bank fencing (both sides); Bank stabilization (8 rock vanes, 47 rock deflectors, 1 rock cross-vane, 7 boulder walls, bio-engineering); In-stream fish habitat structure (17 mudsills); 3 - Livestock crossings; Large floodplain bench (legacy sediment removal)

Annual Reduction:  Nitrogen – 255 lbs.; Phosphorus – 231.2 lbs.; suspended solids- 76.3 tons

Total Cost: $832,440 (includes D Lapp Project)

Contractor: Flyway Excavating and Rettew Engineering

Project Cost:Funded By: PA DEP through EPA 319 Clean Water Act

Project: D. Lapp Farm Stream Restoration

Date Completed: June 2023

Stream: Unnamed Tributary, Conowingo Watershed

Location: Maxwell Dr. Quarryville

Project Goal: 1,200 ft re-aligned and restored stream; 1.2 ac forest buffer

Work Done: 10 rock vanes, 21 root wads, 1 rock cross-vane, 2 - Livestock crossings; filling of old channel sections; approx. 2,500ft of streambank fencing

Annual Reduction: Nitrogen - 117lbs.; Phosphorous - 106lbs.; suspended solids - 35tons

Project Cost: $832,440 (includes D Miller Project)

Contractor: Flyway Excavating and Rettew Engineering

Funded By: PA DEP through EPA 319 Clean Water Act

Project: Neff-Dellinger Stream Restoration

Date Completed: March 2025

Stream: Dellinger Run; Chiques Creek Watershed

Location: Fairview Rd, Manheim

Project Goal: 2,800 linear ft stream restored; 5.1 AC Riparian Forest

Annual Reduction: Sedimentation: 183lbs, Nitrogen 150lbs, Phosphorus 42lbs

Work Done: Installed 6 log vanes, 90 linear ft mud sills, 840 linear ft of rock deflectors, 9 cross vanes, 3 channel blocks, 275 linear ft of toe boulders, 180 linear ft of rock walls, 10,000 ft of bank stabilization, one at-grade slat concrete crossing,

Annual Reduction:  Nitrogen – 210 lbs., Phosphorus – 190 lbs., Suspended solids – 62.8 tons

Project Cost: $217,500

Contractor: Flyway Excavating and Rettew Engineering

Funded By: Lancaster Clean Water Partners (CAP – Countywide Action Plan) and Lancaster Conservation District

Project - Shearers Creek, Andy Ill’s property
Date - Summer and Fall of 2024
Location -
Project Goals - The project consisted of BMPs installed over 735 feet of stream to improve habitat, provide bank stabilization structures, remove invasive species of plants and trees, and installation of native trees and shrubs.  Additionally, 1,075 feet of dirt and gravel road was required in the proposal to eliminate erosion of the farm lane.
Work Done -10 mudsills totaling 815 linear feet, 1 log cross vane & 4 rock cross vanes, 2 root wad deflectors, 1,075 feet road dirt and gravel, 4 random boulder clusters, restore 8 riffles, 215’ rock toe, 280’ bank grading ( to create a flood plain), 140’ brush mattress (to control erosion) and repair one crossing.
The project improves water quality and enhances wild trout habitat throughout the reach of this project and the downstream receiving waters.  The site contains high value wetland habitat throughout the project area and some areas outside of it.
Work to be completed - establish 15 acres of buffer and remove invasives

Project Cost - $75,000

Funding Source - York & Lancaster Counties Habitat Improvement Grant Program

Before

After

Project Name - Peters Creek

Project Name - Lapp Creek
Date - Spring of 2023
DTU completed a Conowingo Watershed riparian buffer project in the Spring of 2023 to restore an unnamed tributary on private property on Maxwell Dr in East Drumore Township. The project cost $270,715 and was funded by PA DEP (EPA 319). The restoration project included 1,850 feet of stream on 1.25 acres with 2 cattle crossings and 87 trees and shrubs planted.

Project Name - Glick
DTU finished a Fishing Creek Watershed riparian buffer project in 2021 to restore a Fishing Creek stream on private property on Osceola Dr in Drumore Twp. The project cost $134,000 and was funded by PA DEP, Act 319, PA Department of Agriculture, National Federation of Fish and Wildlife, Lancaster Farmland Trust, the Landowner, and DTU. The restoration project included 2350 feet of restored stream on 2.5 acres with one cattle crossing and 570 trees and shrubs planted. 

Project Name - Yoder
DTU finished a Fishing Creek Watershed project in 2021 to restore a Fishing Creek stream on private property on River Rd in Drumore Twp. The project cost $79,500 and was funded by PA DEP, EPA 319, PA Dept. Agriculture, National Federation of Fish and Wildlife, and Lancaster Farmland Trust. The restoration project included 1685 feet of stream on 2.3 acres, with one cattle crossing and 200 trees and shrubs planted. 

Project Name - Brandon Clare
DTU finished a Pequea Creek Watershed riparian buffer project in 2020 to restore a Climbers Run stream on private property on Marticville Rd in Martic Twp. The project cost $78,750 and was funded by Cleanwater Partners and DTU. The restoration project included 1320 feet of restored stream. 

Conowingo Creek is one of the few watersheds in Lancaster County which has an Environmental Protection Agency-approved Watershed Improvement Plan (click here for improvement plan), sanctioned in 2006 by Donegal Trout Unlimited. The Watershed Improvement Plan documents more than 100 parcels that are in need of remediation. Each year, we work on projects in this watershed. In 2021, four projects will be completed.

Project Name - Hammer Creek
This northern Lancaster County stream supports populations of native brook trout as well as wild brown trout. Donegal Trout Unlimited has completed some work on this stream near Brickerville, which included a dam removal and also stream restoration. Funding has been found to remove a second dam on a tributary, which will be done in connection with the replacement of a culvert that is stopping aquatic passage.

In 2019, Donegal Trout Unlimited joined with Doc Fritchey TU to restore this stream from its headwaters in Lebanon County all the way to the dam at Speedwell Forge. With multiple partners playing key roles in this massive project, the assessments of the headwaters are nearly complete, and outreach to property owners has resulted in the first five projects marked for restoration. Some are in the design & permitting stage. This project will take at least 25 years to complete.

Project Name - Octoraro Creek
Date - 2019-2020
The most recent project completed in this watershed was on a tributary to the West Branch of this southern Lancaster County stream in 2019.  Several more projects have been identified and will be assessed and planned during the next year.

Project Name - Climbers Run
Date - 2020
In spite of COVID-19, Donegal Trout Unlimited completed the last needed restoration project on the main stem of this stream in 2020.  Some work on its tributaries were done as well.  This accomplishment took 15 years on another one of the County streams which drains into the Susquehanna River.  It now supports a healthy population of Eastern brook trout.