Many individuals have contributed their time through the research and planning of this project to preserve a natural resource for the long-term betterment of the community, including:
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Elizabethtown Borough; West Donegal Township; State Rep. David Hickernell; Dr. Dorothy J. Merritts, Professor, and Dr. Robert Walter, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environment at Franklin & Marshall College; Dr. William Hilgartner of Johns Hopkins University; the Conoy Creek Watershed Association; RETTEW Associates; Flyway Excavating, Inc. and Masonic Village staff.
May 17, 2005 - Pennsylvania voters approve Growing Greener II bond.
October 2006 - Several Masonic Village residents, as part of the Lancaster County Conservation District's Water Quality Volunteer Coalition, begin testing the Conoy Creek at three sites on Masonic Village property. Monthly, they check temperature and oxygen, nitrate, phosphate and alkalinity levels and post results on www.lancasterwatersheds.org/sitesearch.php .
Nov. 30, 2006 - Masonic Village awarded $413,000 DEP Growing Greener II grant.
Throughout 2007 - RETTEW Associates' designs and permit applications submitted.
Week of Aug. 18, 2008
Work begins on spoil area (area of dirt plowed flat for parking construction equipment and storage site for sediments) on south side of creek. Mark Metzler, Biologist and Project Manager, from RETTEW Associates, is overseeing the project and Flyway Excavating, Inc. is responsible for moving the sediments.
Week of Aug. 25, 2008
In the area of Phase 1, expected to take about one month, a barrier was created to prevent removed sediments from eroding back into creek. Erosion control matting has been placed along creek bed. Water monitoring wells have been placed throughout area. Depressions are being created to allow for overflow of water, creating a marshy wetland consistent with the pre-colonial condition.
Week of Sept. 1, 2008
Work continues on the Phase 1, focused on the side of the creek closest to Bainbridge Road. After layers of sediments were removed, an old log crib crossing was uncovered close to the original valley floor.
Week of Sept. 22, 2008
Phase 1 will be finished by the end of this week, signifying the completion of about one-third of the project's total volume. Utilizing Phase 1's spoil area, sediments will be moved from Phase 3 next week, completing about half of that phase. Grass seeds have been planted in some of the excavated areas.
Week of Oct. 6, 2008
Phase 3 is halfway complete. Work on Phase 2 began on north side of the creek. A new spoil area was created on this side of the creek and boulders were added as a retaining wall along the creek bed. On Oct. 7, Dr. Merritts, Dr. Walter and Michael Rahnis, a GIS Research Specialist, all of Franklin & Marshall College, began examining a trench dug perpendicular to the creek to sample different layers of soil and develop an idea how the region would have looked over thousands of years. The earlier discovery of a broad spear arrowhead, which has been carbon-dated at close to 4,000 years old, and charcoalized wood pieces of the same age, lead experts to believe Native Americans use to fish in the creek and camp along its banks.
Week of Oct. 27, 2008
Phases 1 and 2 are complete, with about one day's work left on Phase 3. Phase 4, on the creek's south side, began this week and it is expected to take about three weeks. The remnants of a concrete dam were taken out during Phase 3 last week, revealing evidence of an older dam. The history of Conoy Creek includes at least nine known dams constructed throughout the colonial period. Excavation also uncovered stones which are believed to be a part of an old stone ford crossing.
Week of Nov. 10, 2008
Work began on the last phase of the project, Phase 5. Depending on weather conditions, the excavation is expected to be complete by Thanksgiving, at which point, Mark Metzler, project manager, will go over the entire project and take care of any clean up. Planting will continue through the spring.
Spring 2009
The monitoring phase of the project has begun. Grass seed has been planted, as well as a tree purchased through donations from Masonic Village employees, and several from residents. In June, community volunteer Dick Brown donated and helped Masonic Village employees spread wildflower seeds. The seeds are native to Pennsylvania and have been collected by local residents, from middle school students to retirees. The wildflowers will benefit the creek's ecosystem by providing habitat for native creatures and helping propagate native plants.
