Message from the President (2008)

Friends of the Manayunk Canal (FMC), a local not-for-profit watershed organization annually holds numerous events that seek to enhance the community in proactive ways, including Dog Days of September (an educational event promoting responsible pet ownership), Historic and Environmental tours (professionally guided walks along the Towpath), Philadelphia Cares Day Clean Up (a local opportunity to pitch in to clean up Philadelphia) and Trunks for the 'Yunk Tree Planting Party (a day of helping out with Towpath restoration work followed by hanging out at the Manayunk Brewery).

FMC Spring Clean Up a Sweeping Success

Friends of the Manayunk Canal welcomed the enthusiasm of the over 170 volunteers who came out on Saturday, April 5^th to participate in Mayor Nutter’s first citywide Philly Cleanup. Despite the calls for rain, volunteers were not deterred. Volunteers from the young and old, couples and families, professionals and students to business leaders turned out to clean the Manayunk Canal and its Towpath. With such a great showing of volunteers, we were able to clean both sides of the canal from Lock Street two miles up to the Flat Rock Dam. Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers we filled three trash trucks with garbage and recyclables! Thanks again to all those who participated!!!

Private Development Proposals on Venice Island

• Venice Lofts, developed by Dranoff Properties, located between Leverington Avenue and Fountain Street on Venice Island, in final phase of construction and recently changed plans from sale to rental.

• Venice One, developed by Dan Nedcusin, proposed location is on the now closed Carmella’s Restaurant land between Leverington Avenue and Green Lane on Venice Island, 280 units approved by Philadelphia City Planning Commission, moving to the Zoning Board for approval. This land, all of which is located in the floodplain, requires the help of concerned local citizens to encourage that safe, responsible development take place on this site.
• Read FMC's Statement of Opposition (pdf)

• Cotton Street Landing, developed by Realen Properties, located on old Connelly Containers site off of Cotton Street, lastest unit announcement is to be 102 rental units, which is down from original plans to sell 270 units.

Venice Island and all of the above built or proposed projects are located in the floodway of the Schuylkill River. 

• Read more about the potentially life-threatening hazards of Living in a Floodplain: A Citizen’s Guide (pdf).

• Read letter from previous FEMA Director James Witt (pdf) opposing development on Venice Island's floodways.
  

Manayunk Canal Restoration Project

Waterways Restoration

Addressing routine maintenance issues, such as the removal of trash along and in the canal as well as invasive species management.The PWD Waterways Restoration Team help drain and clean large debris that collects at the Locks, while volunteers help pick up debris on the canal’s edges.

The PWD Waterways Restoration Team is comprised of members of both the Philadelphia Water Department and the Fairmount Park Commission, who are working to protect the drinking water supply by keeping garbage out of our streams and by restoring stream areas contaminated by damaged sewer infrastructure.To report trash or failing infrastructure, click here to contact them.

Locally, the Manayunk Development Corporation, in cooperation with local business leadership along Main Street, conducts periodic trash removals along the canal and in the canal at Lock Street. FMC's clean up efforts focus on areas not typically attended to by Manayunk Development Corporation.

The Schuylkill Project

FMC has been coordinating with The Schuylkill Project and Fairmount Park to create a targeted invasive species management plan along a stretch of the Towpath in one of many efforts being called “The Schuylkill Project.”

Lower Venice Island

Philadelphia Water Department Projects plans to construct an underground retention basin on VeniceIsland to address their federal mandate to control combined sewer overflows.Although the Water Dept. has yet to release the specifics of its plan, which will detail the size of the basin, its location, its depth, etc., the Philadelphia Water Department has made it clear that there will be funding to allow for the revegetation and landscaping of the site once the basin in completed. While the basin is intended to address the growing problem of stormwater runoff in the Roxborough/ Manayunk area as well as capture the last untreated sewage overflows draining into the Schuylkill River during storm events, a tremendous amount of public input and participation will be needed to insure that this project is designed and carried out in such a way to create as minimal an adverse impact as possible.

No matter what the project or issue in order to be successful in their efforts FMC must have the support and involvement of community members.Friends of the Manayunk Canal needs the help and input of local residents interested in local watershed, environmental, recreational, cultural and historic issues.

Don’t let decisions like these be made without your input! Choices about how your neighborhood is developed and maintained affect not only your property value, but your quality of life. Take this opportunity to get proactively involved in shaping and defining how your community develops!

Flooding at the Venice Island Loft construction site, 6/28/06.

Click for more flood event pictures.

Turtles along the Manayunk Canal Towpath!