Watershed Management Plans


Jordan Creek Watershed Conservation Management Plan

The Jordan Creek is a 31.3 mile-long tributary to the Little Lehigh Creek and has an 82.3 square mile watershed located within nine townships and the city of Allentown in Lehigh County, Pa. The creek has four main tributaries. Switzer Creek, which is the first to enter the main stem, originates in Lynn and Weisenberg Townships and flows northeast to the confluence in Lowhill Township. The second major tributary to enter the Jordan is Lyon Creek. It forms just south of Hynemansville in Weisenberg Township proceeding north to its confluence with the Jordan in Lowhill Township, slightly west of Weidasville and south of State Game Lands No. 205.

 
The source of Haasen Creek is also located in Weisenberg Township; however, it first flows east to Upper Macungie Township and then northeast past Fogelsville Pond to the confluence with Jordan Creek in the west end of South Whitehall Township. The headwaters of Mill Creek are located in Washington and Heidelberg Townships. They combine in the southeast corner of Heidelberg and continue flowing south through the State Game Lands No. 205 to the confluence with Jordan Creek in Lowhill Township.

Wildlands Conservancy has selected the Jordan Creek for the project because recent threats from non-point source pollution have resulted in the creek's listing as a high-priority water body on the Degraded Watershed List for Pennsylvania. In addition, the Jordan Creek has been downgraded from the high quality status it held in 1987.

Wildlands Conservancy has received a Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Program Planning Grant for the Jordan Creek. A study of the Jordan Creek and the preparation and publication of a comprehensive Jordan Creek Watershed Conservation Plan were the intended outcomes of the project. The Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Program was created by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The objective of the program is to conserve, restore and enhance Pennsylvania's rivers through partnership, education, awareness and stewardship.

The primary goals of the Jordan Creek Project are to restore the physical and biological health of the stream; establish management practices to prevent additional degradation of the stream; preserve critical cultural and natural resource areas within the watershed; and ultimately have the Jordan Creek listed on the Pennsylvania Rivers Registry. Inclusion on the Registry will qualify the Jordan Creek watershed for technical and financial assistance from the state for restoration and improvement projects.

In order for the Jordan Creek to be included on the Registry, the conservation plan must identify the historical, cultural, natural and physical resources in the watershed. The plan must also characterize the water quality and aquatic life of the stream, as well as identify any problem areas in the watershed. In addition, the plan must contain recommendations for conservation and preservation of the Jordan Creek based on information collected as part of this project and on input from public hearings and informational meetings with municipalities of the watershed community.


The following reports are available to read, download, and print using Acrobat Reader. To download a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click on the above icon.. To view the reports, click on the respective PDF file. To download the reports, right click on the link and choose "Save Target As." To download the reportsas zipped (compressed) files, click on the icon below.

(Executive Summary - PDF: 132 KB/9 pages;
( Jordan Creek Watershed Conservation Management Plan - PDF: 4,975 KB/190 pages)
(Appendices - PDF: 2,892 KB/79 pages)

Wildlands Conservancy's Watershed Management Plans