Exelon Corporation

Newtown Square Substation Stewardship Program

Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, United States

Certified through 2023

Project Name
Project Type
Newtown Wetland
Wetlands & Water Bodies
About the Program
The Newtown Square Substation, a part of Exelon Corporation, is located in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, approximately 25 miles east of Philadelphia. The substation is located in an urban/suburban area where wetland habitat has been greatly reduced. To help address this issue, the team has restored a native wetland as part of a site mitigation project, maintaining their work at this site far beyond any regulatory requirements

Practices and Impacts
  • Common reed dominated the site when work began in 2009. Since then, an integrated management approach, using both physical removal and chemical treatment, has greatly reduced its presence.
  • Wetland enhancement and monitoring activities conducted at the site from 2009 through 2014 fulfilled regulatory requirements associated with the site. Monitoring and maintenance of the created wetlands area has continued for five years beyond the required monitoring period.
  • Invasive species control, application of native seed mixes and the planting of native species has occurred since the required monitoring was completed to enhance wetland function and the habitat quality provided by the site.
  • Periodic monitoring is conducted, at least biannually, as part of an adaptive management program to assess the community condition and identify any corrective actions needed to meet project objectives. Monitoring is conducted for hydrology, overall vegetation health and cover, seasonal flowering, germination of volunteer trees and shrubs, wildlife utilization and the presence and cover of invasive species.
  • The surrounding area is incredibly diverse with a mixture of wildflowers, sedges, grasses and native shrubs, and is very active with honeybees and other pollinators. The enhancement area is also an incredibly diverse community with a mixture of native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, rushes and native shrubs. The stretch of wetlands is dominated by Indian grass with interspersed patches of late goldenrod and other native wetland species from applied seed mixes. The wetlands enhancement activities have fostered a self-sustaining community of native vegetation, including sensitive plant species such as cattail sedge and slender goldentop.
  • The introduction of milkweed has been added to the restoration effort to enhance the habitat for monarch butterflies. The site is being monitored annually to estimate the coverage of milkweed and the presence of monarchs.
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