Projects and Research
Dike Restoration Project (Upcoming Fall/Winter 2025)
On August 4th, 2020, Hurricane Isais swept through Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, dumping large volumes of water in the Darby Creek Watershed. Rain waters rushing down the creeks collided with a rising storm surge and high tide, spilling over the banks in the Eastwick Neighborhood of Philadelphia County and Delaware County, causing major flooding in our communities. In the refuge, flood waters overtopped Dike Toad, Trolley Bed, and parts of Haul Road, also known as Wetland Loop Trail. Flood waters caused significant erosion along Dike Road, creating dangerous conditions on the trail. Within a few weeks of the flood, we conducted emergency repairs to stabilize and make Dike Road safe, but this was only a temporary fix. This was not the first time a major flooding event damaged the dike. In 2011, back-to-back storms, Hurricanes Irene and Lee, similarly swept through Darby Creek Watershed, damaging the same section of trail.
To protect the road from overtopping and eroding during future flood events, we are conducting a permanent restoration project for the road. We will stabilize the impoundment-side slope, so in the case of similar storms, erosion of the road will not occur. The accessibility of the trail will also be repaired through this project. Our water control structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure , next to our pump station, is used to control the flow of water between Darby Creek and the impoundment. This structure will be completely replaced, allowing our team to more easily manage impoundment water levels for bird migration and wildlife viewing. The damaged fishing platform along Darby Creek, next to our water control structure, will be removed. A new fishing platform will be constructed along Darby Creek across from the boardwalk, where we host our fishing events. The old set of stairs that used to lead to Big Boardwalk and were damaged during the storm will be replaced, and improvements will be made to the accessible ramp connecting the boardwalk to the trail.
This project will begin late Fall 2025 and is expected to take 12 months to complete. During construction, the trail will be closed from the gate to just before our observation tower. The gravel lot and a portion of the parking lot will be used by the construction crew to stage their equipment and materials and will also be closed to the public. The observation tower and bathrooms will remain open. Signage will be posted, clarifying the trail closure location. Though this portion of Wetland Loop Trail will be closed for a long length of time, we are excited to finally reinforce and strengthen the dike against future floods, and reveal the new trail, stairs, and fishing platform to our visitors.
John Heinz NWR at Tinicum Seeks Public Comment on Draft Compatibility Determination
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is seeking public review and comment on Draft Compatibility Determinations for research. The refuge proposes opening to this activity, where it does not compromise the mission and operations of each national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge . Also, only research that has low- or no-adverse impacts is proposed for this opening, which includes projects that have minimal potential to adversely affect cultural resources, populations of plants, wildlife, or their habitats, or ecosystems. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will accept comments received or postmarked on or before October 6, 2025.
The Service prepares Compatibility Determinations to ensure that public and economic uses of national wildlife refuges do not interfere with or detract from the purposes for which each refuge was established. Compatibility Determinations also describe how these uses would contribute towards achieving refuge purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Copies of the Draft Compatibility Determinations can be found below and hard copies are available at the Visitor Center.
Comments or requests for additional information may be made by email to johnheinznwr@fws.gov or U.S. Mail to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19153, Attn: Refuge Manager.
All comments received from individuals become part of the official public record. The Service’s practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents can request that we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. If you wish to have your name and/or address withheld, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments.
Draft Compatibility Determination for research, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visitwww.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
-FWS-