As part of a conservation and enhancement endeavor on Franklin & Marshall College’s (F&M) Brickyard property, the college decided to create additional wetland habitat to preserve existing floodplain wetlands and create a riparian planting corridor that offers educational and recreational opportunities to students and the public. Located along the Little Conestoga Creek, this project diversifies the existing wetlands by adding more varied habitats, including woody vegetation, herbaceous plantings, and microhabitats of varying hydrologic regimes. RETTEW developed a detailed native planting plan in an adjacent area formerly used for transmission towers for a local radio station.

The wetland creation project resulted in 2.38 acres of emergent and scrub/shrub wetlands in adjacent upland areas. RETTEW designed approximately 0.5 miles of recreational trails through the property, including 143 feet of boardwalk wetland crossings and three observation decks located in key wetland areas, which helped meet the project’s educational and recreational goals. With RETTEW’s guidance, the project team provided a variety of services in tandem to quickly gain regulatory compliance and begin development on this property enhancement that benefitted both F&M students and the local community.