NMS Watersheds Alliance
Nestled along the Delaware River in southern Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Naamans Creek, Marcus Hook Creek and Stoney Creek (NMS) comprised the last unprotected subwatershed area in the county. Based on a recommendation from Delaware County’s 2014 Comprehensive River Plan, the NMS Watersheds Alliance was established in 2023.
Mission
The NMS Watersheds Alliance is a nonpartisan group committed to the protection, restoration, and conservation of the Naamans, Marcus Hook, and Stoney Creek (NMS) watersheds. We aim to encourage community stewardship and to promote enjoyment and respect of the watershed by all who live, work, play and visit.
Pollution Threats
Healthy watersheds are an essential foundation for healthy communities and ecosystems. The NMS subwatershed is part of the larger Delaware River Watershed and is a critical and valuable part of our local communities. The NMS is also subject to ongoing pollution and contamination from local industrial sites and urban and stormwater runoff. These issues are not just environmental; they directly impact the quality of life for the communities that rely on these waterways. If left unaddressed, these problems could lead to further degradation of the water quality, reduced biodiversity, and diminished access to the natural spaces that so many depend on for physical and mental well-being.
The work of the NMS Watersheds Alliance
- Outreach and education initiatives focus on providing educational resources, such as workshops and online webinars, attending and tabling at local events in the watershed, including the Delaware County Sustainability Conference, Trainer Community Day and Keep Delco Beautiful Clean-up events.
- Advocacy initiatives include monitoring and reporting pollution concerns, submitting public comments on permit applications and renewals, attending and speaking at public hearings with community members and supporting residents and municipalities to strengthen watershed protections.
- Stewardship initiatives include hosting and participating in local creek clean-ups, tree-planting, trail and park improvements.
Learn more about the NMS and the NMS Watersheds Alliance through the Storymap!
Check out the NMS Watersheds Alliance Storymap to learn more and stay up to date with the NMS watersheds! The NMS Watersheds Alliance will regularly update the storymap with new projects, initiatives, and information about our creeks and watersheds.
GET INVOLVED!
Follow the NMS Watershed Alliance on Facebook to stay up to date. If you’d like to join the monthly meetings, contact Alyssa Felix-Arreola at afa@cleanair.org.
Presentations
The NMS is made possible with funding from the William Penn Foundation, the Pennsylvania Foundation for Watersheds, and through a partnership between Marcus Hook Area Neighbors for Public Health and the Clean Air Council.