Allegheny Land Trust
Helping local people save local land

Conservation Benefits

Land Conservation Reduces Ivan's Impact

The devastating flood of Chartiers Creek on September 17th 2004 could have been even worse, if not for successful efforts to conserve undeveloped floodplains in the valley over the past few years.  Wingfield Pines property is a good example of how land protection pays dividends.

This 80-acre flood plain property, located just upstream from Bridgeville, could have been paved and developed by now had it not been for Allegheny Land Trust’s 2002 purchase of the property.  Because it remained undeveloped, the grassy floodplain meadow normally occupied by birds, deer, turkey and families out for a hike or a walk with their dog, stored 50 million cubic feet of flood water on Saturday, September 17th 2004.

Nearly 15 feet of water covered the entire property!   This water would have otherwise roared down Chartiers Creek, increasing the current’s velocity and the floodwater’s peak height.  180 million cubic feet of water is like a 550-foot high column of water the size of a football field. “Flood plains and their associated wetlands such that exist at Wingfield Pines act like giant sponges that absorb water during a flood and release it slowly as the water levels recede,” noted Allegheny Land Trust’s Executive Director, Roy Kraynyk.

Leaving flood plains undeveloped and steep slopes wooded can help reduce the frequency and intensity of flood events.  Tree roots stabilize sloped land that is susceptible to landslides during heavy rains.  Wooded slopes, floodplains and wetlands effectively absorb and retain water reducing the amount that enters rivers, streams and tributaries.  Encouraging development away from these areas can also prevent the substantial loss of property.  It can be more cost effective to protect these natural systems than it is to rebuild homes and businesses each time property is damaged by flooding.    

Investing in protecting wetlands, floodplains and wooded slopes from being developed pays dividends for years.   Each time it rains they help to reduce the amount of stormwater reaching stream channels because of their natural ability to absorb and store rain fall.  In the case of Wingfield Pines, the cost to store the floodwater from Hurricane Ivan was $.01 per gallon based on the cost of the property.  It would be difficult to engineer, construct and maintain a flood control facility that would provide the same amount of stormwater storage capacity for only $.01 per gallon.  Now that the property is protected as permanent green space it will work to control stormwater each time it rains. 

Bob Hedin of Hedin Environmental, who is working with ALT to design a system of ponds to treat abandon mine drainage, visited the property early that Saturday morning.  “At the peak of the flood on Saturday morning, Wingfield Pines provided a second primary flow channel for Chartiers Creek.  This slowed the velocity of the Creek’s flow and potentially lessened the elevation of the flood crest downstream,” commented Hedin. “I don't know yet how much lower the crest was, but for property owners downstream inches mattered.”

Allegheny Land Trust has dedicated Wingfield Pines as forever open space.  Home or business owners, who may have occupied the property by now were it not for the Trust’s purchase, would have been devastated and likely be seeking public funds or making insurance claims to restore flood-damaged properties.