Delco officials hope enhanced wetland habitat has curb appeal to draw more critters home to Newlin Grist Mill Park

CONCORD TWP., Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — It’s officially spring, and wildlife is starting to move into a new home at a wetland project in Delaware County. Jessica Shahan, a naturalist at Newlin Grist Mill Park, walked through the 160-acre park in Glen Mills on a recent weekday, pointing out some new features.

“We actually have two early-emerging bullfrogs out today enjoying the warm weather,” Shahan said. “It’s a little [earlier] than we normally see them.”

The frog pond has served as an outdoor classroom for decades. And now, right next to it, a wetland is under development. It was created by Kevin Magerr, an environmental science professor at Temple University, and his students.

“So basically the braided stream provides a deeper habitat, and that allows water to flow through the system here. The higher elevations, they'll be saturated. In some cases, it will be below water. This is the idea of the microtopography — giving a multitude of different types of habitats for aquatic communities.”

A pond can have standing water all throughout the year, whereas a wetland, by its definition, will have seasonal changes. This wetland is expected to mitigate the amount of sediment swept into the frog pond.

“There are probably a dozen egg masses from wood frogs, breeding here in a wetland that wasn’t here last year,” she said.

The park has secured grant funding to cover the cost of new plants for the wetland.

“We are adding a variety of wild flowers, but also emergent plants, like duck potato, pickerelweed — things that grow up, out of the water, that provide good frog habitat — cardinal flowers, swamp milkweed, white turtlehead,” she said, “all of which have really high wildlife value.”

Planners hope all the comforts of home will lure more frogs and other creatures, such as turtles, fish, birds and insects will be attracted to the diverse habitat.

The source of the water for the pond and wetland is two nearby creeks and runs. That water is controlled through a system built in 1704 to power the Grist Mill, which is still standing.

“It comes off a combination of Concord Creek and the west branch of Chester Creek,” says Tony Shahan, director of the park. “They were smart enough in 1704 that they built a dam in between each one of those and a canal between the two to be able to draw water off of both, to run and operate the mill.”

The mill’s wooden water wheel is being rebuilt by hand and is expected to be installed and working some time in June.

“And when you turn on and get the water back to a mill, it’s like breathing life back into it and the whole site comes alive,” the director said.

Newlin Grist Mill Park has eight miles of nature trails and 12 historic buildings to explore.