Please take our public input survey and engage with our interactive flood study map to help guide this comprehensive study of the Brandywine Creek and surrounding communities.
About the Brandywine Flood Study
In response to more frequent and extreme flooding events impacting communities along the Brandywine Creek in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, the Brandywine Conservancy is excited to announce the launch of the Brandywine Flood Study—nearly two years after Hurricane Ida produced historic flooding that devastated the region. Conducted in partnership with the Chester County Water Resources Authority (CCWRA) and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center (UDWRC), the flood study is a coordinated effort to better understand where and why flooding occurs and identify the best approaches to protect our communities from future severe flooding events.
The study will examine flood reduction to the main stem of the Brandywine Creek from the headwaters in Honey Brook, PA, to Wilmington, DE and key tributaries. The study will identify chronic flood sites, develop hydrologic and hydraulic watershed models using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydrologic Engineer Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), and provide recommendations for structural and nonstructural flood solutions. This work will provide a deeper understanding of what contributes to the flooding of the Brandywine Creek and what can be done to mitigate those measures.
Once the flood study is completed, the partners are committed to working with impacted communities, elected officials, key funders, and government agencies to implement the study’s recommendations so that the watershed and its residents in both states are better prepared, protected and equipped to rebound from future severe flooding events.
Click here for Flood Study FAQs
Flood Study Main Goals
- Reduce flooding to main stem of the Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania and Delaware
- Coordination with Delaware flood mitigation efforts
- Identify projects for flood attenuation, including pilot projects on Brandywine Conservancy-owned properties that may serve as models for watershed-wide sites
Project Tasks and Timeline
Upcoming Public Meetings
- Fall 2023 – December 14, 2023, 6–7 p.m., Downingtown Borough Hall
- Winter 2024 – February 8, 2024, 6–7:30 p.m., Brandywine Museum of Art — Click here for the audio recording of this meeting
- Spring 2024 – March 5, 2024, 6–7:30 p.m., Coatesville City Hall — Click here for the audio recording of this meeting
- Spring 2024 – Chadds Ford Township Residents – March 18, 2024, 6–7 p.m., Chadds Ford Township Building, 10 Ring Rd, Chadds Ford PA 19317
- Spring 2024 – Wilmington, DE Residents – May 9, 2024, 6:30–8:30 p.m., UrbanPromise Rick's Rock Servant Leadership Center, 1000 E. 28th Street, Wilmington, DE 19802
To be informed about upcoming public meetings, please click here to join our email list.
Additional Public Feedback Opportunities
Help guide this comprehensive study of the Brandywine Creek and surrounding communities!
Click here to take our public input survey
Click here to submit flood locations and related concerns on our interactive flood study map
The information collected from the interactive flood map will be used as part of the Brandywine Flood Study. We are interested in the locations of flooding, when it occurs, how often it occurs and its impacts. We are also interested in locations where debris collects at openings to bridges, culverts, or storm inlets or pipes. Users can submit new comments about flooding and debris jam, review existing comments, and add notes on comments submitted by others. Users can either include their names and contact information, or they can enter the comment anonymously. Users can also upload photos with their comments.
Help us spread the word! Click here to access our Flood Study Communications Toolkit for shareable resources about the flood study and public input tools, including printable flyers, digital graphics, promotional copy, and more.
Project Partners
Led by:
Additional partners include:
Stroud Water Research Center, West Chester University, Meliora, Biohabitats, and CDM Smith.
Funders
The Brandywine Flood Study is funded through grants from FEMA, PEMA, Chester County Government and Delaware County Council.
Contact Us!
For more information about the Brandywine Flood Study, including progress updates and notifications about upcoming public meetings, click here to join our email list. You can also contact us directly with any questions at [email protected].
Header image: Courtesy of City of Wilmington Department of Public Works