Frequently Asked Questions

We are a research center run through Franklin & Marshall College's Earth and Environment and Economics departments! We currently have four professors, one post-bacc research assistant, two outreach & communications coordinators, and several others contributing to our efforts. Check out our Contact page for more information!

Watersheds are made up of tributaries, or smaller streams that feed into larger streams and rivers which eventually drain to one outlet. Water from the Susquehanna, Potomac, Patuxent, Choptank, Rappahannock, York, and James watersheds flow through the Chesapeake Bay and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean. These watersheds span parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Washington DC, and Maryland. Efforts to improve these watersheds have significant impacts locally as well as literal downstream effects on the Chesapeake Bay and ocean.

The short answer is: yes! Legacy sediment removal is long-lasting, and cost effective compared to other best management practices (BMPs). See the table below for a comparison or visit our StoryMap for even more information.

Legacy sediment can be sold as fill for many different projects. For example, sediment removed from the Big Spring Run restoration was used to fill in and build up the land to build F&M College's Shadek Stadium and fields.