Pittsburgh Water has partnered with PennDOT to complete two stormwater improvement projects that will reduce the amount of sediment runoff entering local waterways. The sites selected are the greenways behind Moore Park and Vannucci Park. PennDOT will lead the construction process, while Pittsburgh Water provided engineering designs in support of the project. 

Moore Park

Moore Park the property is co-owned by the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The site has a stream that is impaired due to urban runoff and sediment from the impacts of stormwater runoff and land use. The selected restoration projects will be designed with sustainability in mind, along with increasing functionality to reduce sediment loads through the process of reestablishing the waterway and reconnecting the streams to the floodplain. This will include channel restoration, floodplain grading and grade control structures to reestablish the stream channels and reconnect them with the floodplain. Woody debris and live vegetation will be used as the primary materials for the stabilization of the channel in the form of log grade control structures and floodplain features. The reconstructed stream will be designed to have low bank heights that provides an opportunity for the stormwater to spread out over the floodplain. This will reduce the stress from the storm flows, minimizing the erosion of the streambed and banks.

This project will also include two rain garden facilities to collect storm water from the park and fields at the head waters of the waterway. The facilities are designed to reduce the storm surge. The facilities will slowly release water into the stream channel also they are designed to enhance infiltration and evapotranspiration from the vegetation in the rain gardens.

Work began in April 2025 and will be completed by end of May 2025.

Vannucci Park/Beechview Greenway

The selected site at Vannucci Park/Beechview Greenway is owned by the City of Pittsburgh. The site has a stream that is impaired due to urban runoff and excess silt from the impacts of stormwater runoff and land use. The selected restoration projects will be designed with sustainability in mind, along with increasing functionality to reduce sediment loads through the process of reestablishing the waterway and reconnecting the streams to the floodplain. Construction crews will utilize a method referred as regenerative stream conveyance in the unnamed tributary to Sawmill Run. This will include channel restoration, floodplain grading and grade control structures to reestablish the stream channels and reconnect them with the floodplain. Woody debris and live vegetation will be used as the primary materials for the stabilization of the channel in the form of log grade control structures and floodplain features. The reconstructed stream will be designed to have low bank heights that provides an opportunity for the stormwater to spread out over the floodplain. This will reduce the shear stress from the storm flows minimizing the erosion of the streambed and banks.

Also included in the plans is a storm water facility to collect storm water from the existing storm water discharge from the Brashear High School. The facilities are designed to reduce the storm surge. The facilities will slowly release water into the stream channel also they are designed to enhance infiltration and evapotranspiration from the vegetation.

Work will begin in late May 2025 and will be completed in July 2025.