New study will determine health of, and improvements needed at Fern Hollow Creek

Group gathers for rehabilitation study signing ceremony, Frick Park

New study will determine health of, and improvements needed at Fern Hollow Creek

WTAE – June 12, 2024 (updated)
Tom Garris, Anchor/Reporter

A new collaboration between the nonprofit Upstream Pittsburgh and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is aiming to study the rehabilitation of the Fern Hollow Creek.

Two and a half years ago, the bridge along Forbes Avenue collapsed into the ravine below. Since then, the bridge and trail below have been rebuilt. This study will seek to understand the current state of the creek and ecosystem, and how to improve it.

“Certainly, we’ll look in and around the bridge, but it’s much bigger than that,” said Col. Nicholas Melin. “It’s about delivering a creek that’ll be healthy and vibrant and that people will feel comfortable having their children play around for decades to come.”

Mike Hiller, Upstream’s executive director, said following the collapse, the team was concerned about the impacts on the creek.

“And so this study will do a lot of analysis around that, looking at how we can remediate those impacts and looking at ways to regenerate and make the stream healthier than it was before the collapse,” Hiller said.

The study will take 1-2 years, after which the groups will work with elected officials to secure funding to make remediation plans happen.

The hope is to determine ways to restore the habitat and have a more consistent water flow of the creek.

The stream is teeming with different forms of life, from native plants to small fish.

“People already use the park a lot, and this is only going to increase people’s desire to connect with nature in Frick Park,” Hiller said.

View the full coverage from WTAE