The White Clay Creek State Park
Drexel University and the White Clay Watershed Association (WCWA) have launched a new partnership to better understand—and ultimately help mitigate—the increasing threat of flooding in the White Clay Creek watershed. The effort brings together Drexel’s engineering and modeling expertise with WCWA’s deep community ties and environmental leadership in the region.
Designated a National Wild and Scenic River, the White Clay Creek watershed spans 14 municipalities across Pennsylvania and Delaware, supporting a diverse ecosystem as well as thousands of residents. But with more frequent and intense storms driven by climate change, the region faces growing risks to homes, roads, and other critical infrastructure.
Under the leadership of civil and environmental engineering professor Franco Montalto, PhD, the Drexel team will develop a dynamic flood model that simulates current and future flood scenarios based on land use, rainfall intensity, and infrastructure conditions. The model will be used to identify flood-prone areas, evaluate green infrastructure and mitigation options, and engage local governments and residents in long-term planning efforts.
“This is a powerful example of how academic research and community stewardship can come together to address urgent climate challenges,” said Montalto. “Our goal is to give municipalities and residents the tools they need to make informed, forward-looking decisions about how to manage flood risk—not just for today, but for the decades ahead.”
In addition to a region-wide hydrologic and hydraulic model, Drexel will also develop an interactive tool using Stella software to make complex flood risk data more accessible to non-technical audiences. Through workshops, trainings, and collaborative scenario planning, the team aims to support local decision-makers in building a more resilient watershed.
The project is expected to run through September 2026.