LMT Greenway Plan Draft Report available on Greenway Website

The Lower Macungie Township (LMT) Greenway Plan outlines a potential township- wide greenway and linked trail park along the Swabia and Little Lehigh creeks. A greenway is a linear park most often associated with a river, stream or creek. In addition to the recreational benefits (hiking, fishing, cycling, kayaking ect.) a greenway serves as a valuable buffer zone protecting sensitive natural resources and wildlife. Also this potential barrier zone would buffer the waterways from the flooding pressures of development and help manage water quality. 

Greenway Plan Draft

LMT contains approximately 34 miles of streams. The  largest the Little Lehigh is small in name only. It's the largest tributary of the Lehigh River and an important water source for the city of Allentown. The draft report characterizes the condition of the townships waterways as follows:

"In general, the township’s waterways have been adversely affected by the non- point source pollution associated with residential development and an expansive road network. To improve and protect water quality and aquatic habitat, the Township must implement storm water best management practices that provide infiltration in order to reduce surface water discharges, avoid new man-made stream channel modifications and restore riparian buffers."

The draft plan for the greenway system is definitely worth taking a look at. It includes a list of various opportunities and constraints in terms of potential routing, outlines public participation in the project so far, shows the proposed trail system as it stands now (subject to change) and outlines an action plan for implementing the network and parkway.