3000 Tires Pulled Out of Philadelphia River in Cleaning Project

(Photo : Seyllou / Getty Images)
Over 3000 tires have been pulled out of a river in Philadelphia.

Over 3000 tires of all sizes, including tractor tires, have been removed from a river in Philadelphia as part of a much-needed cleaning project.

3000 Tires Illegally Dumped

The discovery of thousands of illegally dumped tires is causing significant delays in the Schuylkill River dredging project, impacting the rowing clubs that use the river for regatta races. The US Army Corps of Engineers reported that over 3,000 tires were removed during the second phase of the project, which aimed to clear the river for rowers.

The initial phase, carried out by the Army Corps contractor, Dredgit, successfully removed 28,000 cubic yards of sediment in front of the iconic boathouses. However, during the second phase, which focused on the 2,000-meter National Race Course upriver, workers began encountering large tractor and truck tires, hindering the dredging process.

According to Army Corps spokesperson Steve Rochette, it's unclear if this issue is isolated, but it has persisted across various areas of the Race Course, disrupting the original dredging plan. The Army Corps has yet to determine its next steps.

The majority of the tires were found near the Strawberry Mansion Bridge, with some scattered throughout the dredging area. The Army Corps has been collaborating with the city's Streets Department to manage the tires, which are drying in a staging area before removal by a contractor.

Rochette mentioned that the Army Corps is working with Dredgit to ensure proper tire disposal and is in communication with city officials and the Schuylkill Navy. Additionally, they've coordinated with the Philadelphia Police Department's environmental crimes unit to investigate the illegal dumping incident.

Much-Needed Cleaning Project

The "Schuylkill Navy," an association of amateur rowing clubs, had been advocating for the dredging of the river for years. They argued that silt buildup was causing an uneven riverbed, posing a threat to recreational use and iconic rowing and paddling regattas in Philadelphia. Their concern was that the shallowing river would impact races, necessitating dredging.

Bonnie Mueller, the group's commodore, is hopeful that the dredging will make all lanes on the racecourse uniform and usable for upcoming regattas. However, she's concerned that the cleanup process might hinder the complete restoration of the racecourse.

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The initial contractor handling the dredging project suspended work in November 2020, citing excessive debris and requesting additional funding. The Army Corps had to find a new contractor and secure additional federal funds to restart the project.

Schuylkill Navy officials had initially aimed to complete the dredging before scheduled regattas this month but are now hoping for completion by the end of next month when the contractor is set to move to another location. They also fear that the project's completion might be in jeopardy or require more funding than allocated.

Philadelphia has a history of problems with illegal dumping. In 2021, the Streets Department spent $8.3 million to remove 7,171 tons of illegally dumped materials and 83,600 tires from 1,309 sites.