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West Whiteland task force reviews stormwater flow map, requests clearer display and educational guide
Summary
At its June 17 meeting the West Whiteland Township Stormwater Task Force reviewed the first iteration of a public stormwater flow map, raised concerns about readability and data sensitivity, and directed staff to revise the map and produce an educational narrative for resident use.
The West Whiteland Township Stormwater Task Force reviewed the first iteration of a township stormwater flow web map at a hybrid meeting on June 17, 2026, and asked staff to simplify the map’s display and prepare an explanatory guide for residents.
Wyatt Williams, Sustainability Coordinator for West Whiteland, presented the map and explained its legend and layered data, including USA Flood Hazard Areas. Williams said the map is intended as "a visual education tool" to help residents understand where they stand in relation to streams and floodplains, and that it currently does not show flow direction because rendering flows would increase load time.
Supervisor Liaison Libby Madarasz said the current palette uses too much similar “blue,” which risks making large areas look flooded and could complicate home sales; she recommended a blank starting view that allows users to find a property before toggling floodplains and other layers. Task Force member Jason Bailey urged adding contours and refining map resolution, noting that US Geological Survey maps include contour lines that help indicate flow direction.
Scott Jeffers, a Task Force member, recommended setting a higher minimum depth threshold rather than the map’s present zero-depth scale, and suggested displaying FEMA floodplain layers to help residents recognize watershed and floodplain boundaries. Jeffers also offered to send Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) and StreamStats geographic layers to staff to improve hydrologic accuracy.
Williams said the township will not post locations of critical infrastructure on the public site for security reasons, though staff currently meets individually with residents who request detailed infrastructure information; he added he could add an option to "request further details" for vetted requests. Jennifer Keller, Operations Manager, confirmed that staff provides additional detail to residents on request but does not publish sensitive locations.
Other ideas the Task Force raised included labeling state roads versus township roads, showing drainage areas or watershed boundaries, and using digital elevation models (DEMs) to make flow patterns clearer. As a next step, Williams will make the suggested edits, refine display thresholds and layers, and develop an educational narrative for review at the Task Force’s next meeting.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the May 20, 2026 meeting minutes; the record notes the motion and second but does not include a roll-call or final outcome. The meeting began at about 5:00 p.m. and adjourned at approximately 5:45 p.m.
