Race for the Watershed Duck Derby and 5K

Help support healthy waterways in our community! Held in partnership with Concord Township, this event is a fundraiser to help raise money for watershed protection projects, including controlling erosion along the streambanks, monitoring water quality, and planting trees and native plants at Newlin Grist Mill.

Schedule

• 8am 5K Duck Dash registration
• 9am 5K Duck Dash begins
• 10-1pm Family Fun Festival with vendors, educational displays, and duck-themed games
• 10:30am Trustee & Council duck race
• 11am 1st heat duck race with $100 first place prize
• 11:30 2nd heat duck race with $100 first place prize
• 12:00 final heat duck race with $1,000 grand prize
• 12:30 awards ceremony

The Chester creek, which runs through Newlin Grist Mill, is listed as impaired by the Pennsylvania DEP. When water quality is low, it has a detrimental impact on human health and safety, as well as the plants and animals that survive and thrive both in and near our waterways. We monitor our portion of the creek very closely, and track pollutants, water temperature, and other factors that could impact the rich biodiversity in our streams. We have documented over ___ species of freshwater fish in the stream, as well as water snakes, eels, freshwater mussels, and the trout that we stock for our fly fishing program. Many other species depend upon healthy waterways, including herons, wood ducks, muskrats, deer, and other mammals. The watershed also has impact on the stream. A watershed is simply an area of land that drains its water into a river, and can carry pollutants such as salts from road, fertilizers from lawn, and sediment from erosion. Planting native species with long taproots helps control erosion and aids in absorption of excess water which helps to protect the stream. 

• 5K: $35 per runner entry fee. $40 day of. Prizes will be awarded in each age group for both men and women.
• Duck Race: $20 per duck or $50 for 3 ducks. $1,000 cash grand prize.

Please note: event t-shirts will be available until 5/29/25. Any registrations received after 5/29 will not receive an event t-shirt.