Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday joined state and local officials to announce that he has committed $2 million in capital budget funds toward the restoration of Glade Run Lake in Valencia, Butler County.

“We are here today to announce that Glade Run Lake’s long drought is coming to an end,” Corbett said. “In years to come, I might bring my grandson, Liam, to this spot, cast a line into the water, and have those magic moments that Glade Run has given so many in the past, and will again in the future.”

Glade Run Dam was declared unsafe on November 19, 2002, by mutual agreement of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Dam Safety and the Fish and Boat Commission after it was determined to have seriously inadequate spillway capacity by a PFBC analysis.

Design for the proposed rehabilitation of this dam was initiated in 2009; however, in May 2011, seepage, that had been documented and monitored over the last several years by PFBC engineers, began to cause unacceptable levels of erosion near the downstream toe of the dam.

The PFBC engineers became concerned about the change in seepage patterns and the possibility of a severe subsurface problem. Because of the seepage and erosion problem, on May 24, 2011, the PFBC decided to relieve seepage pressure through the dam foundation by draining the lake.

Since the draining of the Glade Run Dam reservoir, the PFBC, along with its consultant, needed to redesign the project to resolve both the spillway inadequacy and the seepage issue. This draft detailed rehabilitation plan was received by DEP Dam Safety on April 9, 2014. The review, revision and approval process between the PFBC and DEP Dam Safety is expected to be completed by the end of September 2014.

“With 16,000 visitors every year, this lake was not only a part of the social fabric here; it’s also part of the economy, contributing more than $1 million every year to local business,” Corbett said.

Support for the $4.3 million project includes $2 million from the capital budget, $2 million from the Fish and Boat Commission and $300,000 from the Glade Run Lake Conservancy.

“Pennsylvania’s lakes are popular places for families to enjoy the outdoors, and they are also valuable economic assets to local communities,” said John Arway, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. “The Glade Run Lake project is a true partnership between state and local government and area communities. We wish to thank all of our partners who have helped us get to the point where we now have a plan and the funding to begin restoring the lake.”

“The Glade Run Lake Conservancy, including its Board of Directors, members and donors, is an example of how people with a passion for a noble cause can come together, work diligently and make a difference,” said Sigmund J "Siggy" Pehel III, President of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy. “Glade Run Lake has been at the heart of our community for 60 years, and its absence was felt by many in the Conservancy who have been working for the past three years to bring it back. We are delighted that our message was heard by our state officials who have worked just as hard to find a way to support its restoration. We now look forward to seeing the lake come alive again for our region.”

Key supporters of this project in the state legislature include Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny), Sen. Don White (R-Indiana), Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) and Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler).

“I thank Senators Vulakovich, White and Hutchinson, and Representative Ellis for their strong leadership and I am pleased to partner with each of them to support Glade Run Lake’s restoration,” said Corbett.

An anticipated timeline for this project includes completing final design and permitting in late 2014 and beginning construction in early 2015. Construction is anticipated to be completed during the summer of 2016, followed by refilling reservoir through late summer and fall of 2016.

4/28/2014