Communities across Pennsylvania will benefit from a $11.4 million investment in technical and financial assistance to rehabilitate dams that provide critical infrastructure and protect public health and safety under the NRCS Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

“These structures play a critical role in flood prevention, water supply, and recreational opportunities,” said Denise Coleman, NRCS State Conservationist. “This investment will protect people and ensure that these critical structures continue to provide benefits for future generations.”

From the 1960s through the 1990s, local communities using NRCS assistance constructed more than 85 dams throughout the Commonwealth. These watershed management projects have primarily reduced flooding, protecting lives and property throughout the Commonwealth.

Nine dams in Pennsylvania will receive rehabilitation assistance for planning, design or construction through NRCS’ Watershed Rehabilitation Program. Planned projects include:

— Hibernia and Beaver Creek dams in Chester County;

— Core Creek dam in Bucks County;

— Conneautville and Rainbow dams in Crawford County;

— Beechwood Lake and Hamilton Lake dams in Tioga County; and

— Two Mile Run dam in Venango County.

The program will also enable other NRCS-assisted dams to be assessed for safety. The projects were identified based on recent rehabilitation investments and the potential risks to life and property if a dam failure occurred.

“These funds will go a long way to helping ensure public safety,” Coleman said. “We will work closely with the local project sponsors to ensure that these dams continue to protect and provide water for communities.”

Funding through the Watershed Rehabilitation Program was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.

Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America.

For more information, visit the Watershed Rehabilitation Program webpage or local USDA service center.

7/21/2014