On October 18, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Pennsylvania announced it has received $1.9 million to assist in planning for flood prevention and control efforts in Lancaster, Chester, Westmoreland and Wyoming Counties.

This funding will allow NRCS to work with local government entities (states, counties, municipalities, etc.) to develop a Watershed Project Plan and Environmental Assessment for feasibility determination.

The Watershed Plan will examine alternatives to find the most cost-effective and environmentally beneficial way to address identified resource concerns.

Selected projects will be eligible to request additional funds to install conservation practices for stream restoration and stabilization, removing legacy sediment, and applying land treatments for reducing offsite floodwater, erosion, sediment, and agriculture-related pollutants.

Pennsylvania’s funding is among $150 million allocated throughout the U.S. from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations, under the 1954 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 83-566).

The following WFPO projects have been selected for Pennsylvania:

-- Chiques Creek Watershed Project: Sponsored by the Lancaster County Commissioners and Lancaster County Conservation District. The project’s goal is to use a combination of stream restoration/stabilization practices and land treatment measures to reduce nutrient-laden sediment from reaching the Chesapeake Bay. Land treatment will be used to keep soil in place and prevent it from entering Chiques Creek. Stream restoration will be used to stabilize or remove legacy sediment and reconnect Chiques Creek to the historic flood plain.

-- Jacobs Creek Watershed Project: Staffer Avenue Run, Little Sherrick Run, and Andereson Run is sponsored by the Scottdale Borough, East Huntingdon Township, and Westmoreland Conservation District. An assortment of conservation practices will be implemented to control flooding in the three sub-watersheds of Jacobs Creek.

-- Martins Creek Watershed Project: Nicholson, Wyoming County is sponsored by the Wyoming County Conservation District and Nicholson Borough Council. A study will be done to determine the most efficient way to reduce flooding in Nicholson. Options considered will include flood-control measures, streambank stabilization, flood-proofing, and alteration or removal of flood-prone properties. Riparian buffers may also be installed to enhance the riparian corridors where flood-prone properties may be removed.

-- Addressing Nutrient Loading from Mushroom Composting Operations in the Octoraro, Big and Little Elk, and Red and White Clay Creek Watersheds of Chester County Project: Sponsored by the Chester County Conservation District and Chester County Commissioners, this project will work to address nutrient runoff to surface waters and groundwater leaching from mushroom compost operations.

Click Here for more information on the NRCS Watershed and Flood Prevention Program.

For more information on assistance available to landowners, visit the NRCS-PA webpage.

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[Posted: October 18, 2019]

10/21/2019