Pennsylvania Ag Connection - Restore Pennsylvania Can Benefit Monroe Co. Aging Dams

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Restore Pennsylvania Can Benefit Monroe Co. Aging Dams
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 05/21/2019

Representatives from Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Waterways Engineering and Wetlands Program toured Middle Dam along Sambo Creek in East Stroudsburg to highlight how the Wolf Administration's Restore Pennsylvania plan would comprehensively address aging dams across the commonwealth.

Restore Pennsylvania is an aggressive plan to address the commonwealth's vital infrastructure needs, including old dams in need of rehabilitation.

"All across Pennsylvania, DEP is seeing more and more dams that are either failing, or in serious need of rehabilitation, with the safety of thousands of residents at stake," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "The cost of the work to fix those dams could range in the millions of dollars. Restore Pennsylvania could provide a funding source for these projects."

Middle Dam, which is owned by the borough and used as one of its two water supplies, has obtained funding through a state grant for rehabilitation that would bring the 24-foot high structure into compliance with state regulations. The work includes reconstructing the spillway, installing a new piping and drainage system, and construction of new wetlands. The total cost is estimated at $8 million. In 2008, the DEP declared Middle Dam as "unsafe" due to a seriously inadequate spillway. Approximately 750 people and 33 businesses are at risk if the dam were to fail. The drainage area to the dam is 2.7 square miles which includes the larger East Stroudsburg Dam, which was recently rehabilitated.

"In Monroe County we have some of the highest concentrations of lakes and waterways in the commonwealth," said Sen. Mario Scavello (R-40th). "While we are blessed with an abundance of beautiful waterways, we also have many high hazard dams -- many of which are in local communities without the funds to repair. I am pleased to join in supporting Restore Pennsylvania's efforts to invest back into repairing our dams to protect our environment and communities for many years to come."

Restore Pennsylvania proposes a commonsense severance tax that would invest $4.5 billion over the next four years in significant high-impact projects throughout the commonwealth, that would rebuild Pennsylvania's infrastructure and increase resources for blighted properties, storm preparedness, and disaster recovery to help make Pennsylvania a leader in the 21st century.

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