New storm water law affects Pennsylvania watersheds

Wayne and Pike share watersheds, but perhaps not plans

By TOM KANE

BLOOMING GROVE, PA - Water, its flow and quality, is increasingly becoming a high priority in communities around the nation-especially in watersheds.

Pennsylvania, through its Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Pennsylvania Act 167, is mandating that each county prepare and adopt a watershed storm water management plan for each watershed located in the county as designated by the department, in consultation with the municipalities located within each watershed, and periodically review and revise such plan at least every five years.

In Pike County, the measure will be managed by the county’s conservation district.

“This is just one aspect of the overall Storm Water Management Act that requires counties to develop plans for the flow of all water in the county,” said Susan Beecher, director of the Pike County Conservation District. “This is concentrating on watersheds since they affect the intensity of the flow and the quality of the water more than anywhere else.”

Managing all aspects of stormwater?controlling peak rates of flow during extreme rainfall events, reducing the overall volume of runoff during large and small rainfall events, protecting water quality, and maintaining groundwater recharge for wells and stream flow are all elements of protecting the nation’s water resources, reducing flooding and protecting property and infrastructure.

Beecher said that any new ordinances must be consistent with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets standards for all water flows and water quality. Some of the new requirements now make municipalities responsible for controlling the rate of water flow from storms, and assuring that the first flush of storm water from a strong storm is treated in wetland systems or held in infiltration basins so that the water quality is controlled.

In Pike, there are seven watersheds: Shohola Creek, Bushkill Creek, Wallenpaupack Creek, Lackawaxen River, Sawkill Creek, Delaware River (land areas in Pike County with direct drainage to the river) and Brodhead Creek.

“This new law will fit watersheds into this overall system,” Beecher said.

DEP will fund 75 percent of the development of the plan and its execution with the county funding the remaining 25 percent, she said.

Stormwater management planning is undertaken in two phases: Phase I, the preparation of a scope of study, and Phase II, the actual plan preparation. Pike County is currently reviewing a draft agreement for a Phase I Watershed Management Plan Grant for all the watersheds in Pike County.

“The first phase of such projects usually costs around $15,000 or $20,000,” Beecher said. “The phase-two part usually costs between $150,000 to $200,000.”

Another aspect in carrying out the law is how to connect with neighboring counties that share the same watersheds. Wayne County shares the Lackawaxen River watershed and the Wallenpaupack Creek watershed.

“We are interested in involving Wayne County in our plans but aren’t sure if they wish to participate,” Beecher said. “It would seem to make sense to develop one plan for one watershed and not a number of them. We hope that they will participate. If they don’t, we will do the best we can. The main thing is for us to work with the local townships to develop their own storm water plans.”

“I don’t see the necessity of collaborating with Pike County,” said Wayne County planning director Ed Coar. “Each county is to develop a plan for their own watersheds. It’s really not an issue.”