USDA Invites Public To Scoping Meeting for Middle Creek Watersheds
USDA-NRCS invites the public to attend a scoping meeting for the rehabilitation of the Middle Creek Watersheds on March 1, 2023.
The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) invites the public to attend a scoping meeting for the rehabilitation of the Middle Creek Watersheds. The meeting is in response to a request from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) to develop a dam rehabilitation plan for Walker Lake Dam (PA-637), located in the Middle Creek Watershed. Walker Lake Dam is located approximately one-half mile south of Troxelville in Snyder County, Pennsylvania (latitude 40.7967, longitude -77.1963). Yearly inspections performed by the PFBC and the PA Department of Environmental Protection professional engineers ensure that the dam is safe and well maintained. However, several items have been identified that are out of compliance with current USDA-NRCS and Pennsylvania state dam safety criteria.
One of the initial steps in developing the rehabilitation plan for the dam is preparation of a Watershed Plan – Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA). The Plan-EA evaluates various alternatives, including rehabilitation and decommissioning among others, and determines the best alternative for the flood detention structures that meet current State Dam Safety and NRCS design standards
You are invited to attend one of two Scoping Meetings, scheduled for Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 at 2:00PM and 6:00PM, at the Snyder County Conservation District Office (10541 Route 522, Middleburg, PA 17842).
The purpose of the meetings is to obtain resource information and concerns associated with the rehabilitation of the watershed resources early in the planning process. Topics will include public participation, project objectives, an outline of the planning process and the role of technical entities, participating agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
For those who prefer to participate virtually, a meeting invitation is available.
Details of the virtual meeting, comments and questions may be directed to Mark Buckwalter, PE, at mark.buckwalter@usda.gov or (717) 237-2245 by February 22 for remote participation details.