Snow seems like the most common precipitation for the foreseeable future, but the Jacobs Creek Watershed Association is already planning a stormwater management project for 2015 in Mt. Pleasant Borough and part of Mt. Pleasant Township, according to Patty Miller, the entity's former executive director and current member of the group.
“We're planning to work all over Mt. Pleasant,” Miller said.
The Scottdale-based association recently received grant funding to finance the design of a three-phase project planned for sites in the borough and township, she said.
The funding is from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's stormwater management program, and it is being administered by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Terms of the funding were not disclosed.
Upon completion, the proposed initiative would alleviate local flooding, storm sewer system overflows, stream bed and stream bank degradation of Shupe Run and Jacobs Creek in sections of both municipalities developed with impervious surfaces, Miller said.
The association has contracted the Markosky Engineering Group Inc. of Ligonier to produce project designs, she said.
The project will require the installation of a variety of environmentally friendly, storm water management tools, including rain gardens, retention basins, curb extensions and inlets during the project's phases.
The proposed sites for each project phase are:
• Route 31 (Main Street)
• Area surrounding Kennedy Avenue
• Shop ‘n Save parking lot along North Diamond Street.
“It's a large project; it encompasses a lot,” Miller said. “Usually, we would do just one of those projects; but the design is for all three.”
Main Street work would be a first
For the tentative project along Main Street in the borough, engineers would work with PennDOT District 12, which is responsible for the roadway, and the borough, which owns the storm sewer system, according to the association's proposal for design funding.
The goal is to reduce stormwater runoff along the thoroughfare, as all such water currently flows into the curb ditch or into inlets that discharge directly into Shupe Run, the proposal states.
“In areas where everything is paved, rain water hits the streets and rooftops and drains into the waterway, carrying pollutants, at a velocity that eventually leads to the erosion of the stream bank,” Miller said.
The borough will commit to the maintenance of the designed infrastructure, the proposal states.
“Main Street has never had stormwater management, I think, from the CoGo's down to the Doughboy,” said Jeff Landy, the borough's manager.
“It's not like we're updating something, this will be the first time in the history of the borough that we've had stormwater management on Main Street,” Landy said.
“I'm personally happy we're making good progress with the help of (association president) Mike Barrick in cooperation with PennDOT with the Main Street issue.”
Kennedy Avenue work to reduce stream bank erosion
The proposed project in the area of Kennedy Avenue in the township would address necessary improvements to the storm water system on the large, broad passage adjacent to Shupe Run, which discharges stormwater in an area noted for stream bank erosion, the proposal states.
Engineers would work with township officials and the association, the proposal states, to aid in the reduction of stormwater flows and accompanying pollutants to the stream.
Construction funding sought for Shop ‘n Save site
The association is already seeking ways to finance the proposed retrofitting of large, impervious parking lot at the Shop ‘n Save site, also in the township, she said.
“We've actually applied for grant funding through that same program for construction there,” she said.
For that project phase, engineers would work with the property owner, Krystyniak Family Limited Partnership, township officials and the association to retrofit the lot with rain gardens and infiltration beds, the proposal states.
“Any time you can save the environment and get another organization to help out, it's a win-win,” said Jack Rutkowski, chairman of the township's board of supervisors.
Proposed initiative would extend past borough efforts
The association's proposed initiative would extend past efforts by Landy and borough officials, which resulted in the 2009 allocation of roughly $475,000 in federal grant funding used to install rain gardens throughout the borough, including the first residential ones of its kind in the state.
“I'm delighted to see we're still moving forward with a continuation of more projects of a similar nature,” Landy said.
“For the borough, and also in some respects for the township, these projects will solve problems that we've had for many years. This is just a continuation of what this borough has been trying to do to solve these problems.”
Barrick said the planned work is also designed to invigorate the natural aesthetic at the chosen sites, in addition to improving stormwater management facilities.
“It's (primarily) meant to enhance Main Street with environmentally friendly, best management practices,” he said.
A.J. Panian is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-547-5722 or apanian@tribweb.com.
