DATE: March 3, 2004

Pennsylvania NRCS Receives $2.9 Million to Continue Work in Neshaminy Creek Watershed

Harrisburg, PA—On Monday, March 1, 2004, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mack Gray joined other officals and homeowners on the banks of the Neshaminy Creek in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to announce that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has received $2.9 million in Watershed Operations funding to continue flood protection work in the Neshaminy Creek Watershed just north of Philadelphia.

With the elevated home of Chuck Horn as a backdrop, comments from homeowners and sponsors highlighted the work completed and what was still to come. “I’m glad to be here and see this firsthand,” said Deputy Under Secretary Gray of the additional 10-foot elevation behind him. “I really believe non-structural measures make sense to protect homes in urban areas.”

Initially authorized in 1967, the Neshaminy watershed project came to renewed public attention with flooding from Hurricanes Floyd and Allison in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Eight of the originally planned 10 dams were built by 1982 and have operated as planned. A 9^th dam was deleted from the project in 1996. After many public meetings, a supplemental plan was approved in December 2001 to replace the final dam with voluntary nonstructural measures, including buying out some homes, elevating others, flood-proofing businesses and some homes, as well as implementing a flood warning system.

“It is an emotional project for many people who have had to leave their homes permanently or at least while the flood protection work is taking place,” said Robin Heard, NRCS state conservationist. “We’re glad to be able to help them and prevent further flood damages to their homes.”

NRCS provided $1,397,000 in financial assistance to the sponsors in 2002 to begin the nonstructural measures of buying out and elevating some of the most flood-prone homes. Those funds have been provided through the NRCS Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program as authorized by Public Law-83-566. The County of Bucks, as local sponsors, also committed in excess of $1,000,000 in local funds. Some homes have been eligible for elevation or buyout under the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program.

To date, project activity has been initiated on over 90 houses. The initial project estimate was for 6 years at $17,900,000 ($13,750,000 federal and $4,150,000 local). However, contracts to elevate homes have been considerably more than initial engineering estimates, so future adjustments may be necessary. Project funds are being used to continue the design work and implementation of elevating and purchasing homes as prioritized by the sponsors.

The PL-83-566 program has also provided funding to other watershed projects in Pennsylvania for treating agricultural sediment and nutrient runoff, cleaning up abandoned mine drainage sites as well as providing flood protection. These projects improve communities’ water supply, fish and wildlife habitat, and water-based recreation areas.

For more information on PL-83-566, the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Project, contact Jeff Mahood, Watershed Planner, NRCS, 717-237-2215.

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