Posted by
Bohn on Saturday November 20, 2010 2:30 pm
SUMMARY - SAVE CANONSBURG LAKE PROJECT
May 8, 2010
Canonsburg Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project:
Total cost: $6.1 million dollar project.
· 65% of the project costs, about 4 million, from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Section 206 project budgeted funds
· 35%, $2.1 million, required in local funding.
This is an excellent opportunity to have a large project completed at one third of the cost. In addition, this project will provide construction, landscaping, and other job opportunities for local companies.
· PURPOSE: restore aquatic habitat by hydraulically dredging the main channel through the middle of the lake, and redistributing the dredged sediment in order to develop the existing mudflat areas into shallow water and wetland habitats suitable for fish and wildlife. Additional benefits of this project include increased boating, fishing, walking, and wildlife viewing opportunities for residents of and visitors to Washington County.
Fund-raising to date for Local Matching funds:
· “Preliminary recommended funding”: $500,000 by DCED; application submitted through Sen. John Pippy’s office. Notice received April 26, 2010.
· Budgeted by Peters and North Strabane Townships: $200,000 ($100,000 each).
· Requested $150,000, Richard King Mellon Foundation; request expected to be presented to the June meeting of the Board of directors
· In bank account, approximately $25,000 from local fund-raising (Tent Sales, Biker Girls, picnic, local organizations)
· Fund-raising letters sent to about 200 businesses and individuals—follow-up in progress.
· Have applied for 3 years for a portion of the Local Share of Gaming Funds—all denied.
Possible In-Kind Services as matching funds: Offsite Disposal of Dredged Material is budgeted at $568,539.20. “Offsite” here refers to filled geotubes placed on a portion of the adjacent property. If, however, some of the dredged material were taken elsewhere, management at Arden Landfill has indicated that material would be accepted there with no charge for disposal. That would qualify as in-kind services.
Contract with Army Corps of Engineers: to be signed by PA Fish and Boat Commission—paperwork in progress.
It is important to recognize that without the local matching funds, the $4 million in federal funding will no longer be available for this project. If nothing is done, in ten years time, there will be no more deep water; in 25 years, there will be no lake and the area will have returned to its original form as a stream plus a swampy marsh
