Three county men named to statewide water-use study panel
A Fayette County panel overseeing the future water needs of the county initiated a long-range program with the nomination of three local officials to serve on a state panel that will assess statewide water usage. The panel preparing the county’s water master plan nominated Bob Softcheck, general manager of North Fayette County Municipal Water Authority; Roger Uhazie, South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club and Yough Area Fisherman’s Association; and Robert C. Junk Jr. of Fayette Forward and Fayette Enterprise Community for membership on the Ohio Basin Regional Committee during a meeting last week of the panel.
The coalition also named Daniel J. Barton, Crouse and Company director of technical operations, to be considered for a seat on the state committee.
Crouse and Company is assisting the county with its preparation of a long-range water plan. The Somerset County Commissioners also nominated Barton to serve on the state panel.
Under the new water resources planning act, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is required to develop a water usage plan over the next five years to address future needs by industry, agriculture and consumers.
“Establishing the appropriate balance between water supply, industrial, recreational and any number of other interests will be the most difficult challenge that the (DEP) faces in creating the state water plan,” said Rep. James E. Shaner, D-Dunbar.
“I believe these four nominees will be valuable resources in working to strike that balance.”
Shaner has spearheaded the local coalition that sought to halt hefty withdrawals from the Youghiogheny River by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC).
Through negotiations with the Westmoreland County water supplier and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees the state waterways, the authority will not consider any withdrawals from the Youghiogheny River until April 2007 and the corps will allow any water supplier to contract with the agency to utilize available storage space at the Youghiogheny Reservoir.
Initially, MAWC had requested authorization to draw an additional 17 million gallons of water daily from the river and reserve storage space for the allocation in the reservoir.
Shaner, meanwhile, said it is vital Fayette County have representation on the committee to ensure its needs are not bypassed as a water usage plan is developed statewide.
“We may not get everyone on the committee, but we have some very good nominees that have the county’s best interest at heart,” he said. “We have been successful in delaying one blow to our region, we don’t want to be blind-sided again.”
The local coalition also directed Crouse and Company to begin drafting a work plan for the second phase of the county long-range program that is slated to include the development of a water quality monitoring team, formulating a technical advisory committee and discussion with MAWC concerning a bulk sales agreement.
The panel is looking to solicit interest from local high school science classes, sportsmen’s groups and other volunteers to monitor the Youghiogheny River and compile the information.
The monitoring plan is being considered in connection with the corps’ decision to revise its water release schedule that the coalition believes will harm the waterway.
“(The corps report) is significantly lacking in critical data both from input and participation from the planning commissions, engineering firms and various agencies that represent the numerous municipalities throughout the Youghiogheny watershed,” said Uhazie. “The lack of data concerning sewage treatment, septic systems, population growths, wetlands, storm water, stream encroachment, non-point pollution sources or controls are issues that directly affect water quality.”
The local coalition will utilize the collected monitoring data to reinforce its case should the corps’ revised release schedule alter the water quality of the river.