Project hinges on funding
SALTLICK TWP. – Efforts undertaken by the Mountain Watershed Association for the remediation of the Indian Creek Watershed and its tributaries could be thwarted under President George W. Bush’s proposed budget for 2008 that eliminates funding for such projects across the nation. To what extent the project would be impacted, however, remains unclear at this time, according to Beverly Braverman, MWA executive director.
“We were completely blindsided by this,” said Braverman.
Mike Sykes, National Watershed Coalition (NWC) chairman, said Bush’s proposed budget for next year calls for zero funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program.
“This lack of proposed funding, if approved by Congress, would have a devastating effect on watershed projects across the nation,” said Sykes.
The MWA entered the final phase of a $2.3 million project in September with the construction of a permanent treatment system to the Anna and Steve Gdosky Indian Creek Restoration project, also known as the Kalp discharge clean-up site.
Braverman added the project is the largest taken on for the last seven years by the nonprofit organization with funding provided by a $1.66 million grant issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation through a Growing Greener Grant in addition to $519,730 from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“It just rips these partnerships apart,” Braverman said.
According to Braverman, the MWA has received several million in funding over the years from the USDA for the design, engineering and project development costs, which under the resolution would no longer be forthcoming.
“No inspectors, no design work, no new projects,” said Braverman.
In addition, Braverman said the Public Law 566 Plan that MWA and other watersheds use as a guide for comprehensive remediation would no longer receive the funding or the manpower to complete it.
Sykes said the Bush Administration’s budget proposal comes on the heels of the House passage of a continuing resolution earlier this month, which eliminates funding for the Watershed Operations account for the current year.
“We understand the need to fund the war on terrorism and other national priorities, but we also have communities across the nation that are working on projects that protect the health and safety of citizens that also need help,” said Sykes.
Both Sykes and Braverman agreed the proposed reduction in funding would delay construction, increase future costs and could put lives in danger and property at risk.
According to Sykes, the budget is proposing $6 million for rehabilitation of aging flood control dams and with more than 900 watershed dams across the nation, the need for rehabilitation in the next five years alone would cost more than $570 million.
If the dams were to fail as they get older, Sykes said millions of people and property would be put at risk, which is why Congress authorized $600 million for rehabilitation from 2003 to 2007 in the last Farm Bill.
For 2008, Sykes said the NWC is recommending $35 million for watershed planning, $190 million for watershed operations and $75 million for rehabilitation of aging watershed dams.
The USDA watershed program provides an important infrastructure to thousands of communities in all 50 states while investment over the last 50 years has created a $15 billion national infrastructure that is providing $1.5 billion in annual benefits to 47 million people in 2,000 watershed projects.
Sykes added that local watershed project sponsors provide 35 percent of the cost of the rehabilitation projects and many have local cost-share funds ready in the event the federal money is not made available to them.
“It’s not like the money is funding our salaries,” said Braverman.