Media turns out for update on Third St. Dam project
MEDIA >> The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection paid a courtesy call to the borough to provide information and a complete overview of upcoming actions at the Third Street Dam. Although sometimes in the background of overall activities, the dam/bridge issue is never far from the minds of those who live closest to the site.
DEP sent six representatives for a presentation, and more than 100 members of the public turned out for a standing-room-only session in the Parlor Room at borough hall. The first half hour was an opportunity to look at detailed plans for what is termed a “partial dam breach.” The layman’s understanding is that a top portion of the dam will be removed.
Among those present was Roger Adams, chief of the DEP Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands Division of Dam Safety. His colleagues had various areas of expertise and responsibility. They discussed many aspects of dams in general — history, safety, terms, form and function — as well as the particulars of Broomall Lake Dam. They noted, incidentally, Broomall is a manmade reservoir, not technically a lake (a natural body).
The breach is expected to begin in April, but another environmental issue must be first addressed.
“The project should take a maximum of about two months. A big part of this project will be relocation the turtles,” said Adams, who serves as the design engineer and construction manager.
Found in and around the site were Northern Red Bellied Turtles and Red-Eared Sliders, both protected species. Jack Kraeuter, a biologist with DEP Division of Wetlands Encroachment and Training, said a team will be collecting turtles prior to working on the breach, during and following work. The turtles will be found and “taken to new homes,” said Josh Fair, another DEP environmentalist.
The 55-page Power Point presentation included interesting visuals of dam failures over the more than the last century, notably the 1889 South Fork Dam failure, known as the Johnstown, Pa., Flood. Local residents have often been focused on Broomall Lake Dam’s classification as a “high hazard dam.” The category relates to population at risk and economic loss should a failure take place; however, it does not indicate or imply the potential of a failure.
Those attending had an allotted half hour for questions, which spilled over for at least another 15 minutes. Quickly the DEP panel deferred questions on dam design to the borough, as it was literally not their department. With regard to the gap between the breach and dam construction (not scheduled in 2017), it is due to the two separate agencies—DEP and PennDOT— which have different timelines.
Stephanie Gaboriault, of Parks Edge Lane, was a founder of the Friends of Glen Providence Park, and has been an early advocate of environmental stewardship.
“I thought the meeting was amazing and had very robust attendance. The presentation itself was excellent with very thorough information. I appreciate that DEP sent six people,” said Gaboriault.
The questions she noted concerned the turtles and ducks, but also why the DEP is allowing the dam to be rebuilt. Media Council President Brian Hall clarified this underlying matter, saying there is a court order and stipulation to rebuild.
Among important issues, Gaboriault said, was pedestrian access between Media and Upper Providence. DEP said that was not within their responsibility or budget. Gaboriault noted her group is still thinking of a way to fund a footbridge with fences on either side of Third Street.
“One good thing is that there is still access to the park, and we believe the breach will have minimal environmental impact on the park,” said Gaboriault.
The borough is continuing to work with Schnabel Engineering of West Chester on dam design. With flexibility for unforeseen circumstances, April 15 begins the turtle relocation; April 30 is the start of construction staging; June 29 is the anticipated completion of the partial breach project.
Third Street information can be found on borough’s website, www.mediaborough.com under the Public Works tab.