18622_Authority_August_Web

municipalauthorities.org | 11 b. long-term 35% sediment load reduction necessary to meet the prescribed Waste Load Allocations (WLAs) for Paxton Creek TMDL; c. 10% sediment load reduction for the Municipal Entities’ combined Chesapeake Bay Planning Areas (Joint Planning Area); d. 10% sediment load reduction for Wildwood Lake; and e. 10% sediment load reduction for the UNT to Spring Creek. The Paxton Creek TMDL program requirement was based on the existing sediment load of 3,630,159 (lb./yr), 35% sediment reduction is 363,106 lbs. The overall program requirement was based on the existing sediment load of 16,943,984 (lb./yr). The overall plan requirement of 10% reduction amounts to a total sediment reduction of 1,694,398 lbs. to be achieved over the 5-year period, which also achieved the required TMDL reductions. The JPRP Engineer for the Cooperative, HRG and Land Studies, was required to propose BMP’s (stream Bank restoration projects) needed to achieve the sediment reduction requirements utilizing the Model My Watershed approach. A total of thirteen (13) BMPs were selected at an estimated cost of $12,795,000. The initial JPRP was submitted to the PADEP in 2017. The JPRP was finalized and submitted in early 2019. In August 2020, the Paxton Creek Cooperative received approval of the JPRP, and each party received the MS4 Individual Permits from PADEP. The overall program goal of 1,693,398 lbs. of sediment removal is required to be achieved within 5 years of PADEP’s issuance of each Municipal Entities’ Individual MS4 Permit, or a deadline of July 31, 2025. Joint Pollutant Reduction Plan Implementation - Revised ICA and PennDOT Collaboration The Cooperative began preparations in May 2020 to implement the JPRP, in anticipation of the parties receiving the published MS4 PADEP NPDES permits. On May 28, 2020, the parties entered into the new Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (ICA) to implement the JPRP/Sediment Reduction Projects . The cost allocations for each party were determined by using the Joint Planning Area Baseline Sediment Load by Municipality. These values were compared to the percentage of land area within the watershed . The Lower Paxton cost share is 57%, Susquehanna 27% and CRW (City of Harrisburg area) at 16%. To focus the impact of their project stormwater management efforts with those planned through the host municipalities, the Paxton Creek Cooperative approached PennDOT, shared the joint plan, and discussed the economic and water quality benefits of PennDOT joining the collaborative approach. The Cooperative received PADEP acknowledgement of the expanded partnership with approval of the load reduction allocations to each party as part of the pollutant reduction plan obligations in the NPDES permits for their respective municipal separate storm sewer systems. The Paxton Creek Cooperative benefited immediately from the Commonwealth’s expanded procurement flexibility, as PennDOT prepared, issued and awarded a design-build contract to construct the Paxton Creek Watershed Sediment Reduction Project in Dauphin County to reduce sediment pollution. Pennsylvania municipalities and municipal authorities are restricted to a conventional design-bid-build approach to construction. The design-bid approach to stream restoration yielded substantial savings, as qualified contractors take the responsibility of identifying and performing the most cost-effective stretches of work from all the opportunities presented in our Joint Plan. CRW was designated to take the lead under the ICA and administer the JPRP collaboration with PennDOT. CRW and PennDOT entered into a Contribution Agreement to define costs and credit sharing. PennDOT contributed $1,000,000 which was matched by the Paxton Creek Cooperative, establishing a $2,000,000 project. PennDOT awarded First Pennsylvania Resources, L.C.C. (RES) the Paxton Creek Watershed Sediment Reduction Project to furnish an annual total pounds of sediment reduction of 573,252 (lbs.) which is equivalent to 34% of the total sediment reduction required in the 5-year permit cycle. RES submitted the BMP design plan and associated baseline sediment loadings, reductions and effectiveness calculations in accordance with the PADEP guidance Veterans Park in Susquehanna Township Continued on page 60.