Posted on April 6, 2022
CURWENSVILLE LAKE, Pa. —
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has released the Draft 2022 Curwensville Lake Master Plan (“2022 Master Plan”) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Curwensville Lake Project, located in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and is seeking comments and feedback from the public until May 3, 2022.
“The 2022 Draft Plan is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by the USACE team, our partners, stakeholders and members of the public,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. Estee Pinchasin. “We look forward to continued public feedback and remain committed to ensuring the final revised Master Plan provides a framework for consistent, responsible decision-making at Curwensville Lake Project for the next 15 to 25 years.”
Overall, the Proposed Action includes implementation of the 2022 Master Plan to reflect changes in land management classifications to align with current USACE regulations and guidance that have occurred since the 1968 Master Plan was drafted, and coordinate this process with the public. The 2022 Master Plan refines land classifications to be consistent with authorized project purposes and current resource objectives. This includes a mix of natural resource and recreation management objectives that are compatible with regional goals established by stakeholders and USACE during the master planning process, recognize outdoor recreation trends, and are responsive to public comment.
Additionally, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the District has assessed the potential impacts of the 2022 Master Plan on the natural, cultural and human environment. The EA determined negligible impacts would occur to the following resources: air quality, greenhouse gases and climate, noise, geology, cultural resources, groundwater, utilities, socioeconomics and environmental justice, and traffic and transportation. No impacts are anticipated on water, soil and biological resources from implementation of the 2022 Master Plan.
Implementation of the 2022 Master Plan would result in beneficial impacts to land use and recreation. The new land classifications maintain high-density and low-density recreation areas and identify recreation as the primary land use in these areas. These land classifications allow for future high- and low- density recreational development as appropriate in these areas. Based on the preliminary findings in the draft EA, USACE anticipates issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
USACE will consider all comments received within the 30-day comment period in the preparation of the Final Master Plan and EA. The Draft 2022 Master Plan, accompanying EA, previous master plan and additional information can be found on the USACE Curwensville Lake Master Plan Revision website at https://go.usa.gov/xzeB2.
A printed copy of the Draft Plan can also be reviewed at the following locations:
- Clearfield County Public Library – 601 Beech Street, Curwensville, PA 16833
- Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library – 1 S. Front Street, Clearfield, PA 16830
If you would like to request a public meeting to discuss the 2022 Master Plan and the associated EA or if you have any questions, please contact Melanie Mathesz at (410) 962-6093 or at Melanie.K.Mathesz@usace.army.mil. Individuals wishing to provide comments or request additional information may contact Mrs. Mathesz at the email address above. Additionally, questions and/or comments can be submitted at the USACE Curwensville Lake website or mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division, Subject: Curwensville Lake, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201.
For more information, please visit https://go.usa.gov/xzeB2.
About Curwensville Lake
The Curwensville Lake project has prevented an estimated $302.7 million in flood damages for the local community since its construction was completed in 1965. Curwensville is located on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Clearfield County, Pa. It is 13 miles southwest of Clearfield and 30 miles southeast of DuBois, Pennsylvania.
Curwensville Dam is an earthfill structure with a spillway and a gate-controlled outlet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 119,467 acre-feet at spillway crest and extends 14 miles upstream when filled to that level. The project controls a drainage area of 365 square miles or 98 percent of the West Branch at Curwensville and 75 percent at Clearfield. The project reduces flood heights along the West Branch below the dam and provides a lake for recreation.
Clearfield County operates and maintains the recreation area which includes a beach, boat launch, picnic areas, athletic fields, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, and a 43 site campground.
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Baltimore District celebrates 175 years of Service to our Nation
Since the Nation’s fight for independence, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has played a vital role in developing our Nation. The Baltimore District has a long and storied history that extends as far back as the early 1800s when USACE constructed Fort McHenry, successfully shielding Baltimore against British attacks in the War of 1812. And when the threat of coastal attack diminished in the 1820s, Baltimore District turned its attention to developing roadways, railways, canals, and more, marking the beginning of the District’s Civil Works mission. Baltimore District delivers vital engineering solutions in collaboration with its partners to serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risks. Baltimore District has an extensive flood risk management program, inspecting nearly 150 miles of levee systems and operating 16 dams, translating to the prevention of more than $16 billion of flood damages to date. The district maintains 290 miles of federal channels, including dredging the Baltimore Harbor, which material is beneficial mainly for restoration missions, such as the expansion of Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay. The district has vast ecosystem restoration missions that include restoring native oyster populations in the Bay. Baltimore District is the only district to operate a public utility — the Washington Aqueduct — that produces an average of 135 million gallons of drinking water per day at two treatment plants for approximately one million citizens living, working, or visiting the National Capital Region. The district also cleans up formerly used defense sites, decommissions and deactivates former nuclear power plants, and performs cleanup of low-level radioactive waste from the Nation’s early atomic weapons program. Baltimore District executes a robust military construction program and provides real estate services. These civil and military missions and diverse engineering services support communities and warfighters while addressing the ever-growing list of emerging national security requirements and ultimately protecting the Nation.
For more information, please visit www.nab.usace.army.mil/.
