Lycoming County approves NRCS extension and $123,235.50 in grant-funded watershed work

The Lycoming County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a time extension with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, moving the deadline for emergency watershed projects to Sept. 27, 2025, and accepted $123,235.50 of additional work for the projects, county staff said.

County staff explained the extension and added work were needed because additional tasks arose while completing watershed repairs after recent storms. “Good news is it's still a 100% grant funded, and being picked up by NRCS, so there's no additional cost to the county,” Maya, a county staff presenter, said.

The additional work is intended to ensure the watershed projects perform as designed and do not change the flow of water in unintended ways. Commissioners asked whether the cost increase was tied to recent tropical storms; staff confirmed the extra work arose from storm-related conditions and that NRCS wrote the scope and oversees the engineering and construction.

County staff identified Carrie Ents as the person in charge of on-site oversight for the project. Commissioners also noted the conservation district is participating in on-site oversight alongside NRCS engineers.

The agreement approved by the board is a time-extension amendment to the county’s agreement with NRCS; the board voted to accept the amendment and the additional work. No county-match funds were required for the change.

Next steps include NRCS and its engineers completing the added work under the amended schedule and the county continuing routine coordination with the conservation district and NRCS.