Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Consultants say erosion is undermining Old Mill Run; recommend wetland review and grant pursuit
Summary
At the Oct. 20 New Freedom Borough Council meeting, America Consulting presented photos and a preliminary assessment showing channelization and bank undercutting along Old Mill Run, outlined stakeholder outreach and recommended targeted inspections, wetlands mapping and pursuing grant funding to pay for restoration and permitting work.
Andrew Ta and Steph Widner of America Consulting told borough council members they found undercut banks, channelized reaches and structural elements that accelerate stream velocity along Old Mill Run and increase erosion risk during storm events. "We have photos showing the banks are being undercut," Ta said in opening the presentation, then walked the council through recent storm impacts and engineering observations.
The consultants said they completed a limited wetlands investigation to identify areas that could affect permitting should structural work be required. They also described outreach to stakeholders with infrastructure in the corridor: PennDOT (adjacent Second Street), Verizon, and the North Central Railway, plus multiple private landowners. The consultants reported that the countywide stormwater program had been supportive in a separate East Township restoration they cited as a 100% grant-funded example.
They recommended a near-term program of visual inspections: a walk-through of stormwater basins and other drainage features to identify which facilities need repair and whether they are publicly or privately owned, so the borough can prioritize work and pursue funding when grant opportunities arise. Ta said the team will provide a list of candidate sites, a financial timeline and will return with details on how the upcoming MS4 permit requirements would affect the borough's obligations.
Council members asked about likely funding splits. Widner said some projects have been fully grant-funded in the past but that outcomes vary by program and partner; one example described county funding that funded an entire local stream restoration when a landowner provided access. The consultants confirmed they would provide the presentation PDF to borough staff and follow up with permit guidance and a more detailed financial timeline.
Next steps: the consultants will deliver the PDF and warranty of work notes to borough staff, provide a prioritized list of problem locations, and return to discuss MS4 permit impacts and permitting pathways once additional information is available.
