Penn Soil RC&D Council
RC&D : "The Catalyst for Community Improvement"

Announcements

Penn Soil RC&D Council has received a Pennsylvania DCED grant in the amount of $10,250 through the assistance of State Senator Mary Jo White.

During the summer of 2004, the United States was battered by a series of hurricanes, many of them reaching up into Pennsylvania to cause widespread flooding and damage from erosion from the resulting rainfall and runoff to streams.  This series of hurricanes produced one of the wettest summer construction seasons on record for Warren County and caused many structural problems for dams, bridges, and homes adjacent to streams.

 The concrete dam on Jackson Run in the village of Chandler’s Valley, Warren County, was damaged by floodwater flowing over and around the abutments.  This dam was built in the 1930’s by the Work Progress Administration (WPA) to serve as a resource for fire protection of the village and to provide recreational benefits such as swimming and fishing.  Although the fifty foot wide dam itself is structurally sound, the erosion around the abutments has exposed the abutment and footer of the dam threatening the function of the dam to impound a permanent pool of water.

Problem to be addressed

 If the eroded abutments of the dam are not stabilized, then this source of water will be lost as a source of water for the village and rural fire fighting efforts.  A constructed dry fire hydrant from the reservoir created by this dam now serves fire protection needs for a three mile radius.  In addition this reservoir serves as a nucleus for the revitalization of a community park.  It is a very popular location for trout fishing, camping, swimming, picnicking, and summer softball.  A local group of concerned citizens are in the process of improving the facilities and opportunities at this community park to revitalize the community of Chandler’s Valley and surrounding area of Sugar Grove Township.

 The local citizens group approached Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council in August, 2004, for assistance in restoring the dam.   Penn Soil RC&D is a non-profit organization serving residents of Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.   

 Subsequently, a team of engineering personnel from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service visited the site to perform an Inventory and Evaluation (I&E) of the problem and recommend corrective measures.  Due to the lateness in the summer construction season and anticipated delays in resolution of state permitting issues relative to working in the stream, a permanent repair solution was unlikely to occur before the onset of winter and unsuitable working conditions.  At the recommendation of NRCS engineers, the citizens group made temporary repairs using emergency sandbags to fill the eroded gully and shore up the exposed abutments until a more permanent solution could be designed and funded.

 In a cooperative arrangement with Penn Soil RC&D, NRCS engineers have provided a complete design and cost estimate for making a permanent repair to restore and protect this historic structure serving crucial needs of the community.  Since the revitalization of communities and improving the quality of life for rural residents is within our mission area, Penn Soil RC&D is willing to administer and carry out this project for accrued public benefits if funding becomes available to complete the repair and construction costs.

 Project Description

 The project consists of the replacement of the eroded earthen dam embankments with a well-compacted clay soil material against both sides of an existing concrete spillway to restore the dam to its original design.  However, the newly restored earthen embankments will be protected with geotextile fabric and rock armoring on both the upstream and downstream approaches to the dam preventing future erosion which might endanger the stability of the dam.  The rock armor will be keyed into the pool bottom and stream bottom of the exit channel on Jackson Run.  NRCS engineers estimate the actual construction cost to be $9650 to complete the necessary tasks.

 Work will be completed during the summer low flow period when the dam can be dewatered as much as possible.  Both spillway abutments will be excavated to design elevations, removing all temporary sandbags, logs, timbers, and debris that would interfere with satisfactory placement and compaction of the new clay material repairing the eroded abutments back to original elevations.  Approved soil material will be obtained from an off-site source and installed and compacted according to design specifications.   Rock riprap will be placed to armor and protect both upstream and downstream approach and exit channels.  All areas disturbed by construction at the site will be seeded, mulched, and restored to present a positive public image.  All work done under this project will meet NRCS Construction Standards and Specifications.

 The restoration of this landmark dam will preserve and maintain a reservoir that serves many purposes for the citizens of Chandler’s Valley and Sugar Grove Township including fire protection, recreation, aesthetics, and the revitalization of a community park.

Project was completed in October, 2007 by John Allen Construction