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Meeting Minutes

White Clay Creek Watershed

Management Committee

September 18, 2002, 1-3PM

London Grove Township Building

London Grove Township, PA

Attendees:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 06/12/2002

• A Motion was made by Dorothy Miller and seconded by Louis Kirkaldie to approve the minutes of June 12, 2002. The Motion was unanimously approved by those members in attendance.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:

Open Space Subcommittee

Robert Lonsdorf (Brandywine Conservancy) reported that the subcommittee is currently working on several maps for prioritizing parcels for conservation within the watershed. Priorities include forested areas, agricultural parcels, wildlife corridors, rare and endangered species, and wild and scenic river designated areas. Robert stated that there will be public access to the data the subcommittee is collecting, however, specific species will not be identified. Municipalities will be told about the work of the subcommittee and will be consulted to see what information the Municipalities and the Counties already have. Robert indicated that the subcommittee would meet at the conclusion of today’s Management Committee meeting anyone interested in volunteering for this subcommittee should attend that meeting.

Recreational Trails

Jake Michael (Chester County Planning) reported that he had met with Kyle Gulbronson (DNREC) to discuss developing a watershed wide recreational trail map. DNREC will take the lead in putting the map together. Chester County will provide information to DNREC for the Pennsylvania portion of the watershed. Map details and an agreement between Chester County and DNREC are being worked on.

Education

Kristen Travers ( Stroud Water Research) reported that the subcommittee is working on several initiatives: watershed awareness (signage); a website, along with links and a brochure; a newsletter and a "mini" grant program to leverage with other existing programs. The subcommittee is looking at existing websites that partners already have up and running and other newsletters that are being published within the watershed as possible vehicles for the Management Committee to use.

Fish and Wildlife

Judy Shuler (Vollmer Associates) reported that the Fish and Wildlife subcommittee is working closely with the Open Space subcommittee for the time being. At the moment the Fish and Wildlife subcommittee is reviewing the maps being prepared for conservation prioritization.

PRESENTATION BY ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY – NEW GARDEN TWP. WELL:

Joe D’Nunzio, John Houghton and Nancy Parker representatives of Artesian Water Company, gave a presentation on the New Garden Township well that Artesian Water Company owns and manages. The Artesian representatives discussed the history and the existing permits for the former Wilkinson well which was purchased by Artesian early this year. Currently the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has issued a permit for the well to pump up to 75 gallons per minute or 108,000 gallons per day. In 1996 the Delaware River Basin Commission renewed an issuance of a 1986 permit allowing Wilkinson to pump 800,000 gallons per day from the well. Artesian was given grandfather status to pump that same amount. It was stated that Artesian has no immediate plans to pump beyond the 108,000 limit. Under existing Pennsylvania law, the DRBC must comply with the more stringent state standards, which leaves the 108,000 in place. It was indicated that PA DEP arrived at the 108,000 figure because they only look at what you need, not what is available.

Those in attendance were then given an opportunity to ask questions:

Under the original approvals how much was pumped for agriculture? The average was between 9-10 thousand gallons per day.

Was the affect on area wells considered in the original studies? Yes it was considered and the affect was negligible.

What is the depth of the well? The well is in the cockeysville marble formation.

How close is the nearest well? Were not sure, but could get the answer.

Were the test done at low flow? Were not sure if they were done during low flow, but could get the answer.

How long were the tests done? Were not sure how long the tests were conducted, but could get the answer.

Where is the water going in this aquifer and where is it coming from and where does it exit? Did not know the answer to this question but could find out.

Joe indicated that no test could answer all of the questions, experience will give us more answers. Joe stated that it is the policy of Artesian to supply water with "no harm to the environment."

If approved who would fund long term study of the well? PA DEP and DRBC continue to review the well, 108 gallons per minute to start and see what happens.

Denis Newbold stated that 1.1 cfs equals 108,000 gallons. At low flow (10-15cfs) which happened this past summer 1.1cfs represents a significant amount of flow.

Will this well only serve New Garden Township? Yes.

Will you take water to Delaware? No.

Is Broad Run Ridge Subdivision being served by Artesian’s Hockessin well? Yes.

Is Artesian interested in helping to fund conservation acquisitions? No. Artesian must go back to the Public Utilities Council for permission to undertake such an activity. We must answer to our rate payers. We are supportive but any action that we take must not be burdensome on the rate payers.

Any conservation acquisitions in DE? No.

It was stated that the Broad Run Subdivision is serviced by the Hockessin well…Is there the potential for co-mingling of water from Pennsylvania with that of Delaware? Yes. The infrastructure is in place, the water now flows from Delaware to Pennsylvania. We only want to serve New Garden Township.

Is it possible that you may cross connect and use the entire 108 gallons per minute allocation? We have the ability to use the entire allocation but only when there is the demand.

Could the demand be outside New Garden Township, say in London Britain Township or London Grove Township? Yes. We expect the demand in these townships to grow over time.

Are you limited by the pump size? No.

What is the potential yield for the Cockeysville Marble formation? No one knows for sure.

Has there been any subsidence as a result of over pumping in the Cockeysville Marble formation? No. In Hockessin we are not mining the water, not in anyone’s interest to over use the resource.

Is the Cockeysville Marble formation in Pennsylvania connected to that in Delaware? Not any easy question to answer we will have to get back to you on that.

What is the depth (elevation) of water in this area? We do not know, we will have to get back to you with an answer to this question.

Jake Michaels of Chester County Planning Commission noted that the Chester County Commissioners had adopted Watersheds yesterday. The Watersheds plan will be sent out shortly.

Have any private wells gone dry near Artesian wells in the past? No.

Are private wells connected to your system? Yes there are some private wells connected to our system. How many? Maybe a handful.

Are there any conditions on your permit for operating the well during low water? In Delaware we have draw down limits, we must stop pumping once we reach a certain level. The draw down is based on geology and history. The Piedmont does not react to surface conditions. We use monitoring wells to help supply information.

The representatives from Artesian apologized for not being able to answer all of the questions and indicated that they would supply answers to the questions they missed today and would accept any other questions that the Management Committee had and provide the answers in writing. They also agreed to supply the Management Committee with copies of the 2001 Aquifer Test Report and the 1984 Hydro-geologic Study for the Wilkinson Well.

A number of questions were submitted by Management Committee members for Artesian to answer. In late October Artesian submitted to the National Park Service copies of the 2001 and 1984 well studies and the answers to the submitted questions. Artesian’s answers were distributed to the Management Committee members and mailing list and they will become an attachment to these minutes. Artesian Water Company also agreed to meet with the Management Committee again to go over any further questions or clarifications that may be necessary.

PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION ROUTE 41 ENHANCEMENT PROJECT:

Michael Girman from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PA DOT) gave a presentation on the status of the Route 41 Enhancement Project. Mike was joined by Deb Hanson and Robert Nuss both from KCI Technologies, the major consultant on this project for PA DOT. Mick stated that PA DOT was invited to look at Route 41 by Chester County. PA DOT undertook the study to look at several road issues including: potholes, shoulders and safety. PA DOT is currently working to complete the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) and will ultimately complete a Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS) and a Record of Decision.

PA DOT has contacted all affected parties and is in the process of studying various alternatives including a "no-build" scenario. Each alternative has various and different impacts on various resources. Detailed engineering studies have been completed on all of the alternatives. A Citizens Advisory Committee has met 19 times. The Citizens Advisory Committee has requested that PA DOT look at the the type of roadway and what the median will look like, the CAC also would like to know if the bypass can accommodate pedestrians. The DEIS is expected to be released late next spring and PA DOT will conduct public hearings in late summer. PA DOT hopes to have a Record of Decision by the end of 2003.

Several bypasses were looked at, two were dismissed by the Army Corps of Engineers. The bypasses in the DEIS will have the minimum width of crossing over the White Clay Creek. The growth of volume of traffic is about ¼ % per year. 57% of the traffic volume is starting and ending trips outside of the study area. There is a high volume of trucks, 16% is heavy tractor trailers (18 wheelers), in contrast I95 is about 11% of volume. PA DOT has also analyzed bypasses as one lane in each direction.

Lou Kirkaldie interjected that roads will bottleneck when you go from two lanes down to one. Mike indicated that this should not happen with new light system.

Judy Shuler asked how PA DOT has addressed the Wild and Scenic designation. Mike indicated that they have looked at the shortest crossing with a single span (600 ft.) and will incorporate aesthetics in to the design of the bridges and retaining walls (stone facing).

Lou Kirkaldie asked if the the DEIS will include a "no truck" alternative. Mike stated that the DEIS will not include a no truck alternative.

Lou Kirkaldie asked about wetland mitigation. Mike Girman indicated that PA DOT will meet with the Army Corps of Engineers work out what mitigation needs to be done. Mike also indicated that PA DOT expects that the project will impact less than 3 acres of wetlands.

Robert Lonsdorf stated that while the wetlands impact may be low, historically the region had much more wetlands, there has been a tremendous loss of wetlands historically. Mike Girman indicated that 20 acres of existing wetlands have been identified within the study area.

Robert Lonsdorf asked whether outside parties that are not yet involved with the study process could get involved with the wetland mitigation location. Mike Girman indicated that they could.

Dorothy Miller stated that Wild and Scenic River concerns were more than just the crossing of the White Clay Creek, it really depends on which alternative is selected. Dorothy also stated that real stone facing on crossing structures was much better than fake. Dorothy also noted that longer crossings and spans would have less of an impact on the White Clay Creek.

Judy Shuler asked if houses would be eliminated if the Rt. 41 bypass is not built. Mike Girman indicated that houses would need to eliminated if the bypass around Avondale was not built.

Bill Stulken asked if shoulders were part of the new design. Mike Girman indicated that new shoulders were part of the widening.

Jake Michael asked if tourism was addressed in the DEIS and could Wild and Scenic River Signage be part of the new design. Mike Girman indicated that tourism was addressed in the DEIS under socioeconomic impacts and that Wild and Scenic River signage could be incorporated in the new designs.

Dennis Newbold stated that there is the potential for a dramatic increase of impervious surfaces within the White Clay Creek watershed as a direct result of this project, direct site impacts will pale in comparison the the level of new development that this road improvement project will generate. Denis indicated that the secondary impacts will be the most serious.

Denis stated that some rough calculations that were done indicate that the Rt. 41 improvement project would generate 5000 new residents and impact several hundreds of acres with new residential development; and would consume an additional million gallons per day of ground water. These would be severe impacts within the White Clay Creek watershed.

Mike Girman stated that both PA DOT and Chester County recognize the secondary impacts from the project. Chester County hired a firm to look into these issues. What we have found is that yes new development is coming to the area. However, this new development would come to the area whether the road improvements are made to Rt. 41 or not.

Bill Stulken asked if the Rt. 41 is overloaded now. Mike Girman stated that Rt. 41 is overloaded and will only get worse if nothing is done.

Bob Chartowich asked if PA DOT looked at a two lane bypass for trucks only. Mike indicated that that alternative was analyzed.

Judy Shuler stated that she thought that the objective of the White Clay Creek Watershed Management Committee was to supply information to the community and that it was not our charge to align ourselves with any other groups or organizations; we need to address only environmental concerns.

Fred Muller asked if bypasses were necessary if Rt. 41 is just widened. Mike Girman stated that the bypasses were still necessary even if the road is widened. Fred then asked if there would be no environmental impacts if only the road was widened. Mike indicated that there still would be environmental impacts they would just be different.

THE NEXT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE:

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2002

LONDON BRITAIN TOWNSHIP BUILDING

LONDON BRITAIN, PA

The meeting was adjourned at 4PM.