niedbala@observer-reporter.com

JEFFERSON - Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority will continue to develop a plan to turn the Wisecarver Reservoir in Franklin Township into a recreational area.

Authority manager Joe Simatic told the authority board Thursday that a meeting would be held May 21 with local officials and local and state agencies to discuss the project.

The project includes not only developing the 360-acre reservoir property into a public recreation area but also repairing the reservoir dam.

The authority applied for a grant to prepare the recreation plan at the request of the state Department of Conservation and National Resources. DCNR suggested the property be used as an "alternative" recreation site while Duke Lake at Ryerson Station State Park is being restored.

Southwestern was forced to partially drain the 18.5-acre reservoir two years ago after gabion on the downstream face of the dam was found to have moved. A study determined the dam is structurally sound and estimated repairs at $2 million.

The authority agreed to commit $350,000, the costs of demolition the dam, to the repair project. The bulk of the costs is expected to come through a $1.5 million allocation in a state capital budget bill, which still must be approved by the Legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell.

Simatic reported Thursday that Foundation Coal Co. also has given the authority $125,000 to help pay engineering costs for the dam repair project.

The coal company has had an agreement with the authority under which the authority releases water from the reservoir during drought to Ten Mile Creek, from which the company's Emerald Mine draws water.

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