By Barbara S. Miller

Staff writer

bmiller@observer-reporter.com

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional jumping-off point for summer recreation, but anglers and boaters won't find much to do at the now-drained Dutch Fork Lake near Claysville.

Another summer event, however, looms in June.

It's the deadline for passing the state budget, and local officials are hoping to find some earmarks to benefit not only Dutch Fork, but also Canonsburg Lake.

Gov. Ed Rendell's "Rebuilding Pennsylvania" program on infrastructure repair has identified 24 state-owned "high-hazard dams" that need to be made safe by 2010.

The state Fish and Boat Commission manages 16 of these dams, including Dutch Fork and Canonsburg.

At a meeting of local and state officials Thursday, it was noted that the Canonsburg Lake dam, constructed in 1943, is listed as "high-hazard" because there are now different standards in effect.

If Canonsburg dam were built today, it would have to be anchored to bedrock. Repairs to Canonsburg dam would not require draining the 76-acre lake.

Dutch Fork dam's concrete spillway was damaged during the record rainfall in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The dam did not break, but because of the spillway's condition, the lake was drained. What was once the 71-acre lake bottom now resembles a prairie.

The cost of rebuilding Dutch Fork is estimated at $6,150,600, up from $3.1 million in 2005. The cost of rebuilding Canonsburg dam is listed at $2,750,000, according to state documents. Just three years ago, the cost of repairing Canonsburg dam was set at $1.5 million.

"It's daunting," said Joan Jessen of Peters Township, who quips that she attends meetings like Thursday's wearing three hats: treasurer of the Washington County watershed alliance and an active member of the Chartiers Creek Watershed Association and the Save Canonsburg Lake Committee.

What Jessen said she finds daunting is the number of local dollars that must be raised as a match for state funds.

Clearing Canonsburg Lake of silt, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project, will cost another large chunk of cash. The corps requires a 35 percent match, so the Canonsburg Lake committee is looking for about $1.5 million. Jessen said foundations and corporate donors will be targeted in the fundraising effort.

Washington County Commission Chairman Larry Maggi noted that the Rendell budget calls for about half of the amount that's needed to bring back Dutch Fork Lake.

"We're hoping, we're pretty sure Dutch Fork will be a high priority," Maggi said. "It's one of three that's breached.

"I feel positive. This was one of many meetings, but the first one where they talked about real funding for it."

Maggi said state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, called the state budget "a ritualistic dance they do every year" and said the commissioners will be lobbying their state representatives and senators.

"Who knows what will come out of the political process?" Maggi wondered.

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