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6/13/2009 3:34 AM

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By Zac Taylor, Staff writer

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

In a mere 25 years, Canonsburg Lake will revert back to its original form.

Because of natural silt build-up, what once was a recreational haven for boaters and fishermen and home to dozens of species of fish and amphibians will become a 76-acre mud flat, void of utility and fun, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined recently.

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But some are taking action to keep the lake from becoming a useless swampland, including four elementary school girls who are just plain mad about the whole thing.

GETMAD, which stands for Girls Empowered To Make A Difference, is a community service organization created by twins Shannon and Erin Hannegan, both 11, and sisters Catherine Mavrich, 11, and Angela Mavrich, 10. The girls chose to support the Canonsburg Lake Restoration Project as their first GETMAD fundraiser.

The Army Corps of Engineers estimated that the total cost to restore the lake will be about $6.1 million. The state will foot 65 percent of the bill if local organizations can match 35 percent of the total cost. The Canonsburg Lake Restoration Project has raised $800,000 so far, Chairwoman Debra Valentino said.

"We thought it was a good cause, because we go to the lake a lot," Angela Mavrich said. All four girls said their families often take them to the lake to fish.

The girls decided to go on a bike trip to Washington, D.C., to raise the funds for the project. The 320-mile ride from the Montour Trail inlet in McMurray to the nation's capital will take the girls and their parents about a week to complete, said Ellen Mavrich, mother of Angela and Catherine.

Most of the cost of the restoration will be to dredge the lake. Currently, according to Valentino, just one-third of the lake is accessible to boats because silt has built up and made many parts shallow. The dredging also will create more spawning areas for the dozen fish species that call the lake home.

"We're proud that the girls have embraced our mission to save the lake for future generations," she said.

The girls and their chaperoning parents left Friday. For their one-week journey, they expect to travel an average of 35 miles per day. Sponsors of the ride can pledge a per-mile donation or a flat rate.

Once the girls get to Washington, they said they want to visit the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial.

Those interested in becoming sponsors should call Debra Valentino at 724-746-4664.

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