In response to questions raised this week by Ohio Senate President Bill M. Harris about the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District’s assessment program, the MWCD is pledging to fully brief all state legislators and public officials so they and the general public fully understand the process being used and the need for the plan.
The MWCD will present additional detailed information about its 20-year, $270-million maintenance and improvement plan to all state legislators in the Muskingum River Watershed so they are better equipped to answer constituent questions as the plan moves forward, said John M. Hoopingarner, MWCD executive director/secretary.
“With 2.2 million people living within our watershed, and with more than 700,000 parcels of land involved in the assessment, it is understandable that it takes some time for everyone to become knowledgeable about the plan and the process,” Hoopingarner said. “We appreciate the interest being expressed by our area representatives and by Sen. Harris and the legislative leadership. Because MWCD and all of the conservancy districts across Ohio play such an important role, it’s important that citizens know more about them.”
Hoopingarner said that MWCD will discuss in detail the latest budget plans, projected projects and how each community will be protected and benefit from the plan.
Earlier this week, Harris suggested the MWCD proceed more slowly with the process so more details could be provided and analyzed.
Hoopingarner said he agrees.
“Sen. Harris has made an important point about being sure everyone has the information they need,” Hoopingarner said. “We firmly believe that the more people learn about the history of the past seven decades, the better they will understand the MWCD and the need for the assessment.”
Since its inception, the MWCD system of reservoirs and dams has prevented more than $6 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to federal government estimates. An independent study of the potential benefits of the MWCD maintenance and improvement plan estimates that once enacted, the region will receive about $2.5 billion in future benefits compared to its initial $270-million investment. The plan also will lead to the protection and creation of much-needed jobs with contracts enacted with private firms for much of the work.
Projects that have been identified to be addressed over the 20-year time period include working with the federal government for dam safety improvements, as well as work on sediment removal, shoreline protection, water quality improvements, watershed management and reservoir operations. The MWCD manages the reservoirs behind the dams in the system, while the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates the dams.
MWCD officials have been discussing the plan and developing details of the assessment proposal since 2003, when the Court authorized work to begin. In 2005 alone, Conservancy District officials provided details about the plan in more than 40 public meetings and in dozens of presentations to business, social and professional groups and organizations.
“These meetings have been very valuable,” Hoopingarner said, “as more people learn about the MWCD and we learn more about the needs of the residents in the watershed.”
For more information, visit www.mwcd.org on the Internet.
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