The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) is one step closer to implementation of a plan to safeguard the system of reservoirs and dams that reduce flooding and conserve water for public uses in the Muskingum River Watershed.
A ruling that confirms that the projected benefits are greater than the anticipated costs in the MWCD’s plan of maintenance for the reservoirs and dams was filed by the Conservancy Court today (Aug. 20). The Court, which by law has jurisdiction over the MWCD and consists of one common pleas court judge from each of the 18 counties in the MWCD region, recently heard testimony about the plan and the benefits it will produce.
Ohio law requires that the Court review the evidence and rule on it before the MWCD can proceed toward raising funds. The money will be used for maintenance and major rehabilitation projects for the aging system of reservoirs and dams in the watershed, and also will attract millions of dollars in federal funds to complete the work.
The ruling made by the Court today (Aug. 20) will permit the MWCD Board of Directors to vote on levying an assessment on property owners to fund the work to maintain and rehabilitate the aging infrastructure. The MWCD has projected that 94 percent of the estimated 500,000 parcels subject to the assessment would pay an annual fee of $12 per year.
The MWCD Board of Directors has scheduled a special meeting Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. in the Welcome Center at Zanesville where it is expected to consider levying an assessment that would begin in 2008. Projects under the plan also would begin in 2008. The Board meeting is a public session and the Welcome Center is located at 205 N. 5th St.
The MWCD asserted in testimony before the Conservancy Court that billions of dollars of projected benefits will come from its plan as compared to the $210 million that is expected to be collected through the assessment of property owners over the next 20 years. Witnesses testified that a whole range of benefits are received by the owners of property located within the MWCD region, including flood reduction, access, water quality, water supply, tourism spending impacts, land preservation, environmental quality and construction impact.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan for flood reduction and water conservation in the Muskingum River Watershed. By 1938, 14 reservoirs and dams were constructed. According to the MWCD’s plan, an estimated $10.5 million annually would be generated from property owners in the MWCD region for public health and safety projects to safeguard the system of reservoirs and dams.
In a study of the watershed, national, state and local experts and agencies identified more than $200 million worth of projects needed within the jurisdiction of the MWCD.
A large portion of the collected assessment funds would be used to meet federal cost-share obligations for safety repairs at several dams. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which owns and operates the dams in the Muskingum River Watershed, estimates safety costs for maintenance of four dams (Beach City, Bolivar, Dover and Mohawk) and one levee (Zoar) on a federal priority list is between $510 million to $680 million, with a federally mandated cost-share obligation from the MWCD of between $95 million to $135 million.
The MWCD manages the reservoir areas behind the dams in the Muskingum River Watershed. The reservoirs, some of which have permanent pools of water (lakes) for water conservation and recreation programs, hold floodwaters temporarily for safe release downstream during flooding conditions.
Most of the work to be completed in the MWCD maintenance plan, including partnering with the federal and state governments, as well as other local and interested participants, would be cost-shared with other agencies and would lead to the protection and creation of jobs in the region.
The work plan details the estimated costs and locations for projects to be completed in many categories, including:
- Dam Safety and Dam Safety Assurance
- Flood Warning and Dam Operations System
- Debris removal in streams
- Road relocation and elevation
- Property boundary survey
- Dredging reservoirs
- Reduction of shoreline erosion
- Assist with solutions to hydrogen sulfide production at the reservoirs
- Water quality monitoring
- Correction of acid mine drainage issues
- Reservoir inspection and maintenance
According to the Ohio law that regulates conservancy districts, the assessment fee is collected as a part of a property owner’s regular county property tax collection. Projected assessments can be reviewed online at the MWCD website at www.mwcd.org, and the MWCD also can be contacted toll-free at (877) 363-8500.
The MWCD has used the income from its recreational facilities and the stewardship of its lands, waters and other natural resources to fund all of its operations to date. This has included the funding of the local share required by federal law for dam repair work. The rising costs associated with safety upgrades and maintenance in the system of reservoirs and dams are more than the MWCD can generate from its traditional revenue sources.
The counties wholly or partially contained in the MWCD jurisdiction are Ashland, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Richland, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Washington and Wayne.
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