HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Clearfield County, is urging public participation at a workshop Monday dealing with proposals that could result in a reduced water level at Curwensville Lake.
“Lake Curwensville has evolved into a top-notch recreational area and an economic force in the region,” George said. “Citizen involvement is crucial any time proposals arise that would affect – perhaps significantly – a local resource, and this is one of those times.”
The two-hour hearing, sponsored by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, will begin at 6:30 p.m. on June 27, at Lawrence Hall – next to the Lawrence Twp. #1 Fire Station — at 321 Mill Road in Clearfield.
George said the commission owns water storage at the lake and is evaluating various mechanisms that would trigger releases from the lake during dry conditions.
“The commission wants input and it will use the information when it applies for a change in its low-flow operations,” George said. “However, it also notes that, “It is recognized that alternatives to be considered could result in reduced lake levels during low-flow conditions in late summer and fall.’”
George said he has written to the commission about his concerns, including how they could harm the beach and marina, horsepower regulations and a master site plan developed to guide future development of the park.
“I’ve also told the commission that I’m concerned that Pennsylvania has not adequately addressed consumptive water use, especially in the wake of the Marcellus shale drilling boom,” George said. “The basin commission is not to blame in this respect, but Curwensville Lake should not pay the price for the failure.”
George made the following points:
? At full development throughout the basin, water withdrawals will average 28 million gallons a day by all gas extraction operators in the Marcellus shale – an amount equal to the water withdrawn over three days for power production in the basin.
? Roughly 90 percent of the water used for hydro-fracturing – fracking — a well is lost forever.
? Some Marcellus wells may need to be fracked several times over their productive life, which can last for 20 years or more.
“Unfortunately, we have failed, collectively, to implement even the most basic water protections and water-mitigation policies as they relate to gas drilling,” said Rep. George, who has championed legislation providing Marcellus shale safeguards. “I submit that any advancement of the proposal to draw down any impoundment is short-sighted and dangerous environmentally without progress on water protection and conservation issues as they relate to the Marcellus gas.”
George said the State Water Plan that he helped to formulate stressed the need for a holistic, integrated water plan and mitigating consumptive water use.”
“A plan that taps Curwensville Lake without fully addressing water issues arising from the Marcellus shale drilling boom would put an unfair onus on our local resource,” George said. “This issue and many others should be made during Monday’s hearing.”
More information about the Susquehanna River Basin Commission is available on its website, www.srbc.net.