CURWENSVILLE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has released the Draft 2022 Curwensville Lake Master Plan (“2022 Master Plan”) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Curwensville Lake Project, and is seeking comments and feedback from the public until May 3, 2022.
“The 2022 Draft Plan is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by the USACE team, our partners, stakeholders and members of the public,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. Estee Pinchasin.
“We look forward to continued public feedback and remain committed to ensuring the final revised Master Plan provides a framework for consistent, responsible decision-making at Curwensville Lake Project for the next 15 to 25 years.”
Overall, the Proposed Action includes implementation of the 2022 Master Plan to reflect changes in land management classifications to align with current USACE regulations and guidance that have occurred since the 1968 Master Plan was drafted, and coordinate this process with the public.
The 2022 Master Plan refines land classifications to be consistent with authorized project purposes and current resource objectives.
This includes a mix of natural resource and recreation management objectives that are compatible with regional goals established by stakeholders and USACE during the master planning process, recognize outdoor recreation trends, and are responsive to public comment.
Additionally, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the District has assessed the potential impacts of the 2022 Master Plan on the natural, cultural and human environment. The EA determined negligible impacts would occur to the following resources: air quality, greenhouse gases and climate, noise, geology, cultural resources, groundwater, utilities, socioeconomics and environmental justice and traffic and transportation.
No impacts are anticipated on water, soil and biological resources from implementation of the 2022 Master Plan.
Implementation of the 2022 Master Plan would result in beneficial impacts to land use and recreation. The new land classifications maintain high-density and low-density recreation areas and identify recreation as the primary land use in these areas.
These land classifications allow for future high- and low- density recreational development as appropriate in these areas. Based on the preliminary findings in the draft EA, USACE anticipates issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
USACE will consider all comments received within the 30-day comment period in the preparation of the Final Master Plan and EA. The Draft 2022 Master Plan, accompanying EA, previous master plan and additional information can be found on the USACE Curwensville Lake Master Plan Revision Web site at https://go.usa.gov/xzeB2.
A printed copy of the Draft Plan can also be reviewed at the following locations:
- Clearfield County Public Library – 601 Beech St., Curwensville, PA 16833
- Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library – 1 S. Front St., Clearfield, PA 16830
If you would like to request a public meeting to discuss the 2022 Master Plan and the associated EA or if you have any questions, please contact Melanie Mathesz at (410) 962-6093 or at Melanie.K.Mathesz@usace.army.mil.
Individuals wishing to provide comments or request additional information may contact Mrs. Mathesz at the email address above. Additionally, questions and/or comments can be submitted at the USACE Curwensville Lake website or mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division, Subject: Curwensville Lake, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201.
For more information, please visit https://go.usa.gov/xzeB2.