Forget Lake Lewisburg, there now may be a Lake White Sulphur Springs.
The potential dam project was announced on Thursday, April 21, with Mayor Bruce Bowling and U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie announcing the details.
“In the last six years, we’ve had so many game changers. This is a game changer,” said Bowling. “This brings so many options to what to what we’re doing here in town. It’s got flood control, recreation. It’s another water supply for White Sulphur. This is the first step in a very long process, but it’s a first step. It’s better than where we were four years ago.”
“I’m the guy from Washington, D.C.,” said Bonnie. “Part of our celebration today is for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which is going to supply a lot of agencies resources to help local communities. One of the things USDA is interested in doing, the reason I’m coming here today, is to go to many of the rural communities that are going to benefit from some of these resources. There’s a lot of cynicism about the federal government, worries that all that stuff that happens in Washington doesn’t affect us in rural communities. We’re announcing $420 million today to be put in rural communities across the country; communities just like this to help with watershed protection and flood prevention.”
“I’m glad to see we’re in the mix,” said city administrator Lloyd Haynes. “If we can get it going, the baby steps and the big steps, that it’ll be a plus for our community.”
However, those hoping to fish next weekend will have to wait a little longer. The project next goes into an assessment phase alongside all of the possible West Virginia projects. After that phase, a priority list will be created, taking into accord the dam already present on Howard’s Creek. Initial feasibility reports will take six months. Federal water resources planning specialist Don Dodd estimated construction on the project could begin between five and 10 years from now.
In a press release, the USDA explains, “as part of this project, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working with White Sulphur Springs to evaluate the flood protection. Today’s infrastructure announcement includes funding through two programs: the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program provides technical and financial assistance for new watershed infrastructure, and the Watershed Rehabilitation Program (REHAB) upgrades existing NRCS dams.”
The 100-acre property behind the city’s current water intake system is the target area for the new watershed work.
Howard’s Creek’s existing water infrastructure will also be taken into account. Bowling noted that the town would not exist if the Howard’s Creek dam had not existed during the flood of 2016.
“Howard (sic) Creek is a priority area for flood remediation due to the June 2016 flood,” reads the information packet distributed at the press event. “The Howard Creek Watershed drainage area is approximately 91 square miles; however, only 13.5 square miles are controlled by Howard Creek Site 12. Watershed dams reduce flooding by temporarily storing flood water after rainfall events. The flood water is then released over the course of several days through a pipe in the dam called a principal spillway. By holding the flood water in the impoundment, it greatly reduces the peak amount of flow that reaches the main water course, thereby reducing flooding.”
Bonnie’s appearance in White Sulphur on Thursday means one of the hardest steps has been taken.
“You all know well the importance of flood protection in this community with the tragic losses from the 2016 flood,” Bonnie continued. “The good news is there’s some things we can do. The investments we’re making today in this program are going to work with local communities, the states, and others, to invest in watershed restoration, watershed protection, flood protection. Here in West Virginia, this is our second round of funding under the infrastructure law. The first round of funding, West Virginia did about $6 million. Today, an additional $14 million in West Virginia. This is for dam rehabilitation, watershed operations, watershed funding. An important thing about all of this is that it takes local partners, so the partnership with all of you is critically important.”
The statewide project list also includes funds to investigate the Meadow River water basin in Greenbrier, Nicolas, and Fayette counties. Bonnie confirmed more projects would be in the works with the federal funds.
“We’re going to be continuing to go out and in our rural communities across the country over the coming weeks to talk about the work that not only USDA, but other parts of the administration are doing,” Bonnie said. “I want to thank you all for your partnership. We look forward to working with you all. We look forward to opportunities for big conservation and for watershed protection that we hope will benefit communities just like this.”
Bowling’s presence during the press event highlighted how important he feels the project is.
“This is a big day from White Sulphur Springs,” Bowling said. “This has been a long time coming. This is phenomenal. My first day back was going to be Monday, but you guys are pretty special to me. I made the exception, you guys are special. For those of you that don’t know, I had open heart surgery three weeks ago, and I’m doing fine.”
