The Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee has awarded a $2.6 million contract to Plum Contracting of Greensburg for Phase 1 of its floodplain restoration project for the Beaverdam Branch of the Juniata River.

The work will take place along the 0.8-mile stretch of the river from Plank Road to about a third of the way through Legion Park in Hollidaysburg.

The contract award is contingent on the Blair Township supervisors accepting a piece of property that was the subject of eminent domain proceedings by the committee — an acceptance that is expected to occur, according to committee solicitor Patrick Fanelli.

Work on the restoration should begin in late August or early September, according to Fanelli.

The work seeks to remove sediment that has accumulated over the years due to impoundments on the river.

Such impoundments were ubiquitous and provided water to power mills in the early days of the country — creating “legacy” sediment that is subject to washing away during storms, according to information provided by LandStudies of Lititz, which has worked with the committee on the Beaverdam project design.

There were four condemnation actions to acquire easements for the work, and three were resolved quickly, Fanelli said.

The other was resolved when the committee made a deal under which the owner would donate the ground to the township, rather than granting an easement to the committee, Fanelli said.

Of the properties for which the committee sought easements, none were owned by individuals, all are in the floodplain and none were developable, Fanelli has said.

The money value of the interest in those pieces of ground is low, he has said.

Overall, 12 easements were needed for Phase 1.

The committee negotiated agreements with most of the owners.

Phase 2 of the work to the east has been designed, but there has been no move yet to acquire property rights or to advertise for bids, Fanelli said.

Phase 2 is likely to be the subject of further discussion by the committee, according to one official.

The ISC proposed the Beaverdam project to help fulfill a state Department of Environmental Protection requirement that it reduce the amount of sediment that stormwater carries into streams in the urbanized area of Blair County by 10%, or 1.4 million pounds per year, over the life of a five-year permit issued 6.5 years ago and then extended.

The Beaverdam project overall is expected to reduce sediment inflow by about 2 million pounds per year, officials have said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-381-3852.