Grant Expires for Cemetery Lane Dam in Ross Township

Work has come to a standstill on a 25-foot high dam designed to control storm water runoff into Girty’s Run. The $1-million dollar grant from the Pennsylvania department of Environmental Protection to pay for the project in Ross Township expired at the end of the state’s fiscal year, on June 30. 

The dam is supposed to bridge the steep-sided valley that runs parallel to a portion of Cemetery lane and is designed to control storm water runoff into Girty's Run near Babcock Boulevard. 

Workers moved tons of earth to create an access roadway for the dam’s construction. That work was completed weeks ago, but the contractor has since run into problems. 

“There have been a variety of issues with the contractor, with the DEP, and with the design and materials,” said Ross Public Works Director Michael Funk. “At this point, we’re not sure what's going to happen.” 

The dam has been in the works since 2007, when Ross Commissioners voted to seek up to $1 million from the PA Department of Environmental Resources. That vote followed a two-hour meeting that was devoted mostly to public complaints about flooding problems along Girty's Run, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.  

Ross Commissioner John Sponcer has voted against every aspect of the dam since his election in 2011. 

“I’d liked to have taken that million dollars and dredged Girty’s Run instead,” he said. “If you look at pictures from 50 years ago, that creek was a lot deeper. I bet there is six to eight feet of silt in there, it makes more sense to dig that out than build a million dollar dam that’s designed to control just one-percent of the runoff.” 

Even though the township isn't paying for construction of the dam, it will own and maintain it. 

"We don't even have the equipment to clean it out, and all of the restoration work for the dam will have to be paid by the township," said Sponcer. "I know hindsight's 20-20, but this thing should have been put on hold a long time ago."

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