Section 510 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996 authorizes USACE to design and construct water-related resource protection and restoration projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Project types include projects for sediment and erosion control; protection of eroding shorelines; ecosystem restoration, including restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation; protection of essential public works; beneficial uses of dredged material; and other related projects that may enhance the living resources of the estuary. Costs are shared 75 percent federal and 25 percent non-federal.  The cost of operation, maintenance, repair, replacements and rehabilitation is 100 percent non-federal. At least one project has already been completed within the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The Corps’ December 8, 2015 implementation guidance for Section 4010(a) of WRRDA 2014 limits the total cost of a project to $10M and aligns implementation with guidance used for projects under the Continuing Authorities Program (i.e., conduct of a feasibility level analysis to recommend project implementation under a cost-shared design and construction Project Partnership Agreement).  WRDA 2020 (P.L. 116260) established a per project limit of $15M and increased the program authority from $40M to $90M.  The Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Plan provides a list of potential projects for implementation under this program.  

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (USACE) has prepared a draft Integrated Feasibility Report (IFR)/Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Plum Creek Restoration project, located in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The project is necessary to restore Plum Creek’s degraded stream system to a more natural hydrologic condition, reduce erosion, create aquatic and terrestrial wildlife habitat, and ultimately reduce sediment and nutrient loads to the South Branch Conewago River, the Susquehanna River, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. This project will directly contribute to Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. 

Draft Environmental Assessment | Public Notice

Appendix A - Project Scoping Report | Appendix B - Agency Coordination

Appendix C - Archeological and Cultural Report | Appendix D - Engineering Report

Appendix F - Real Estate Plan | Appendix G - Wetland Delineation Memo