Wyoming County experiences significant, frequent flooding originating from several tributaries of the Susquehanna River. The watersheds and sub-watersheds of Wyoming County are exhibiting signs of aggressive flash flooding considered atypical of historic conditions. This situation is understood to be the primary reason waterways are leaving their historic channels, causing nuisance flooding during nominal storm events, flooding and damaging residences and property that had not historically received flooding, and causing damage to highways and other infrastructure.

The primary project purpose and need at the Swale Brook at Bridge Street location is to reduce sedimentation in the box culvert and stream channel in order to alleviate damages to buildings and infrastructure caused by ongoing nuisance flooding, to prevent more significant flood damages that may occur in the future due to reduced stream capacity, and to improve emergency response capabilities during predicted highwater events. Excavation would immediately increase the capacity of Swale Brook at the Bridge Street crossing, and improvements to the channel geometry would ensure high enough velocities through the culvert to decrease sedimentation. Based on a USACE assessment, as well as a review of guidelines and policy for USACE snagging and clearing projects, implementation of a project to provide snagging and clearing measures for Tunkhannock Borough is in the federal interest for pursuing a project under the CAP Section 208 authority. A cost-shared D&I phase will be conducted to implement a solution under the CAP Section 208 authority.

In 2020, the Wyoming County Emergency Management Agency (WYCEMA) requested that USACE study Mehoopany Creek, Bowman’s Creek, Moneypenny Creek, the North and South branches of Tunkhannock Creek, and Martin Creek in the interest of snagging and clearing for flood control. The Feasibility Phase was initiated on December 23, 2020, when WYCEMA expressed interest via Letter of Intent (LOI) in pursuing USACE implementation under the Section 208 authority. A Federal Interest Determination (FID) assessment was initiated at that time. As part of the FID, USACE identified one potential project site during a project site visit in June 2021.

After the initial work of the FID was complete, the Project Delivery Team (PDT) identified that the study needed a non-federal sponsor (NFS) that was able to attain property, which WYCEMA was unable to do. The PDT identified the Borough of Tunkhannock who sent a letter of intent on 19 January 2024, identifying that they were interested in the project and able to serve as the NFS.

Preliminary assessment determined that there is a federal interest in pursuing this study further. A draft FID report documenting a recommended alternative was sent to the North Atlantic Division (NAD) for review & approval in January 2023 and preliminarily approved. The NAD requested the remaining $50K of federal funding be utilized for completion of the Real Estate Plan (REP) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation to ensure the study can continue directly into the design and implementation phase. The NEPA documentation is hereby released for public review and comment to receive public input, views, and concerns regarding the project.