LEWISBURG FLOOD MITIGATION STUDY
The Borough of Lewisburg (Union County, Pennsylvania) launched a Flood Mitigation Study in 2022 to improve the Borough’s ability to withstand a flooding event, regardless of the size of the flood event. Located within the floodplains of three watercourses; West Branch Susquehanna River, Buffalo Creek, and Limestone (Bull) Run – these floodplains make up approximately one third of the Borough’s land area and impact the Borough’s residences, businesses, institutions, and infrastructure. The Borough was devastated over 50 years ago by the Hurricane Agnes flood. Since that time, Lewisburg has made significant strides in improvements to the community’s flood resiliency. The completed Flood Mitigation Study has provided new data, tools, and “next steps” to further our progress as a truly resilient community that will survive, adapt, and thrive under the continual threat of flooding.
The Lewisburg Borough Flood Mitigation Study was completed by the engineering firm HRG (www.hrg-inc.com) with the assistance of the SEDA-Council of Governments Flood Resiliency Department (www.seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency) and Lewisburg Borough staff. The Flood Mitigation Study was funded by Lewisburg Borough and through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (www.dced.pa.gov).
NATURE PLAY AREA IN KIDSBURG CLOSED FOR THE SEASON
Beginning on Monday, October 10, 2022, the Nature Play Area in the Kidsburg Section of Hufnagle Park, Lewisburg Borough will be closed for the season. With the hot, dry summer we experienced and the heavy use of the new playground this year by residents and visitors, the grass in the Nature Play Area has failed to properly root in many places. The Borough Crew will be closing the Nature Play Area to reseed, fertilize, and mulch large areas of this section of Kidsburg. Without foot traffic on the reseeded area, we anticipate that grass will root properly this fall and that the Nature Play Area will be ready for use again next spring.
The First Responder-themed destination playground donated by PlayPower/Playworld in the Kidsburg section of Hufnagle Park will remain open this fall as long as weather permits. The Borough Crew will be undertaking the reseeding of some areas near the playground (and in other areas of Hufnagle Park) over the next few weeks. We will not be closing the First Responder-themed playground, but we do ask that you please stay off areas with fresh straw as it is covering recently planted grass seed.
Lewisburg Borough Recognizes Flood Safety Awareness Week
In recognition of Pennsylvania’s Flood Safety Awareness Week starting on March 21st, Lewisburg Borough and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) are raising awareness of the dangers of flooding and the resources available to help borough residents prepare.
Lewisburg Borough Manager William Lowthert said it is crucial to know what to do before, during, and after a flood.
“Lewisburg Borough is located in 3 watersheds, making flooding our top natural disaster concern in the Borough. Our residents and property owners can improve their resiliency by preparing in advance. Understanding your individual situation and what will happen to your property is important in order to prepare for the next flood event and recover afterwards. We encourage residents to be proactive,” Lowthert said.
In high-risk areas, there is a one-in-four chance of experiencing a flood over the life of a 30-year mortgage and residents should consider purchasing flood insurance.
Safety tips to prepare for flooding include making a plan, building a go kit of supplies, knowing the types of flood risk in the borough (both river and stream flooding), signing up for emergency alerts, practicing evacuation routes and shelter plans, buying flood insurance, keeping important documents in a waterproof container, and proactively protecting property. More information about flood safety and preparedness can be found at www.ready.gov/flood.
SEDA-COG will publicize more safety tips the week of March 21st on its social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
The borough contracts with SEDA-COG to provide professional and administrative services for the Community Rating System (CRS), which gives its residents a 10% flood insurance premium discount for all properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area, and a 5% discount for all other properties. If residents’ properties are not mapped as that area, they still may qualify for a lower-cost preferred risk policy.
For more information about flood hazards, flood protection, or for a site inspection, residents may contact Lewisburg Borough at 570-523-3614 or office@lewisburgborough.org or SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program at 570-524-4491 ext. 7218.
Pennsylvania’s Flood Safety Awareness Week is held the fourth full week in March each year.
SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/
Spring Brush Pick-Up April 4, 2022 through April 8, 2022
Borough residents are encouraged to participate in the annual spring (brush, tree trimmings, and leaves) pick-up scheduled for the week of April 4th through the 8th.
The Borough Public Works Department will be following the daily street maintenance schedule in its efforts to collect brush, tree trimmings, and leaves. These materials will only be collected on the day the street is posted for no parking from 7 AM to Noon, and any subsequent debris left unattended will be considered litter.
Tree limbs and tree debris should be no larger than 4” in diameter and cut to manageable lengths. It should be placed between the curb and the sidewalk where appropriate. Leaves should be managed in the same manner as fall collection (placed in the gutter along the street) and not co-mingled with limbs and brush.
The Borough hopes this annual spring pick-up will help alleviate the hassle of collecting the material individually and having to schedule with the municipal brush pile times of operation. (Brush pile times of operation: Wednesdays 8 AM to 4 PM and Saturdays 8 AM to Noon.)
Additional questions can be directed to the Borough Office at (570) 523-3614 or feel free to stop in at the Borough Office located at 55 South Fifth Street, Lewisburg.
Lewisburg Borough Market Street and Metered Parking Spaces Snow Removal
Lewisburg Borough Public Works staff will undertake snow removal from Market Street and the Metered Parking Spaces on Second Street, Third Street, Fourth Street, Fifth Street, and Sixth Street beginning Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 12:01 am. All vehicles should be removed from Market Street and these Metered Parking Spaces by this time. The BVRPD will ticket and tow all vehicles remaining. Please note that no vehicles should park along Market Street until at least 7:00 am on Wednesday morning and no vehicles should park in the side street metered spaces until the “No Parking” bags have been removed. Since the snow has turned to ice in many places, the Crew plans to place salt and/or anti-skid in the metered spaces as needed once the snow is removed. As such, please don’t park in the metered spaces until Borough staff or the BVRPD remove the “No Parking” bags. Illegal parking in these spaces will result in ticketing and towing. We anticipate that snow removal activities will continue on Market Street until 7 am and the metered spaces on the side streets until 9 am or so. Afterward, the Crew will begin snow removal activities on Sixth Street, Seventh Street, and Eighth Street until noon.
