The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District has awarded a $1.2- million contract for the removal of accumulated sediments and vegetation along the Stonycreek River located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
The contract was awarded to Green World Contracting Company of Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania.
The Johnstown Local Flood Protection Project became the nation's second-largest flood-control project of its type when it was constructed between 1938 and 1943. It is one of three federally- maintained local flood-protection projects within the district and consists of a concrete-paved channel that extends 9.2 miles along Johnstown's three rivers – Conemaugh, Little Conemaugh, and Stonycreek.
The residents of Johnstown will benefit from this project as it will allow for unimpeded water flow and reduce the risk of flooding.
“The district is absolutely looking forward to leveraging our expertise to remove the sediment and vegetation from this flood control project, which has impeded the effectiveness of the project for years,” said Col. Andrew “Coby” Short, commander, Pittsburgh District. “Our team is extremely proud to lead this cleanup effort and deliver a more effective project for the Johnstown residents.”
The local-protection project is designed to reduce the impact of floodwater to the existing river banks by providing concrete walls constructed to accommodate flows equivalent to those of the March 1936 flood.
U.S. Rep. John Joyce, of the 13th Congressional District, has worked closely with the Pittsburgh District to ensure flood protection projects and other infrastructure are repaired and working as designed.
The contract work is estimated to be completed by September 2020.