Snapshot
Project name: Cowanesque Dam
Program: Resilience Project
Law: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Investment amount: $2,650,000
City: Lawrenceville
State: Pennsylvania
Congressional district: 15
Construction start date: To be determined
This profile is part of a project that finds and tracks the public and private sector investments generated or supported by three of the Biden administration’s economic laws. These laws make investments in the American people, helping to grow the middle class, lowering the cost of living, and setting up America to better compete and cooperate in the world. Pulling directly from several sources, this catalog provides users with publicly available information such as the number of jobs created, workforce training partnerships, and storytellers benefiting from particular projects, among other detailed information. The profile below expands on the economic, practical, and climate impacts of just one of the 35,000 investments that can be found in the Biden Administration Investment Tracker. It may be updated to account for future project developments.
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Approximately $3 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers repair the Cowanesque Lake Dam in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. The dam is used for flood risk management, water supply, and recreation. Its bridge was damaged by Tropical Storm Fred, and the nearby water treatment plant needs updating.
Historical context
- “The Cowanesque Lake Dam is used for flood risk management, water supply and recreation.” – Wellsboro/Mansfield Gazette, April 7, 2022
- “Cowanesque Lake is located in Tioga County, PA, on the Cowanesque River approximately two miles upstream of the confluence with the Tioga River at Lawrenceville, PA.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 1, 2022
- “The embankment is of earth and rockfill, 3,100 feet in length, rising 151 feet above the streambed, with a 400-foot-long spillway in the right abutment. … Seventy-nine percent of the conservation storage space is allocated for water supply storage. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission makes annual payments for this storage based on annual operation and maintenance costs. The project was completed in 1980.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 1, 2022
- “The Corps operates and maintains three major recreation areas on Cowanesque Lake. … Recreation attendance in fiscal 2020 was 121,800 visitors.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 1, 2022
- “Flood damages prevented through fiscal 2021 are estimated at $484,676,000.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 1, 2022
Project summary
Funding will support major repairs to Cowanesque Dam:
- “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded $2.6 million to go toward repair of deteriorated critical concrete structures in spillway walls and slab at the Cowanesque Dam.” – The White House, February 2023
- “The Army Corps will receive $2,650,000 for the Cowanesque Lake Dam, bringing the total IIJA funding for the project to $2,999,000.” – U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), March 31, 2022
- “FY 2022 Scheduled Work: Update project the master plan and mitigation plan. Develop a contract package and update the environmental coordination for repairs to the emergency spillway. The IIJA funds will be used to repair damages caused by tropical storm Fred and to update the South Shore Campground water treatment plant.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 1, 2022
Outcomes, improvements, and practical impact
- “The IIJA funds will be used to repair damages caused by tropical storm Fred and to update the South Shore Campground water treatment plant.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 1, 2022
Climate impact
- “Contribution to the Chesapeake Bay: Contributes to Executive Order 13508 goals to protect habitat and water quality and expand public access.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 1, 2022
Economic impact
Official supporting statements
- U.S. Sen. Bob Casey: “Like many Northeastern Pennsylvanians, I have enjoyed our lakes and outdoor recreation all my life and I know how important it is to maintain our water infrastructure. … Thanks to the infrastructure law, we can keep our lakes clean and beautiful and our dams functional. This new funding will ensure that residents and visitors alike can enjoy our natural resources for many years to come.” – U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, March 31, 2022
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