Over the last 2 years the Watershed Plan Advisory Committee (WPAC) has been working diligently on the renewal of the Act 167 Storm Water Management Plans for the Brodhead Creek, McMichaels Creek, and Tobyhanna Creek Plans. On December 2, 2022 the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) completed review and approval of the plans for consistency with municipal floodplain management plans, state programs that regulate dams, encroachments and water obstructions, and state and federal flood control programs.
Now that the plans have been approved, it starts the clock for municipalities to enact or amend and implement such ordinances as necessary to regulate development in a manner consistent with the plan by May 2, 2023, according to Section 11(b) of Act 167. A Model Ordinance is provided in the approved plans to make the process consistent and less of a burden on the subject Municipalities.
Plan reviews and renewals are needed, and required every 5 years, in order to maintain effective management of storm water and water quality throughout the county. The periodic renewals and updates also identify new storm water issues in the community, provide protection of infrastructure and assets, maintain consistency with the County Hazard Mitigation Plan and increase eligibility for emergency funding from FEMA and PEMA. The WPAC, with representatives from each municipality, along with our state and local partners, worked these past years to update the Plans to account for high tunnel farming practices, updated and new technology BMPs, consistency with 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 - Erosion and Sediment Control, and to provide updated release rate district mapping.
Municipalities required to adopt Draft Plan renewals in the Brodhead Creek and McMichaels Creek Watershed are contained within seventeen (17) municipalities in Monroe County and one municipality in Pike County as follows: Barrett, Paradise, Chestnuthill, Coolbaugh, East Stroudsburg, Greene (Pike County) Smithfield, Hamilton, Jackson, Middle Smithfield, Mt. Pocono, Pocono, Price, Ross, Stroud, Stroudsburg, Tobyhanna, and Tunkhannock.
The Tobyhanna Creek, encompasses the northwest portion of Monroe County and portions of eastern Carbon County and southern Wayne County is contained within four Municipalities in Monroe County, one Municipality in Carbon County and one Municipality in Wayne County: Coolbaugh, Mount Pocono, Tobyhanna, Tunkhannock, Kidder (Carbon County), Lehigh (Wayne County). For more information or to view the approved plans visit our website: https://www.mcconservation.org/act-167-plans-and-maps.html