Zelie works to curb flooding issues
ZELIENOPLE — Borough officials are taking steps to alleviate future flooding issues with a project to address stormwater runoff set to begin next month.
During a council meeting Monday, borough manager Don Pepe said the project will include creating a retention pond above the pool in Community Park. Work is expected to get under way in September.
On Tuesday, Pepe said the need for the pond became more evident after flash flooding hit homes and businesses in the borough in July. He said in the event of torrential rain, the stormwater runoff from Interstate 79 “needs a place to go,” and often that means taking a meandering path through the park.
“It can create a lot of havoc,” he said.
The retention pond will help alleviate the rush of water, Pepe said. He said while there is no way to stop water, especially in the event of a major storm, slowing it down should help in future events.
Pepe said other steps have been taken to address the issue, including work on the stream itself. He said the stream had no real, definable banks, which created further problems in the park's parking lot and pool area. Crews worked to straighten out the stream, placed large rocks and created banks to keep the water contained.
“It made it so it was functioning better,” Pepe said.
He added the embankment was built so that it is higher on the side nearest to the pool, which would send overflow water to the parking lot and away from the pool's ongoing renovations and construction project.
Pepe said he also notified property owners down stream to be mindful of where they put brush and debris. He said trees, leaves and other items have become sources of clogs, creating backups that lead to flooding.
