by Lisa Schauer
Local officials are in the early stages of developing a plan to protect Berkeley Springs from future flooding as the landscape around the historic town changes with highway construction and development. Last week, they invited the public to be part of the planning process for the future.
Town of Bath Mayor Greg Schene welcomed the public to a scoping meeting for the Warm Springs Run watershed plan on Tuesday, August 26 at Morgan County Courthouse.
There were fewer than 10 members of the public in attendance at the meeting.
In his remarks, Schene stressed the importance of flood control to the Town of Bath’s future economic prosperity, as well as preservation of its cultural and recreational resources.
Christi Hicks, assistant state conservationist, said the town came to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) about flooding issues.
A planning study was started, funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. It will be released at the end of next year.
Last week’s public meeting was co-hosted by Warm Springs Watershed Association.
Its purpose was to identify land use issues and concerns from the public, according to consulting engineers with GFT Infrastructure.
A presentation was given on the project, followed by an open discussion with property owners and community volunteers.
Less celebrated than its largest tributary, the famed warm springs at Berkeley Springs State Park, Warm Springs Run is a perennial stream that flows north for nearly 12 miles through Morgan County before emptying into the Potomac River near Hancock.
The watershed area has eight dams, built to control flood waters above town nearly a hundred years ago.
An unknown number of culverts weave their way beneath structures. Stone channels define the run through the park.
Last studied and mapped in 2012, the Warm Springs Run watershed has since been impacted by urban development, especially construction of the U.S. 522 bypass around and above the Town of Bath.
More than 300 acres of trees and vegetation have been cleared so far for the Berkeley Springs bypass. Over three million cubic yards of dirt were removed, according to Warm Springs Watershed Association.
Deforestation is a major factor in the loss of wildlife and pollinators. It also increases stormwater runoff and the risk of flooding.
West Virginia Department of Highways has installed over 6,000 feet of new culverts in Warm Springs Run and major tributaries.
Culverts and channels present a challenge because the water has nowhere to go but up, increasing the chance of flooding.
DOH built 20 large sediment basins to catch stormwater runoff from the bypass. The ponds are designed to be released simultaneously during a storm event.
“I’m not here to complain about the bypass,” said project leader Rebecca MacLeod with Warm Springs Watershed Association.
MacLeod said her concern with the bypass is that water comes faster into the watershed all at once, whereas before it would meander and absorb into the soil.
Flood prevention and reduction should be the focus. Efforts are already underway to replant trees and shrubs along the bypass, where possible.
Warm Springs Run is subject to flash flooding, and the current maps from FEMA don’t consider the bypass or development upstream, MacLeod said.
Matt Pennington with the county’s wellness center said something needs to be done about the poor drainage on the lawn in front of Widmeyer Elementary School.
Pennington said he would like to see more recreational opportunities, and increased access to the run via trails.
Eric Neast with GFT said they were looking at an area south of the school behind Walgreen’s where water could be allowed to pond.
A resident praised Tractor Supply for doing a good job with their rain garden, and said Rutter’s should do the same.
“Plant wildflowers so you don’t have to mow. Rough organic matter captures water,” she said.
Another resident asked about the possibility of flood-proofing historic buildings in town.
A property owner on old route 522 said DOH built a shallow pond behind his house, and a collapsing culvert nearby is sending water onto his property.
Someone suggested he should call DOH and ask if it is in their purview to improve the embankment.
One person said sediment removal from the channels in the park doesn’t work, because it comes right back in a few months.
“Channeling the entire run would be disastrous,” he warned.
A D.C. transplant asked what steps should be taken to make meaningful changes.
“Is there room to make changes in regulations? We need recommendations for increased ordinances. Without it, tree planting is meaningless,” she said.
MacLeod said municipalities can use the watershed plan and new FEMA maps, due last spring, to update their ordinances.
Anyone interested in submitting comments about downtown flooding or watershed protection can write a letter to the Town of Bath, or email Warm Springs Watershed Association at wswa2008@gmail.com.
