By BERNIE HORNICK
BAKERSVILLE — If all goes to plan, sparkling Laurel Hill Creek could be named a “critical” stream – deserving of further protection – as soon as summer.
A handful of speakers spoke out in favor of the designation at a recent public meeting in Greensburg held by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The hearing also considered designating two other creeks, the Connoquenessing in Beaver County and Indian Creek in Fayette, as critical.
Unlike the threat posed to some other waterways, Laurel Hill Creek primarily is imperiled by the demands for its water and not as much by pollution.
It is a prime source of drinking water to both Somerset Borough and Seven Springs resort. Recent plans by a private company to draw from the creek for bottled water fell through.
The critical designation would not bring about any new permit processes and, in fact, its implementation would be voluntary.
But that doesn’t diminish the impact of the label, DEP officials insist.
“It’s very valuable in empowering local people to sort of assert their priorities over their watershed,” agency spokeswoman Helen Humphreys said.
It can give municipalities another enforcement tool in developing ordinances in such areas as stormwater runoff, she said.
As DEP considered excessive water use in major river basins, Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of suburban Philadelphia an-nounced legislation for comprehensive watershed management in Pennsylvania.
“Failure to act will mean environmental degradation in places like Laurel Hill Creek,” he said in a release.
If enacted, the bill would include projects targeting water supply, wastewater treatment, ecosystem restoration and developing surface water resources.
David Jostenski, an engineer and chief of DEP’s water use assessment section, said Trout Unlimited nominated Laurel Hill Creek for the designation.
The department – through a statewide screening of watersheds – validated the suggestion.
The stream is making a name for itself not just locally but nationwide. It was named this year as one of the nation’s
10 most endangered rivers by the nonprofit American Rivers entity,
Jostenski found the hearing valuable.
“The ultimate outcome of the public comment is to get to the designation of any of these watersheds as critical water planning areas,” he said.
Next, the regional committee that held the Greensburg hearing will meet in February to decide whether to support the critical label for Laurel Hill.
Eventually, the proposal is expected to cross the desk of department Secretary John Hanger for his approval.
Humphries said the process can foster a partnership between the state, local government, the public and stakeholders.
The inclusive process can help determine local priorities in the watershed, she said.
