A new initiative aimed at preserving drinking water in Centre County is picking up steam.
It’s called the Slab Cabin Run Initiative. ClearWater Conservancy pitched the idea. The goal is to preserve 300 acres of property, permanently.
There are three reasons why the Conservancy wants to conserve this land. First, to protect the wellfields, which supply the majority of drinking water for the Centre Region. The wellfields sit on two farm properties in State College – the Meyer and Everhart properties.
The second reason is to preserve agriculture and farmland.
“This is an opportunity where we know the farmers wish to continue farming and it’s an opportunity for us to pay them for removing their development rights,” Deborah Nardone, Executive Director of the ClearWater Conservancy, said.
Nardone said the Meyer and Everhart properties have been approached for development in the past. This initiative would place a conservation easement on both properties, which would protect them from any future development.
The third reason the Conservancy wants to conserve the land is to restore Slab Cabin Run.
“We want the municipalities to fund this initiative because their residents benefit by it,” Nardone said. “Having drinking water is important for our region, particularly as we continue to grow.”
The Conservancy is asking some municipalities and the State College Borough Water Authority to fund half of the $2.75 million project.
Their efforts aren’t met without some concern from one supervisory board.
“Having access to some stream banks could be very helpful to us in meeting our obligations toward that particular program,” Adam Brumbaugh, Manager of College Township, said. “That’s one of the primary concerns that council has raised.”
Brumbaugh said council has engaged in several conversations on this topic and are doing a lot of work to make an informed decision about how they will move forward.
They will discuss the idea at their next meeting on Thursday. The State College Borough Water Authority will also discuss their funding intent at a meeting on Thursday afternoon.
To learn more about the initiative, click here.
