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Lessons from the Past |
Troubled Waters,
After reading a letter sent to the Daily Local, from a resident in Wallace Township, titled 'Wallace's water issues and common sense' should have read, 'Wallace water issues means dollars and cents 'for some interested land and water use developers. The 'Battle to Save the East Branch of the Brandywine', the Cornog Water Project made local and state history demonstrating how a local group of dedicated and organized people can work with their county government to ensure the protection of the quality local streams and water resources. The Wallace township resident forgot his history lessons from the real battle over the Brandywine. Wallace does not want public water because of the impact on our waters.
The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek and the Brandywine Creek is designated as a high quality stream for trout stocking, purposes, and it is a Chester County treasure prized by anglers and other users for recreational purposes. Portions of creek remain relatively untouched by development pressures and spiraling sprawl. The Brandywine Creek Watershed enjoys widespread recognition and public appreciation as a result of its wealth of historic and cultural,as well as natural resources.
Many local creeks have been degraded by public water,and poorly planned development as in Shamona Creek in Eagle PA. No 'public water and sewage 'for Wallace, the facts are still the Cornog Quarry Project proposed by the Pennsylvania Suburban Water Company was more about financial gain for the interested parties then true water supply needs. The fact is the Cornog Quarry Project was unnecessary and inconsistent with applicable land use management plans, 'Watershed ' and 'Landscapes' but most of all inconsistent with Pennsylvania's anti-degradation requirements and insufficient to protect our vital fishing and aquatic life which depend on the creek's ecosystem.
It is just plan fact the goals of the Cornog project failed to meet the vision of our Chester County Landscapes Comprehensive Plan which designates growth to occur in the most appropriate areas. Landscapes intent was to provide the planned water service areas should be designated by the affected municipalities to ensure that the infrastructure associated with water service is located in a manner consistent with Landscapes. The excess water by this proposed water treatment plant would accelerate growth in a manner inconsistent with local land use and comprehensive plan.
The opposition to Cornog was about upholding laws that were in place to protect our streams such as the Clean Streams Law, the Water Rights Act, The Pennsylvania Constitution Article, I section 27 and the anti-degradation requirements protecting existing fishing and aquatic life uses and the water quality needed to maintain those uses for the future. The battle over the Brandywine, continues, with land and water use speculators waiting in the wing ready to pave, concrete and hard wire our last few great green spaces for personal profit and gain.
Anna Marie Guglielmo
