Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – The pending results of a recently completed mussel study could have a potential impact on the proposed boat launch in the riverfront at the base of Liberty St. in Warren.
Councilwoman Danielle Flasher asked City Engineer Darren Pike for an update on the study during Monday’s Warren City Council meeting, with Pike confirming that they are “still waiting for that.”
“It was completed a few weeks back, we’re just waiting for the report to come back,” Pike said. “We heard they observed several major species of mussels.”
Pike confirmed that the report is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, at which point the city will approach the Department of Environmental Protection about next steps.
“We had an initial layout of the boat ramp to present to the DEP,” said City Manager Mike Holtz. “Depending on the extent of mussels that were observed will determine how much mitigation effort we’re going to have and will determine how far we put it into the water.”
Mayor David Wortman also acknowledged the announcement of state funding to secure a strip of land on the riverfront trail, as well as the concrete pad next to the townhouses.
“The grants we applied for to acquire the properties on the riverfront, that happened, and I want to commend the staff and council,” Wortman said. “It was the right approach and right strategy to take and I think it was a great outcome.”
Holtz said that the next step is to get a contract for a grant from the state but noted that it will take some time.
“From a timeline standpoint, in about eight weeks or so the city will get the contract from the state,” Holtz said. “It will probably be three or four months (for the properties to be in the city’s control). It’s not something that happens quickly for that procedure to take place.”
