Fiscal Year 1992 funds are being used to continue into the feasibility phase of the study including surveying and mapping; engineering, economic and environmental analyses; and public involvement. The funds requested for Fiscal Year 1993 will be used to complete the design of alternative projects, continue the evaluation of costs and impacts of alternative plans, and initiate preparation of a draft report. The estimated cost of the feasibility phase is $2,450,000, which is to be shared on a 50-50 percent basis by Federal and non-Federal interests. Approximately 30 percent of the non-Federal share is identified as in-kind services. A summary of study cost sharing is as follows:

The study area is located in eastern Pennsylvania, upstream of the confluence with the Delaware River in Easton, Pennsylvania. The Basin encompasses 1,370 square miles in a ten county area. The study will address restoration of fish habitat and historic anadromous fisheries in the basin as well as flood damage reduction. The study will determine the feasibility of constructing fish passage structures throughout the Lehigh Basin to restore anadromous fish runs primarily for the American shad. Such facilities have the support of both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. Since spawning runs have been successfully restored in the Delaware River, these agencies and other local interests want the restoration of the historic runs extended into the Lehigh Basin.

The Lehigh River Basin periodically experiences large floods from heavy rains and spring thaws. Tropical storms,
northeasters, and localized thunderstorms have all resulted in high flows and significant flooding. Federal flood
control projects constructed in the basin include F. E. Walter Dam, Beltzville Lake, and local protection projects at
Allentown and Bethlehem. The feasibility study will investigate non-structural and structural flood protection,
including local protection and regional solutions. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources has indicated
its support for the study and its intent to cost share in the feasibility phase.

Fiscal Year 1992 funds are being used to complete the District Engineer's reconnaissance report at full Federal expense.
Fiscal Year 1993 will be used to continue into the feasibility phase of the study. The preliminary estimated cost of
the feasibility phase is $4,600,000 which is to be shared on a 50-50 percent basis by Federal and non-Federal interests.
Up to one half of the non-Federal share may be in-kind services. A summary of study cost sharing is as follows:

Total Estimate Study Cost
Reconnaissance Phase (Federal)
Feasibility Phase (Federal)
Feasibility Phase (Non-Federal)

$5,075,000 475,000 2,300,000 2,300,000

This study area is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Schuylkill River 75 miles upstream of the confluence with the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It includes the City of Reading, an urban center of 9.6 square miles, and the town of Birdsboro which is 10 miles downstream at the confluence of Hay Creek with the Schuylkill River. The Schuylkill River basin consists of a 1,916 square mile drainage area, 900 square miles of which is above Reading and encompasses all or portions of 11 counties.

The Reading area has a history of basin wide and localized flood events. During Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, the City of Reading suffered $18 million in damages from the Schuylkill River and $12 million from its tributaries. Birdsboro incurred $3 million in damages from the Schuylkill and $2 million along Hay Creek. More recently Birdsboro suffered over $1 million in damages from a localized storm in September 1987 and Reading experienced flooding due to intense rainfall in May 1989. Additional losses arose from damages to roads, bridges, and utilities. Minor floods occur every 1 to 2 years on the average. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources indicated in a 25 April 1991 letter its intent to support the study and cost share in the feasibility phase.

A limited reconnaissance study of the entire basin completed in 1990, identified this study area as warranting more detailed study of viable flood protection measures based on existing and future damage potential. Structural and nonstructural local protection measures such as levees, channelization, and flood proofing will be investigated.

Fiscal Year 1992 are being used to complete the reconnaissance report at full Federal expense and continue into the feasibility phase of the study. Fiscal Year 1993 will be used to continue the feasibility phase of the study including environmental and economic studies and public involvement. The preliminary estimated cost of the feasibility study is $1,000,000, which is to be shared on a 50-50 percent basis by Federal and non-Federal interest. Up to one half of the non-Federal share may be in-kind services.

The District Engineer's reconnaissance report is scheduled for completion in May 1992. The feasibility study is scheduled for completion in August 1995.

The study area is located along portions of the Delaware and New Jersey shorelines of the Delaware Bay. Approximately 60 miles of shoreline will be investigated for two areas, Cape Henlopen to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in the state of Delaware and Cape May Point to the Salem River in the state of New Jersey. This study will evaluate all adverse impacts associated with storm damages along the shoreline and determine the costs and benefits of potential Federal projects.

The Delaware Bay coast has a long history of severe erosion subjecting shoreline properties to storm damage from wave attack and tidal inundation which has caused loss of lives, severe economic losses, and social disruption. Comparison of early shoreline charts show continual erosion and accretion of shoreline over the past 112 years of record, resulting in substantial quantities of material lost, thereby narrowing and lowering the beaches. The areas where specific long term erosion problems have occurred are Roosevelt Inlet/Lewes Beach, and Mispillion Light in Delaware, Elsinboro, Pierces Point, and Villas in New Jersey with erosion rates estimated as high as 6 feet per year. Major storms occurred in August 1933, November 1950, March 1962, March 1984, October 1991, and January 1992. The coastal storm of March 1962 resulted in the loss of nine lives, physical damage to 1,251 residences and 16 businesses, and economic losses estimated to be $5,400,000.

The study is supported by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the State of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. They have expressed their support for this study and a willingness to cost share the feasibility study phase by letters dated 30 August 1989 and 22 October 1990, respectively.