American Water completes Roaring Brook dredging

Pennsylvania American Water has completed the dredging of Roaring Brook in Lackawanna County after sediment was released into the Lackawanna River earlier this year.

This effort is part of a corrective action plan required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Officials said that dredging work began in early September along Cedar Avenue in Scranton to remove sediment from the stream channel and its banks.

The project also included dredging along Cedar Avenue and Myrtle Street near Darcy Park.

Monitoring for additional sediment will continue at the sites while work progresses at the No. 7 Reservoir Dam and twice a year after the remediation measures are completed.

“The completion of dredging at Roaring Brook is a key step in our corrective action plan. This effort and ongoing monitoring helps protect our waterways and communities,” said Brandy Braun, Director of Water Quality and Environmental Compliance at Pennsylvania American Water.

“We appreciate the cooperation of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as we continue work on the No. 7 Reservoir Dam rehabilitation project.”

The $17 million rehabilitation project began in October 2023 to upgrade the 152-year-old dam’s structure for stability and help ensure its compliance with DEP dam safety regulations.

The company said that they expect to complete the project in June 2025.