Pike County Comprehensive Plan is weak in one required area: ‘Plan for a reliable supply of water’

The final draft of Pike’s Comprehensive Plan is an impressive document, monumental in scope, concepts, and goals. It is easy to follow and says the right things from an environmental perspective.

However, I am disappointed in the treatment of the Milford Aquifer. Based on the multiple directives laid out by the PA Municipal Planning Code (MPC), this plan is required to have: 1) “a plan for a reliable supply of water,” 2) “protection for natural...resources, “ 3) “Identify current and proposed land uses which have a regional impact and significance,” and 4) “Municipal plans and land use regulations should consider the land uses and development patterns of adjacent municipalities.”

Regarding the Milford Aquifer, the framework is there to protect the Milford Aquifer in the future. However, it is currently not realized in this plan as the MPC requires. There are 15 maps and 29 visual graphs — not one dedicated to the Milford Aquifer, the drinking water supply of 2,400 Milford Boro./Milford Twp. residents. How can you “plan for a reliable supply of water” without mentioning the Milford Aquifer by name, defining its importance, and mapping its delineation?

If not now, then when? The County updates these comprehensive plans every 10 to 20 years. One of the goals of the 2006 Growing Naturally Pike County Comprehensive Plan states: “Support implementation of the Milford Water Authority Wellhead Protection Plan.” In 2024, it is unacceptable for the Milford Aquifer to be missing from both text and mapping, with the increased urgency for water protection, conclusive scientific evidence, and mounting development pressures, especially in warehousing.

This aquifer problem has been festering for over 56 years now. There have been three major inappropriate development attempts in 1989, 2000, and 2023 that almost succeeded. We should never have to dodge that bullet again!

There have been four chemical dye tests and a mining operation closure scientifically linking this land to Milford Springs. This problem requires immediate action, not circumvention.

The problem is deeper. This plan has created a county Growth Area map, an Innovation Hub map, and an Industrial/Commercial Zoning map, all covering the known delineated Milford Aquifer. Instead of clarity, the missing aquifer is found hiding in inappropriate zones. This leads to contradictions, confusion, and conflict.

This plan deals with this discrepancy with a mapping disclaimer: “Note: There may be sensitive environmental features and water quality considerations that would prohibit development or redevelopment in portions of [said area].”

If the requirements from the MPA were followed, the statement should say: “There are sensitive environmental features and water quality considerations that would prohibit development or redevelopment of (...said area.) An example is the delineated Aquifer/Property/Special Zone Overlay Map, which illustrates the conflict, accompanied by reasons why the unconfined Milford Aquifer is so pollution-sensitive.

Additionally, the PA Wellhead Protection Program WHP states who is responsible for Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA): 1) “When a WHPA overlies more than... (one municipality, a coordinating planning commission, county government or an authority) ...will need to be designated to develop and monitor the management approaches for the WHP program(s),” and 2) “The focal point of a local WHP program is the WHPA delineation and the resulting map.”

This problem should be rectified today. The County is still accepting citizen feedback on this plan before formal adoption. The County Mapping dept. should immediately work on a Milford Aquifer/Property/Zoning Overlay Map. Consultant Micheal Baker International can easily render this map, as their cartographer told me, personally.

Please advocate for the Milford Aquifer to be formally referenced and mapped in this plan by contacting: County Planner Mike Mrozinski, Pike County Planning Director, at mmrozinski@pikepa.org or 570-296-3500.

Vito DiBiasi

Friends of the Milford Aquifer

Dingman Twp.