PRINTER'S NO. 330
No. 298 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY MORRIS, PITTS, HERSHEY, VROON, E. Z. TAYLOR AND FLICK, FEBRUARY 7, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION, FEBRUARY 7, 1989
AN ACT 1 Designating the Lower Brandywine in Chester and Delaware 2 Counties as a component of the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers 3 System; requiring cooperation and coordination by State 4 agencies in implementing the purposes of the Pennsylvania 5 Scenic Rivers Act; limiting liability; and authorizing the 6 expenditure of moneys to further the purposes of this act. 7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 8 hereby enacts as follows: 9 Section 1. Short title. 10 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Lower 11 Brandywine Scenic Rivers Act. 12 Section 2. Legislative findings and purposes. 13 The department has, in accordance with the act of December 5, 14 1972 (P.L.1277, No.283), known as the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers 15 Act, fulfilled its obligations and responsibilities prerequisite 16 to the designation of the Lower Brandywine and certain segments 17 of its tributaries as a component of the Pennsylvania Scenic 18 Rivers System. The designation of this component is for the 19 purposes of protecting its free and unimpounded flow and of
1 conserving and protecting its pastoral and scenic qualities and 2 historic characteristics in accordance with the policy and 3 provisions of the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act. 4 Section 3. Definitions. 5 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 6 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 7 context clearly indicates otherwise: 8 "Department." The Department of Environmental Resources of 9 the Commonwealth. 10 Section 4. Designation and classification. 11 (a) Designation.--The main stem and the East and West 12 Branches of the Brandywine in Chester and Delaware Counties plus 13 Pocopson Creek, Valley Creek, Broad Run, Buck Run, Doe Run and 14 two unnamed tributaries in Newlin Township and related adjacent 15 land area as it extends from the Delaware State line to south of 16 Coatesville and Downingtown are designated a component of the 17 Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers System under the act of December 5, 18 1972 (P.L.1277, No.283), known as the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers 19 Act. The boundaries and termini of the component have been 20 defined by the department and are shown on the five maps 21 entitled "Lower Brandywine Scenic Rivers Project," which are on 22 file and available for public inspection in the Division of Land 23 Records of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. 24 (b) Classification.--Segments of the component are 25 classified as follows: 26 (1) Brandywine main stem - Pennsylvania-Delaware line, 27 including the 1.1 mile horseshoe bend at the Pennsylvania- 28 Delaware line in Birmingham Township, Chester County, to 29 confluence with the East and West Branches above Lenape - 9.7 30 miles - Pastoral. 19890H0298B0330 - 2 -
1 (2) Pocopson Creek - Confluence with main stem 2 Brandywine to State Route 842 - 6.5 miles - Pastoral. 3 (3) East Branch, Brandywine - Confluence with main stem 4 and West Branch to Penn Central overpass - 7.4 miles - 5 Pastoral. 6 (4) Valley Creek - Confluence with East Branch to Penn 7 Central overpass - 2.8 miles - Pastoral. 8 (5) West Branch, Brandywine - Confluence with main stem 9 to Wawaset Bridge - 0.75 miles - Pastoral. 10 (6) West Branch, Brandywine - Wawaset Bridge to a point 11 1600 feet downstream of Modena Borough Boundary, including 12 1.8 miles of Green Valley Stream and 2.2 miles of an unnamed 13 Newlin Township Tributary from Glenhall to Cannery - 16.25 14 miles - Scenic. 15 (7) Broad Run - Confluence with West Branch Brandywine 16 to Beacon Hill Road - 4.85 miles - Pastoral. 17 (8) Buck Run - Confluence with West Branch Brandywine to 18 1.4 miles upstream of Log Cabin Road Crossing - 11.0 miles - 19 Pastoral. 20 (9) Doe Run - Confluence with Buck Run to Fernwood Road 21 - 6.6 miles - Pastoral. 22 Section 5. Management responsibilities. 23 The department shall exercise administrative responsibilities 24 in implementing the "State Agency Management Guidelines for the 25 Lower Brandywine and Selected Tributaries in Pennsylvania," 26 within the designated component, as outlined in the text of the 27 "Lower Brandywine Scenic Rivers Evaluation and Management Study" 28 conducted by the department under the act of December 5, 1972 29 (P.L.1277, No.283), known as the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act. 30 The "Recommended Local Management Guidelines" included in the 19890H0298B0330 - 3 -
1 "Lower Brandywine Scenic Rivers Evaluation and Management Study" 2 are recommended and voluntary for local governments, landowners 3 and interested organizations in recognizing the value of the 4 Lower Brandywine and selected tributaries. The Pennsylvania Fish 5 Commission shall exercise enforcement of its fishing and boating 6 regulations and laws within the designated component. 7 Section 6. Special consideration. 8 The department, in cooperation with local governments, shall 9 establish an implementation team, composed of, but not limited 10 to, landowners, local governments and conservation 11 organizations, to act as a local advocate for implementation of 12 this act. The department shall assist the implementation team in 13 carrying out recommendations of the Management Plan, including 14 the conduct of an access study, development of an agency contact 15 list and implementation of other management strategies included 16 in the "Lower Brandywine Scenic Rivers Evaluation and Management 17 Study." 18 Section 7. Cooperation and coordination. 19 State agencies are authorized to seek the help of and enter 20 into agreements with the Federal Government and its agencies and 21 commissions, local governments and concerned private persons and 22 organizations with the view of fostering cooperation and 23 coordination to further the purpose of this act. To this end, 24 the department shall also seek the cooperation of the Delaware 25 River Basin Commission. State agencies, boards and commissions 26 shall cooperate and coordinate their activities with the 27 department in relation to the Lower Brandywine component in 28 order to further the purpose of this act. 29 Section 8. Limitation of liability. 30 The provisions of the act of February 2, 1966 (1965 P.L.1860, 19890H0298B0330 - 4 -
1 No.586), entitled "An act encouraging landowners to make land 2 and water areas available to the public for recreational 3 purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith, and 4 repealing certain acts," limiting the liability of owners of 5 land and water areas who make them available to the public for 6 recreational purposes without charge, shall be applicable to 7 owners of land and water areas within the Lower Brandywine 8 component. 9 Section 9. Zoning powers. 10 Nothing in this act shall be construed as granting new zoning 11 powers to the Commonwealth or municipalities. 12 Section 10. Repairs and construction. 13 (a) Road repairs.--Where township road repairs are needed, 14 construction activities should be carried out within the 15 existing rights-of-way to maintain vegetation and scenic 16 qualities. 17 (b) Construction.--Construction, reconstruction, repair or 18 alterations due to safety or capacity considerations shall be 19 consistent with safe highway geometric design and in accordance 20 with the "Guidelines to Improve the Aesthetic Quality of Roads 21 in Pennsylvania," dated June 1978, prepared jointly by the 22 Department of Transportation and the department. 23 Section 11. Expenditure of funds. 24 The department is authorized to expend money, when available, 25 for all of the following: 26 (1) Technical assistance for implementation of and 27 planning under the "Lower Brandywine Scenic Rivers Evaluation 28 and Management Study" conducted by the department under the 29 act of December 5, 1972 (P.L.1277, No.283), known as the 30 Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act. 19890H0298B0330 - 5 -
1 (2) Assistance in the education of the general public 2 regarding the scenic rivers designation and appropriate 3 conservation measures. 4 Section 12. Effective date. 5 This act shall take effect immediately. A4L32VDL/19890H0298B0330 - 6 -