Boscola Announces over $4.4 Million in State Investment into Stormwater and Wastewater Projects in Northampton County

Boscola Announces over $4.4 Million in State Investment into Stormwater and Wastewater Projects in Northampton County

January 21, 2026

Bethlehem (January 21, 2026) - State Senator Lisa Boscola announced today that PENNVEST has approved a total of $4,410,000 in state investment for the Bethlehem Township Municipal Authority (BTMA) for their Easton Avenue Flood Mitigation (Phase 1A) and Sculac Stream Restoration projects.

"This PENNVEST funding will enable the Bethlehem Township Municipal Authority to continue its to work to prevent significant and dangerous flooding by addressing the flooding in the Easton Avenue/Santee area and also restore the stream channel of the Lehigh River under Sculac Road to protect residential properties from adjacent sanitary sewer infrastructure," Boscola stated. "This is another important example of the Commonwealth partnering with local authorities to assist with critically important environmental and public safety projects."

The Bethlehem Township Municipal Authority was approved for two low interest loans $2,200,000 for the Easton Avenue Flood Mitigation project and $3,210,000 for the Sculac Stream Restoration project. Both loans come with a 240-month term that have a 1% interest rate for the first five years and a 1.743% interest rate for the balance of the term.

The Easton Avenue Stormwater Mitigation Project will allow the BMTA to retrofit two stormwater detention basins, so both can be used as water-quality bioretention facilities with additional water storage capacity.

The Sculac Stream Restoration project will allow the BTMA improve approximately 2,800 feet of channel by implementing installation of 33 boulder cascades to act as step pool/grade control structures along the length of the channel, six sawtooth deflectors, four bend way weirs, and approximately 50 feet of boulder habitat revetments. A riparian buffer that will be disturbed during the construction process will be replanted with a mix of native shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plantings.

Established in 1988, PENNVEST provides funding for sewer, storm water and drinking water projects.

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