Reading and Northern Railroad officials recently met with Nesquehoning to discuss water runoff that is damaging rail tracks in the Hauto Valley Estates portion of the borough.

Chris Getz and Frances Karycki, representing Reading and Northern Railroad, spoke to council about an issue of excessive water runoff along the tracks, which are owned by Carbon County and leased by the railroad, that runs along Industrial Road.Council President David Hawk, council members Mary Fox, Frank Jacobs and George Sabol, as well as Mayor Sam Kitchko and solicitor Robert Yurchak were present at the meeting.Karycki asked where the water runoff comes from.Jacobs explained that the area in question is prone to water runoff from the surrounding mountains and natural springs. The water runs down the mountains, across state Route 54 and into the inlets, which run down the hills and under Park Avenue before depositing into the creek below.The problem, Getz and Karycki said, is that this water is bringing down excessive debris, and allowing it to form along the tracks, as well as erosion is taking place.Kitchko also pointed out that one of the areas in question is majority wetlands, which the borough can do nothing about."There used to be a pipe from Fourth Hollow Run that fed it but it was washed out in 2006 by the flood," Kitchko said. "The only thing filling the pond (now) is the natural springs."Fox asked what the railroad is looking for in this situation so she had a better understanding.Getz responded that they are hoping that they can work to get this flooding corrected because "we are having a direct flow and straining everything into a pipe that leads to us and we're getting washout that is causing damage to our tracks."Ron Tirpak of Carbon Engineering, who represents the borough, suggested that maybe the railroad could create a larger swale along the track in areas that don't have much drainage, pointing out that some are four feet deep, while others are four inches deep.Getz said that digging deeper would solve some of the issue but noted that the stormwater pipes are directed toward the ballasts of the tracks in some areas so deeper swales would not fully solve the problem at hand in the case of heavy rains.Tirpak said the borough could cut back the pipes approximately 18 inches to have the water pour into the ditches instead of near the tracks.Jacobs suggested the railroad also contact the county to see what obligations are in place in the lease agreement.