Data center construction site runoff floods neighborhood again
The Monarch data center construction site in Mason County, West Virginia, has caused repeated flooding in the Meadowlands Estates neighborhood due to stormwater runoff. Residents are frustrated by the flooding, noise, and dust, leading some to consider a voluntary home purchasing program offered by Monarch. The company is reassessing its stormwater controls and paying for damages.
The Monarch data center construction site in Mason County, West Virginia, has once again caused flooding in the nearby Meadowlands Estates neighborhood, marking the second such incident this year. Residents, including Kevin Queen, are expressing significant frustration over the repeated runoff, as well as ongoing issues with noise and dust from the project. Monarch officials confirmed that runoff impacted two crawl spaces and several outbuildings after storms on July 11, following a similar event in May.
Despite Monarch's previous efforts to implement additional stormwater controls such as silt fencing, barriers, berms, and drainage paths after the initial flooding, these measures proved insufficient. The company is currently reassessing its drainage lines and continuing site improvements. In response to the persistent issues, Monarch launched a voluntary home purchasing program last month for Meadowlands Estates residents, with about 30 homes already in the process of being acquired based on independent valuations and a premium. However, many residents are disappointed by the necessity of leaving homes they have occupied for decades. Monarch has pledged to cover damages from the latest flooding and will continue site monitoring for the 2,200-acre project, which is expected to take five to six years to complete.