Another $500K Grant Will Help Flood-Prone Towns Along Whippany River: Officials

HANOVER, NJ — Another $500,000 in federal grant money will bolster a project to reduce flooding in Morris County communities along the Whippany River, officials said.

Last week, five Morris County mayors joined state legislators to discuss progress on the Whippany River Regional Improvement Initiative, which is aimed at better protecting residents and businesses from flood damage.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) secured an additional $500,000 in federal Community Project funding in this year's budget for the next phase of work, and said she will push for another $1.2 million to be secured in the next federal budget.

This multi-year, multi-phase project is already in progress, with leaders in Morristown, Morris Plains, Parsippany, East Hanover, Hanover and Florham Park involved in the effort to investigate local flood risks and the costs associated with potential solutions.

These communities have experienced the devastation caused by flooding, and $1.5 million in federal Community Project Funding from the 2023 budget allowed the towns to hire engineers to survey trouble spots in the river via helicopter.

The congresswoman met with local officials and other legislators in Hanover to discuss priority areas where crews will begin clearing and de-snagging the river, by removing dangerous obstructions and debris. State Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-NJ-26) and a representative from Sen. Anthony Bucco's office (R-NJ-25) also took part in the meeting.

"I’m proud to work with a bipartisan group of mayors to secure federal dollars to help remediate flooding – one of the top issues I hear about from constituents – along the Whippany River," said Sherrill.

The Whippany River watershed encompasses approximately 36 square miles and includes 12 Morris County towns.

In the coming years, additional grant funds will also be required for stream bank stabilization, sediment removal, and re-establishing and replanting vegetation along stream banks to reduce erosion and improve stormwater flow.