Mayors, Officials Meet Regarding Passaic River Basin Flooding

WAYNE, NJ – Local, state and federal officials say they are continuing to explore ways to help alleviate flooding issues in Passaic, Essex and Morris counties.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill met with local mayors, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recently discuss ways towns are tackling flood mitigation and the roadblocks they face.

After the meeting – the second in a series of flood infrastructure sit-downs since Sherill has taken office – the group went to Two Bridges on Fairfield Road in Wayne for a site visit.

“I am very happy that the Congresswoman convened this meeting,” Wayne Mayor Christopher P. Vergano said. “Any time we can have a discussion that moves the conversation on flooding forward is progress.”

DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said, “Especially in the face of continued impacts from climate change, we understand the impact to life and property that chronic flooding causes for the residents of Passaic, Essex, and Morris counties. The DEP looks forward to continuing its work with all of our local and federal partners to explore ways to address these challenges as we endeavor to make New Jersey stronger and more resilient.”

“With ongoing flooding issues in our communities, it was important to bring together the Army Corps of Engineers, the NJDEP, and local mayors who represent towns along the Peckman and Passaic Rivers,” Sherrill said. “We need to address local flooding and major weather events, and our towns can’t tackle that alone. I will continue to work with our mayors on this issue because the problem of flooding is not going away.”

The 935-square-mile Passaic River basin has experienced regular floods in the past 50 years, with the worst coming in 1984 and in 2011 with Tropical Storm Irene.

Wayne officials are currently seeking permission from the state to clean and clear sections of the Passaic, Pompton and Ramapo rivers that pass through the township to help reduce flooding.

It's been about seven years since the township has last cleaned and cleared the Passaic River Basin waterways in Wayne. A 2011 report by the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Committee recommended regular de-snagging and cleaning of the three rivers.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, several residents affected by the floods complained that it has been years since local rivers, especially the Pompton, had been de-snagged or dredged.