Flooding

FLOODING IN PASSAIC RIVER BASIN

Congressman Frelinghuysen has long been concerned with flooding in our area and the 983 square miles that make up the Passaic River Basin. 

 During his time in Congress, Congressman Frelinghuysen has worked with the Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), many mayors, state legislators and other Members of Congress to address flooding along the Passaic River basin.  As you may not know, over 3500 acres in our area have been protected as part of a Corps’ project he has long supported, the Preservation of Natural Storage Areas.

As you may know, the State of New Jersey Executive Order 23 required the Passaic River Flood Advisory Commission to provide a comprehensive plan to address flooding in the Passaic basin. And, thankfully, our Governor has been working on expediting state support, as some of the fifteen recommendations are within his jurisdiction.Progress on these recommendations can be viewed at NJDEP’s Passaic River website at www.nj.gov/dep/passaicriver/.

Rodney has been working with the Army Corps to get the reevaluation of the Passaic River Main Stem project to be a Presidential priority in President Obama’s budget submissions to Congress.  In fact, he met with Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), Jo-Ellen Darcy, multiple times in Washington to discuss their critical involvement and the need for Federal resources.  As a result of Rodney’s effort, the President included $1 million in his Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal for this critical project.  Rodney has written to the President to again request that this project remain a Presidential priority in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2014 request.

The Army Corps, partnering with NJDEP, is moving forward with carrying out the Passaic River Basin General Re-evaluation Study to determine the best flood risk management alternative to help communities throughout the Passaic River Basin.  Two public information sessions were held in 2012 to explain the study and take questions. 

To view the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers briefing with the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission click here.

To learn more about the Passaic Mainstem Project click here.