Rumana: $3 Million River Cleaning Grant Welcome News for Residents of Passaic River Basin Region
WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 23, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Assembly Republican Whip Scott Rumana said the announcement by the Christie administration of the start of a $3 million stream and river cleaning grant program for communities located in the flood-prone Passaic River Basin is welcome news for residents who have endured destructive flooding for years.
In August, Christie signed legislation, sponsored by Rumana, that re-appropriated this $3 million from the “Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003’’ to fund state flood control projects.
Under the program, local and county governments in the Passaic River Basin may apply for state grants to help them keep streams and rivers clear of snags, debris and shoals in an effort to reduce flooding risks in communities throughout the region. Deadline for applications is November 30, 2013.
“Homeowners, renters and businesses alike in the Passaic River Basin have, for years, endured chronic and, at times, severe flooding, which has gotten significantly worse over the past several years,” said Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Morris. “While a long-term flood control solution is still needed, this funding will help alleviate the impact of flooding for those who reside in the area.”
Rumana noted that the Christie administration has been the most proactive administration in the state’s history on this issue.
“Governor Christie and his administration have, by far, done more than any other administration in examining this problem and finding answers,” said Rumana. “Their unwavering commitment provides encouragement and hope for the thousands of residents and businesses located in flood-prone areas.”
The DEP will administer the program, for the 116 eligible municipalities in the basin. Individual grants are expected to be in the range of $100,000, although the agency may award additional funds if a project is deemed to be especially critical in addressing local or regional flooding.
Stream cleaning or de-snagging is the removal of accumulated sediments, debris, garbage, or vegetation from a stream with a natural stream bed, or the removal of any accumulated material from a stream previously channelized with concrete or similar artificial material, according to the DEP.
Rumana, a member of the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission who has been working to address the flooding problem in the Passaic River Basin for the past 20 years, recently introduced legislation, A-4313, to establish an Office of River Maintenance in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The office would be responsible for conducting and overseeing all stream cleaning, desnagging and bank stabilization projects throughout the state.
“Flooding is a problem of such enormity in our state, especially in the Passaic River Basin, that a specific entity dedicated solely to overseeing the removal of debris from our waterways is necessary,” he said.
The Passaic River watershed is about 935 square miles, with 84 percent located in New Jersey and the remainder in New York State. The Passaic River has seven major tributaries: the Whippany, Rockaway, Pompton, Pequannock, Wanaque, Ramapo, and Saddle rivers, all of which have periodic flooding problems.
