Matawan looking for dam funding sources Despite needed repairs, officials say borough’s two dams are safe

Staff Writer

By Alison Granito

Matawan looking for dam funding sources
Despite needed repairs,
officials say borough’s two dams are safe

MATAWAN — With the repair bill on the borough’s two dams expected to run around $10 million, officials hope to fund the project with county and state money.

"Right now the township engineer is poring over every possible funding source that we could get," Mayor Robert Clifton said Tuesday.

The borough will start seeking funding for the repairs to the dams on lakes Matawan and Lefferts as soon as the borough engineer identifies what sources the project is eligible to receive money from, said Clifton.

"We don’t have any time frame yet on when money would be available," Clifton said.

Borough Engineer Robert Bucco of T&M Associates, Middletown, completed an inspection report on the dams last month and submitted it to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Division of Dam Safety.

The DEP requested reports from all of the state’s 1,600 dam owners after the failure of eight state dams in recent years.

According to the report, both dams are classified as Type I, high hazard dams, which means that the failure of either could result in loss of life.

"Our focus is not on this because there is any imminent danger or problem. There is absolutely no cause for panic. We are doing what we should be doing," Borough Administrator Joe Leo said Tuesday.

Leo added that the borough intends to stay on top of the state and make sure it is doing everything required to contribute to improvements to both dams.

The report recommends major repairs to both dams, including immediate repair of deteriorated concrete spillways and low level outlets, as well as immediate replacement of the Lake Lefferts dam timber bulkhead, piles and retaining wall.

The repair bill for both dams is expected to top $10 million, or $5 million for each dam.

Borough officials stressed that neither dam is in danger of failure, despite last month’s report which is based on Nov. 6 visual inspections and which show both dams to be in poor condition.

The embankments of both the Lake Lefferts and Lake Matawan dams, which were built in the 1920s, are formed by major roadways.

According to the inspection report, failure of either dam could mean significant damage to roadways including Ravine Drive and Main Street. Residential areas downstream of the dams could also be affected.