Plan for two levees
presented to public
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer
VERONICA YANKOWSKI The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has presented plans to prevent future flooding along the South River, a marshy section of which is seen here.
Local officials and U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) met recently with representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss a plan for flood control on the South River.
A study released in early June by the Army Corps outlines solutions to flooding problems that have periodically occurred along the river. Two levees, each approximately 10,000 feet in length, have been proposed for opposite banks of the river, according to the study. These levees are expected to control severe flooding from hurricanes or other storms, and prevent damage to the more than 1,000 structures along the river banks, according to Peter Blum of the Army Corps’ planning office.
The July 19 meeting in South River was the first time residents were able to gain information about the flood control plan in a public forum. According to Blum, the Corps will also speak with residents from Sayreville, since both communities border the river.
Mayor Robert Szegeti said this week that the Borough Council was impressed with the Corps’ explanation of the project and the plans that were displayed.
"I think everybody in the audience was in agreement that we need the levees," Szegeti said.
The Corps is hoping the levees and the proposed ecosystem restoration will help diminish the damage caused by storms such as the nor’easter in March 1993 that resulted in approximately $17 million in damages in the areas around the South River.
The South River and the Raritan River basin were studied for several years in accordance with an act of Congress that was passed in May 1993.
The 21.5-foot-tall levees and flood walls along the eastern and western banks of the lower South River would result in sufficient flood control, officials have said. The project would also include a storm surge barrier north of the Veterans Memorial Bridge in combination with the levees and flood walls that would be installed in the lower areas.
According to the Corps summary, the total cost for the hurricane and storm damage reduction project is $62.5 million. Another $50.5 million will be spent on ecosystem restoration of the South River in order to avoid or minimize environmental impact, the summary states.
Almost half of the 1,278 acres along the Old South River and the Washington Canal are comprised of "common reeds," the Corps’ summary states. The goal of the restoration is to improve the available habitat by converting some of the area into "wetland scrub-shrub and salt marsh."
"This project will not only protect local homes and businesses from flooding from the South River, but will improve the environment in the affected area," Pallone said.
The projects will be paid for by the state Department of Environmental Protection, which will absorb 35 percent of the cost, and the federal government, which will cover 65 percent.
Pallone said that he is proud of the effort to produce solutions and provide a restoration plan. The congressman announced July 10 that the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee had approved $200,000 for the completion of the study and the pre-construction, engineering and design phases of the project.
The bill is expected to be voted on by the House Appropriations Committee and would then go to the full House of Representatives for a vote in October, according to Pallone’s office.