Princeton Township flood control panel unveils study

By: Rachel Silverman
   After nine months of deliberation and research, the Princeton Township Flood Control Committee unveiled this week the final draft of an area-wide flood mitigation plan.
   The plan, discussed Tuesday, aims to reduce overall flooding in Princeton Township and secure federal funding to do so.
   "Overall, Princeton Township’s done a good job with flood mitigation," Township Engineer Robert Kiser said in a phone interview. "We just want to make sure flooding in the township does not get any worse."
   In particular, Mr. Kiser cited Harry’s Brook and Quaker Road as areas with continual flood problems.
   "Quaker Road has issues with road flooding about six to eight times per year," Mr. Kiser estimated.
   Harry’s Brook also is repeatedly hit with floods because of the degree of development going on in the township.
   "Larger homes create additional runoff," Mr. Kiser said. "In Harry’s Brook, there were about 15 demolitions to build larger houses last year. We want to institute an early warning system and measure water levels in the Quaker Road area."
   To lessen the impact of such flooding, the new flood mitigation plan calls for additional assistance to homeowners.
   Mr. Kiser also said homes with first-floor flooding would be eligible for flood-proofing assistance. Alternatively, such homes could be purchased by the state and turned into park space.
   To accomplish such measures, Princeton Township will ask for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s state office.
   The plan, which represents the combined work of the township Engineering Department, Storm Water Management Consulting and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was created through dialogue with homeowners and information from a public survey on home flooding.