Representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will report on its study of the creek, the conclusions it reached and possible solutions for flooding.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE The city will host a public meeting next week to discuss possible remedies for flooding created by a backwash of Swan Creek.
The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Justice Center on South Union Street.
Representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will report on the methods used to study the creek, the conclusions reached so far and possible flooding remedies. Attending the meeting from the NRCS will be Greg Westfall, a water resource planner, and David Lamm, an engineer.
The NRCS is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture. Previously known as the Soil Erosion Service, the agency is charged with helping to conserve natural resources.
"People are obviously interested in this," Mayor David Del Vecchio said. "Everyone who lives there should come out and hear what they have to say."
The meeting is scheduled for the later hour to avoid a conflict for residents who will attend their children’s Christmas performance the same night at Lambertville Public School, Mayor Del Vecchio said.
Areas typically affected by flooding from Swan Creek include lower Swan Street, South Union Street and lower Ferry Street.
In June, one man died as floodwaters rose, and the creek backwashed. He was found later in Swan Creek. The creek backwashed even before the Delaware River crested at 19.8 feet. It was the third flood in less than two years.
The city turned to the USDA for the study rather than a private contractor because it would "send a better message to have a government agency rather than a private concern that might have a concern in building it," Mayor Del Vecchio said.
The city entered into a contract Jan. 1 with the USDA to perform an investigative study for the problems of Swan Creek flooding. The city is paying for the $60,000 study with Urban Development Action Grant repayment funds.
Funds from UDAG were given to the city years ago by the state. The city made a loan of the funds to a developer, who has repaid it. Now the city is using the repayment funds for several projects, including the Swan Creek study.

