Officials want money to install floodgates and a pumping station at Swan Creek
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — The city has submitted a plan to the Corzine administration for a $7 million slice of the stimulus funds recently approved by both houses of Congress.
Lambertville wants the money to install floodgates and a pumping station at Swan Creek to prevent flooding. President Barack Obama was expected to sign the $787 billion stimulus package into law this week.
The president has pushed the stimulus package as the first major step in turning around the country’s failing economy. It is intended to create and save jobs.
Some of the projects mentioned in connection with the package include infrastructure improvements. City officials hope the Swan Creek project can be one of them.
Soon the city also plans to ask the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Obama administration for funds to construct flood remedies at Ely Creek, as well.
”We’re pursuing all avenues,” Mayor David Del Vecchio said.
Flooding from Swan Creek has affected the flat part of the city, practically all of which sits in the historic district.
”We’re protecting a 200-year-old neighborhood,” Mayor Del Vecchio said. “You can’t buy out people’s homes. You can’t elevate homes. You can’t put in floodwalls. We looked at different ways to respond to this, and this is the most efficient way to do it and still preserve the neighborhood. The pumping station and gates get the water out.”
The city performed an analysis of various flood remedies, and it found the floodgates and pumping station would work best to protect property and lives.
The next step is to fund engineering costs associated with the project.
The city is asking the state EIT, the Environmental Infrastructure Trust, for approximately $500,000.
The trust offers low- and zero-interest loans.

