By David Kilby, Staff Writer
CRANBURY — The Brainerd Lake dam repair project is at a stalemate as the township and county wait for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to tell them what kind of repairs the dam needs.
There have been concerns the repairs would affect traffic on Main Street, but at this point, there’s only one type of repair project that would cause that kind of trouble, said William Tanner, township engineer.
If the DEP decides the culvert underneath the dam needs to be replaced, then that project would close down Main Street at least while an alternate bridge is built, Mr. Tanner explained.
The county would pay for half of the project, and the township would pay for the other half.
Costs for the entire project could range from $1.3 million to $5 million, depending on what kind of repairs need to be done, said Denise Marabello, business administrator.
”It will most likely be funded with a bond,” Ms. Marabello said.
The township had anticipated the project beginning in the summer, but Mr. Tanner said it most likely won’t start at that time since a great deal of preliminary matters still need to be discussed.
”This is another project between the county and the township as they share joint ownership of the dam and road,” Mr. Tanner said.
The DEP requires the owner of a dam to file reports on it every two years, he explained.
Over time, it has been noted there have been repairs needed,” Mr. Tanner said.
”There’s not a lot wrong with the dam,” he added.
After the DEP looks at geological, structural and other preliminary reports on the dam, it will tell the township and county what needs to be done.
”If we do the most expensive repairs, it will affect transportation,” Mr. Tanner said.
The DEP is saying now is the time to look at the repair needs that would give the dam a longer life, he explained.
”It’s an extension of the life of the dam,” Mr. Tanner said. “There are things wrong with it, but they don’t move the dam in to an unsafe category. Some rocks fell out of the base of the dam, but it isn’t in an imminent state of collapse.”
He added, “We have to do something. It’s like repairing the dents and nicks in a car. Over time, things like that deteriorate, and the longer you let them go, the worse they get.”
There are a couple of alternatives that are being explored, but the only one that will affect transportation and pedestrians is replacing the culvert, he said.
The county has hired Najarian Assoiciates LLC, of Eatontown, to take care of the entire design of the repairs, Mr. Tanner said.
After a design has been chosen, construction will be done by the county, he said.
He also explained his minimal involvement in the project.
”If I see anything that is questionable, I raise the questions with the (Township) Committee. I’m basically acting as an interpreter,” he said. “This type of stuff is done by people who do just that stuff — build dams.”
Mr. Tanner said when a project like this starts. no one knows what direction it will go in.
All he knows at this point is that all repairs would deal with the dam’s ability to have more water to pass through it, he said.
The discussion between the DEP, county and township involves looking at the costs, benefits and risks involved with enhancing the spillway, he explained.
”We have small pockets that we have to take care of,” he said, “and that’s what we’re doing.”
He said the public has a right to be concerned about the project, but at this point, there really is nothing to worry about.
The next big step is submitting a series of reports for the DEP to look at. He said the state may say the reports are good and still require the township look at something else.
”That’s more likely to happen than not,” Mr. Tanner said.
The county and township also has to talk with the Cranbury Fire Department, Police Department, Board of Education, Historical Society and property owners along the lake and Main Street before work can be done since all of these groups might be affected by the dam repairs, Mr. Tanner explained.
”It’s too early to make a decision, but it’s not too early to let people know that options are being considered,” he said.
He added, “The state has got to speak on this so we know what direction to go in. The DEP has to tell us what they want us to do.”

