HILLSBOROUGH: State-level flood group to be formed

By Peter Sclafani, Staff Writer
   Local state elected officials will put together a task force to examine the escalating flooding problems for towns located along the Raritan and Delaware rivers.
   The 16th District delegation of state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman and Assembly members Jack Ciattarelli and Donna Simon held a news conference yesterday afternoon at Duke’s Parkway Park to announce the anti-flooding initiative.
   The Hunterdon-Somerset Flood Advisory Task Force will consist of 11 unpaid members from the state and local governments as well as people who have expertise in flood mitigation and engineering.
   One representative will be from the nine-municipality Millstone and Raritan Rivers Flood Control Commission formed this winter. Manville and Hillsborough are members of the group.
   The task force also will receive staff support from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
   The announcement comes at the beginning of hurricane season. Last year, Hurricane Irene caused major damage in Manville, and the members of the task force are determined to take a proactive approach to the problem, according to Assemblywoman Simon.
   ”This legislation will, hopefully, start fighting back against flooding,” Ms. Simon said.
   In conjunction with the state Department of Environmental Protection, federal Army Corps of Engineers and the mayors of the municipalities along the rivers, the task force has a goal of submitting its surveys and recommendations to the governor in one year.
   ”Waiting for the next storm to hit is not the answer to the flooding problem,” Ms. Simon said. “The flood issues need to be taken care of.”
   The advisory task force will consider all aspects of flooding, and the studies already in place will be streamlined to serve the community better and prevent future disasters, according to Ms. Simon.
   One of the major tributaries that will be taken into consideration will be the Millstone River, which feeds into the Raritan. Major flooding in Manville as well as the surrounding areas has always been a concern of the state, Ms. Simon said.
   ”Our intent is to be a catalyst and move the flood prevention plans forward,” she said.
   The flood advisory task force will have as members the commissioner of Department of Environmental Protection and the director of the state Office of Emergency Management as well as:
   • Two mayors of municipalities in the Delaware River basin.
   • Two mayors of municipalities in the Raritan River basin.
   • One representative each from the Hunterdon and Somerset counties Offices of Emergency Management.
   • One representative from the Millstone and Raritan Rivers Flood Control Commission.
   • Two individuals with relevant expertise (engineering, flood mitigation, public planning, environmental protection or related issues).