To the editor:
I attended the fourth annual Raritan River Sustainability conference held on June 14 at Duke Farms. I would like to thank Dr. Judy Shaw from Rutgers for coordinating the event and highlighting the need for a watershed approach to flood mitigation. Dr. Shaw understands Manville’s flooding problem and is willing to help us work towards a solution.
Some good news from the conference is that the removal of the old Calco dam on the Raritan has had a positive effect. Three more dams on the Raritan are planned to be removed upstream from Manville. In addition, two dams in the Millstone — the Weston Causeway and Black Mills dams — are also being planned for removal.
Removing manmade restrictions and restoring the natural flow of the rivers is a step in the right direction and will provide better fishing and hopefully reduce future flooding. The Island Farm weir is still being monitored for fish migration through its fish ladder. One can only hope we see the day that this one is removed, too.
A FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) representative gave a talk about the benefits of the agency’s “Community Rating System (CRS).” As a result of CRS, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS, which are: 1. Reduce flood losses; 2. Facilitate accurate insurance rating; and 3. Promote the awareness of flood insurance. This program is a voluntary incentive program that can lower flood insurance premiums from 5 percent to 45 percent, depending on levels of achievement.
In addition some disappointing news, I found out from FEMA that the Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) program to either buyout or elevate homes is not funded as of yet for 2013. Hopefully Congress will fund this program and more buyout money will be made available for which Manville can apply.
I also recently attended a Green Brook Flood Control Commission meeting held on June 6 and specifically asked the Army Corps representative in attendance if the Bound Brook levees and flood gates had any adverse impacts on water levels upstream or downstream during Hurricane Irene.
I was told the project had no adverse impact and it will be 100 percent completed this year. That is somewhat good news for Manville, since we are looking for the same type of flood prevention to protect more than 500 homes in Manville’s flood zones. Manville is no different than Bound Brook. At every opportunity that’s the message we need to deliver.
Richard M. Onderko
Borough Councilman
Manville
