U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, and Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. (N.J.-10), last week applauded the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to prioritize efforts to mitigate flooding along the Rahway River Basin, which flows through Union, Essex and Middlesex Counties.
The federal government has committed $1 million towards the completion of a key study needed to finish the project; $500,000 in immediate Army Corps funds and another $500,000 in the President’s FY16 budget.
“ This critically needed funding will help us complete the necessary studies and work on implementation that will lead to channel improvements, dry flood proofing, wet flood proofing, and other flood mitigation measures, ” said Menendez. “Flooding along the river has damaged houses, businesses, roads and municipal facilities. Now, after 17 years of fighting for funding, we have a chance to take the next the step to protect the area and restore the River Basin.”
The N.Y. District Army Corps, N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the local communities have been working to complete a feasibility study to identify various flood risk management alternatives for communities along the Rahway River Basin with a focus on Cranford and Rahway, but federal funding was abruptly cut off in FY14.
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