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Public Urged to Weigh in on Flood Solutions

 

Union County NJ Rahway River via NJDEP
Rahway River and tributaries (image via NJ DEP).

Union County, NJ – Extreme weather events like Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy have brought renewed calls to resolve chronic flooding issues in the Rahway River Basin, particularly in Cranford and Rahway as well as Springfield and Union. Members of the public are urged to lend their voices to this effort by attending an information meeting conducted by state and federal officials, hosted by the Union County Freeholder Board and the Mayors’ Council on Rahway River Watershed Flood Control.

The meeting will take place in the Roy E. Smith Theatre at Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford on Monday, June 15, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

“The science shows that extreme storms are becoming more frequent and intense, and our experience here in Union County confirms it,” said Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The time is now to take meaningful action that protects our neighborhoods while enabling Union County to keep growing.” 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection have been working to develop solutions for flooding in Union and Essex counties with a particular focus centered on Cranford and Rahway, in the form of the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study.

At the June 15 meeting, representatives from both agencies will present their findings and discuss their progress toward preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed solutions. Representatives from the Mayors’ Council on Rahway River Watershed Flood Control will also attend.

The meeting is designed to enable members of the public to comment on flooding issues and the impacts of proposed solutions, to be included in the final Environmental Impact Statement.

At the meeting, information will also be solicited on natural resources in the Rahway River Basin, including wildlife, plant life and wetland habitats.

“I want to emphasize that during this preliminary phase, several different options are being explored,” said Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “Especially if you live in flood areas, please come to the meeting and get your ideas and concerns on record.”

The meeting agenda will be:

7:00 – 7:30, Informational Poster Board Session and Information Exchange.

7:30 – 8:00, Formal Informational Presentation

8:00 – 9:00, Informational Poster Board Session and Information Exchange

Details on the alternatives are available on the Army Corps of Engineers website, usace.mil.

For more information on the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study, contact Ms. Rifat Salim, Project Manager, Rifat.Salim@usace.army.mil or 917-790-8215.

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