Rivers will be De-snagged, Cleaned to Alleviate Flooding

Parts of the Pompton and Ramapo Rivers will be de-snagged and cleaned in an effort to alleviate flooding in town.

Department of Public Works (DPW) personnel will remove downed and leaning trees and debris from the flow channels of the rivers beginning at Pompton Plains Crossroads to the crossing of Hamburg Turnpike, said George Holzapfel, the town’s DPW director.

The initial work will be to alleviate flooding behind properties on Shore Road, one of the worst flooded areas in town.

Debris has substantially blocked two flow channels in that area. DPW workers will access the area at the intersection of North and Shore Roads.

Mayor Chris Vergano said at a council meeting Wednesday that trees to the south along the channels will be brought to the intersection. Tree trucks, stumps, and other large debris will be loaded onto dump trucks and smaller debris will be turned into wood chips at the intersection.

Work is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 23.

The state Department of Environmental Protection had issued a $350,000 grant to Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Pequannock, and Riverdale to de-snag the rivers. One of the four municipalities was to be the lead agency and would publically bid and manage the project, but Vergano said that plan has taken too long. Officials decided it would be best if the town took its portion of the grant, $80,000, and handled its part of the project independently. Pompton Lakes will do the same.

The $80,000 will be used to cover the cost of manpower, renting the necessary equipment, and disposal fees.

The town .

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, several residents affected by the floods complained that it has been years since local rivers, especially the Pompton, had been de-snagged or dredged.

“The de-snagging of tree limbs and other debris does contribute to letting the water flow more freely,” Sandy Galacio, director of the township’s office of emergency management and homeland security said in October. “The more quickly the water can move through the area, the more water the river system can hold.”

In a report to Governor Christie issued last January, the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Committee recommended that “routine” dredging of the rivers.

Offiicials want reservoirs lowered

The Town Council approved an ordinance Wednesday night calling for the lowering of the Wanaque Reservoir system.

Councilman Alan Purcell, who represents the First Ward, sponsored the ordinance. Historically, the First Ward is the most heavily flooded area in the township, including the Mountainview section of town.

“We’re expecting heavy rains this year, and we can lower the other reservoirs at least 20 percent without harming water levels in a draught case scenario,” Purcell said.

The resolution requests that Governor Christie direct the owners of the reservoir system to release as much water as is practicable from the reservoir systems under their control, including dumping enough water to return the water level to normal.

The township wants: a comprehensive Water Management Plan established that includes a flood control plan, a program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to remove obstructions from rivers, and that the state issue the appropriate permits to conduct the necessary work.

Though he voted in favor of the resolution, At-Large Councilman Joseph Schweighardt, questioned whether the resolution would bring about a draught in the case that it didn’t rain for a while.

“I think the resolution makes sense, because we’re probably going to have full reservoirs in the near future, but I’m concerned with when the reservoirs aren’t near full and we don’t have rain for a long period of time,” Schweighardt said.

Purcell assured him that the greater concern is the safety of the town.

“As long as our grass is as green as it should be, it’s our job to save these people of their losses,” Purcell said. “People’s lives and homes should be a primary concern before how much we have to water our grass.”

He emphasized that the resolution will benefit surrounding towns that have been hit heavily as well.

“It’s not only Wayne, it’s a lot of towns involved in more than one county,” Purcell said.