The Christie Administration has awarded $3 million in stream cleaning grants to municipal and county governments in the Passaic River Basin as part of an ongoing, long-term effort to reduce flood impacts in communities in a four-county region of North Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.
The DEP, which is administering the program, solicited applications from municipalities in Morris, Essex, Bergen and Passaic counties last fall.
A total of 36 municipalities and three counties will receive grants ranging from $31,000 to $300,000 to help finance projects to keep their waterways clear of snags, debris and shoals, allowing water to run freely through stream and river channels.
“ While there is no silver bullet to prevent flooding in the Passaic River Basin, we can initiate steps like stream cleaning, de-snagging, shoal dredging and other measures identified in Governor Christie’s Comprehensive 15-Point Passaic River Flood Plan to help lessen flooding impacts ,” said Commissioner Martin. “ These grants will help participating cities and towns clear fallen trees and debris that can cause streams to clog and floodwaters to divert from river channels. We hope the towns and counties move on these projects as quickly as possible .”
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Press Release, March 10, 2014