Legislation Would Allot $22.5 Million in Bond Funds for Dam Restoration
(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats Raj Mukherji, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Reed Gusciora sponsored to appropriate approximately $22.5 million in 2003 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects recently received final legislative approval.
The bill was approved 80-0 by the Assembly on Sept. 15 and 38-0 by the Senate on Sept. 22.
The bill (A-3229) would enable the state to use $22,463,000 from the “Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003” for loans to owners of private dams or to municipal units that own dams to finance their restoration projects. Monies for the designated projects have been made available from project cancellations, withdrawals, cost savings, interest earnings and loan repayments.
“Given the increasing number of small dam failures due to the lack of maintenance and inspection in our state, it’s critical that we prioritize investing in infrastructure to avoid more damage in the future, or – God forbid – the devastation of a major dam failure, which New Jersey is lucky enough to have never experienced,” said Mukherji (D-Hudson). “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to the public welfare.”
“There is no dam – no matter how well-constructed – that can function efficiently without proper upkeep,” said Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “These funds will enable dam owners to make repairs as appropriate and prevent further damage.”
“We must be proactive about maintaining our infrastructure in New Jersey,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “This bill will give dam owners the means to act responsibly and keep these structures in good working condition.”
Allocation would be as follows:
Dam Name Applicant Loan Amount
Boonton Reservoir Dam Jersey City MUA $1,616,000
Split Rock Dam Jersey City MUA $3,792,188
Bass Lake Dam Princeton-Blairstown Center, Inc. $700,000
Lake Gerard Dam Lake Gerard, LLC $1,746,323
Stony Brook #14
(Honey Lake) Dam Honey Lake Association $1,250,000
High Crest Lake Dam High Crest Lake Lodge, Inc. $575,000
Heaters Pond Dam Borough of Ogdensburg $660,000
Lake Winona Dam Lake Winona Civic
Association, Inc. $708,773
Preakness Hills Country
Club Dam No. 1 Preakness Hills Country Club $650,000
Country Lakes #1 Dam Township of Pemberton $3,731,248
Lake Erskine Dam Erskine Lakes Property
Owners Association $668,000
Lake Shawnee Dam Lake Shawnee Club, Inc. $2,000,000
Henion Pond Dam Vacamas Programs for Youth $1,165,000
Country Lakes #3 Dam Township of Pemberton $2,139,272
Hughes Lake Dam City of Passaic $743,000
Administrative – $318,196
The “Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003” included $95 million for loans to owners of private dams, as co-applicants with local government units, or to municipal units that own dams, to finance the costs of dam restoration and repair projects undertaken by, or on behalf of, the owners of dams. These funds were first appropriated for specific projects in June 2005. A subsequent appropriation of $16.95 million was made in May 2010.
The bill now heads to the governor.