(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen John S. Wisniewski and Craig J. Coughlin (both D-Middlesex) sponsored to help combat the flooding of the South River in Sayreville has been signed into law.
The law (A-3138) provides $1.047 million to the Department of Environmental Protection to initiate and support flood control and prevention projects to mitigate the periodic flooding of the South River in Sayreville in Middlesex County. The source of the funding is the Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003.
“As residents of Sayreville know all too well, floodwaters have a devastating and long-lasting effect on safety, quality of life and property,” said Wisniewski. “This law will help fund temporary remediation that will keep floodwaters at bay until the federal government and the Army Corps of Engineers can enact a permanent flood prevention solution.”
“This flooding has caused considerable property damage in the community and repeated hardship and constant anxiety for those living and working in the river’s flood hazard area,” said Coughlin. “Given the continuing threat of serious flooding from the South River, the funding provided by this law will facilitate and expedite the effort needed to address this problem.”
The South River is the geographic border separating the municipalities of Sayreville and South River in Middlesex County. Since the mid-1990’s floodwaters following heavy rains and nor’easters have caused considerable flooding along the Sayreville side of the river, causing significant and repeated property damage for those residents living in the river’s flood plain.
The Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of completing a study of the area and is formulating how best to design a long-term flood remediation program. In the meantime, the residents of Sayreville continue to battle floodwaters after heavy rains.
“Sayreville residents can’t wait another 10 or 15 years for a permanent flood solution,” Wisniewski said.
“The residents of Sayreville need flood protection now and the funding provided by this law will give them just that,” Coughlin said.