PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) hosted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and local mayors yesterday to address flooding in the 11th District of New Jersey. Colonel Thomas Asbery from the USACE gave an update on flooding issues, and mayors from Passaic, Essex, and Morris Counties discussed the issues their towns currently face from repeat and intensifying flooding. Following the discussion, the group went to Two Bridges on Fairfield Road in Wayne for a site visit.
“With ongoing flooding issues in our communities, it was important to bring together the Army Corps of Engineers, the NJDEP, and local mayors who represent towns along the Peckman and Passaic Rivers,” said Representative Sherrill. “We need to address local flooding and major weather events, and our towns can’t tackle that alone. I will continue to work with our mayors on this issue because the problem of flooding is not going away.”
“We appreciate the leadership of Congresswoman Sherrill in bringing the community together to discuss flooding in the Passaic River Basin,” said NJDEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe.“Especially in the face of continued impacts from climate change, we understand the impact to life and property that chronic flooding causes for the residents of Passaic, Essex, and Morris counties. The DEP looks forward to continuing its work with all of our local and federal partners to explore ways to address these challenges as we endeavor to make New Jersey stronger and more resilient.”
“I am very happy that the Congresswoman convened this meeting,” said Wayne Township Mayor Christopher P. Vergano. “Any time we can have a discussion that moves the conversation on flooding forward is progress.”
“We hope that the meeting was beneficial to engage the local leaders on the challenges the basin faces and that the result of today allows us to move the study effort on a path forward,” said Colonel Asbery, USACE.
This is the second in a series of flood infrastructure meeting Representative Sherrill has convened since taking office. In February, Representative Sherrill held a Mayors’ roundtable to learn more about the innovative ways local leaders are tackling flood mitigation and the roadblocks they face.
