A step closer for flood remediation measures

[ddawatson]

A step closer for flood remediation measures

NJ.com: Everything Jersey

Wednesday, July 18, 2007
WASHINGTON -- A half-million dollars in federal funds that would be used for flood remediation measures along the Assunpink Creek was included in legislation received approval yesterday from the House of Representatives.

The funding, requested by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), is included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

The money -- which passed the House by a vote of 312-112, but which still must be approved by the Senate -- would allow the Army Corps of to continue work to restore and stabilize the banks of the creek in an effort to reduce flooding.

"Over the past several years, Trenton has been hit hard by severe storms that have caused excessive damage due to repeated flooding. I am hopeful that additional stream bank protection will help mitigate potential damage along Assunpink Creek," Smith said.

"The Assunpink Creek restoration project is vital in ensuring the health and safety of the environment. Ecosystem management -- especially restoration of natural, proper water flow -- is imperative to protecting this valuable tributary to the Delaware River. Passage of the bill today puts us one step closer to completing this vital project," Smith said.




© 2007 The Times of Trenton
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[rford]

The Army Corp has quite a bad reputaion for devastating wetlands and exasperating flooding issues. I am sure what ever they do there will follow suit.

ralph

 

[Dave B.]

Regarding the Assunpink this is just another waste of taxpayer dollars. As for the quote,"...restoring the natural, proper waterflow..." that's what the present situation is. The small area of Trenton that is chronically effected by flooding is in the flood plain of the creek. The gradient through the area is very low and just downstream the creek is bound on both sides by large, old factories with DeLaval Turbine being the largest facility.

A greater factor in the flooding issue is the development in the watersheds of 3 upstream tribs, the Shabakunk and Little Shabakunk creeks which drain from Ewing and Lawrence Twps, and Miry Run which drains from Washington and Hamilton Twps. Development in these sub-watersheds has been beyond extensive in the past 20 years and despite onsite retention basins the runoff during high precip events is immense.

These 3 tribs all enter the Assunpink approx. 3/4 mile upstream of the chronically effected area of Trenton. Then too there's a trib named Pond Run that enters about 1/3 mile downstream of the prime flooding area. During spate events this creek dumps so much volume that it actually creates a backup of flow in the Assunpink proper. 'Course too it doesn't help that Pond Run was widened, deepened and channelized in the mid to late '70s, allowing runoff to reach the Assunpink rapidly and in high volume since development in this sub-watershed has likewise been very extensive. Pond Run begins in Washington Twp near the Rt 130/I 195 interchange area and drains a vast majority of Hamilton Twp. Development in the headwaters and upper reaches includes not only large residential tracts but also huge shopping centers and some industrial/corporate complexes. Thousands of acres of impervious surface where fields and forest once stood not so very long ago.