NJIT to study ways to mitigate flooding in Hackensack, Little Ferry and Moonachie regionFriday, October 4, 2013
BY CHRISTOPHER LANG
EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle
A state department has granted a Newark-based college more than a quarter-million dollars to study ways to mitigate flooding in parts of northern New Jersey.
A man walks along a flooded South River Street in Hackensack following Superstorm Sandy. The Department of Environmental Protection awarded New Jersey Institute of Technology a grant that the university will use to study ways to mitigate flooding in parts of northern New Jersey including Hackensack, Little Ferry and Moonachie areas. ELIZABETH LARA/FILE PHOTO
The New Jersey Institute of Technology will use the $289,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to focus on the Hackensack, Moonachie and Little Ferry areas, which experienced severe flooding from Hurricane Sandy.
"This is an important preventative project for New Jersey," said co-principal investigator Taha Marhaba, chair of the school's Department of Civil Engineering, in a statement.
The three towns cited in the study have a history of flooding, and not just from major storms.
One problem area in Hackensack is Hudson Street, which recently flooded from heavy rains on Aug. 28, causing two cars to stall in the water.
During Hurricane Sandy a storm surge spilled over the banks of the Hackensack River flooding the area.
"Superstorm Sandy was a game changer for this whole region and now we must all work together to make sure that this type of an event can never have the same catastrophic impact again," said South Hackensack Township Committee Member Gary Brugger. "South Hackensack is supportive for funding for studies and recommendations to alleviate flooding in the Meadowlands district however a long-term solution to the flooding issues is the ultimate goal."
The study area will include portions of the Meadowlands that sits less than two feet above sea level, NJIT said.
"Persistent flooding is not only a devastating problem for residents, but is an impediment to our redevelopment efforts," said Hackensack Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino. "We appreciate the DEP grant and the opportunity to work with the engineering department of NJIT to tackle the pervasive flooding problems that have plagued the city for many years. Alleviating flooding of homes and business in the First Ward and in Foschini Park, in particular, is a high priority for the new city administration and we are very pleased to have the assistance of NJIT to help us find a way solve the problem."
The school's Flood Mitigation Engineering Resource Center will conduct the study.
"Our objective as a NJIT team of inter-disciplinary experts is to help the state of New Jersey to develop the best solutions to protect its citizens from future floods through innovative engineering measures that are doable, beneficial, resilient and sustainable," Marhaba said.
Little Ferry Mayor Mauro Raguseo welcomed the study saying the Governor's Office informed the borough approximately a month ago.
The borough was hit particularly hard by flooding that resulted from Hurricane Sandy.
"After Sandy we put in a list of possible mitigation projects for the community totaling over $3 million," Raguseo said. "That included pump stations and cleaning out and desilting some of the streams in the borough."
Raguseo said the study is linked to mitigation projects because "before the money is spent the Governor's Office is doing an investigation" to make sure the requests will reduce flooding.
According to NJIT, the six-month study will assess flood impacts and evaluate "a range of capital improvements, maintenance and operations and regulatory measures."
NJIT wants to find solutions to mitigate flooding that are cost-effective.
"Once these studies are complete we look forward to state and federal funding to implement and fund the necessary repairs and upgrades that are needed for this area which is protected wetlands," Brugger said.
Infrastructure engineer and co-principal investigator Fadi Karaa, PhD, noted that the area, which involves Meadowlands, has always been on an environmental watch list in part due to its location and inherent vulnerability to flooding.
"We really have to work together," Raguseo said. "The communities have to look at this from a regional approach and figure out the best way to protect the residents of the boroughs."
News Editor Jennifer Vazquez contributed to this report.
Email: lang@northjersey.com
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