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Morris County Collaborates with U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill to Launch Flood Risk Reduction Feasibility Study and Alleviate Chronic Flooding Along Whippany River.
4-12-2023 3:27pm
Morris County Receives $300,000 Grant to Combat Chronic Flooding Along Whippany River
Morristown, NJ - On the banks of the Whippany River, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill presented a $300,000 check to Morris County Commissioners Stephen Shaw and Tayfun Selen earlier today, providing federal funds for the Army Corps of Engineers to initiate a "Flood Risk Reduction Feasibility Study."
The Commissioners, local mayors, and community leaders gathered to address the ongoing efforts to mitigate the flooding that has long impacted communities along the Whippany River.
Commissioner Shaw reflected on his involvement in the issue, dating back to roughly two years ago when Hanover Township Mayor Ace Gallagher invited him to participate in a task force focused on developing solutions for chronic flooding in both the Whippany and Passaic River basins.
(l-r): Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty; U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill; Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen; state Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris; Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr; Col. Matthew Luzzatto, commander of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers; Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw; Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor; Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, R-Morris; the Rev. Glenn King of Bethel AME; Whippany River Watershed Action Committee Chair Siva Jonnada; and Kunal Patel, chief of the New Jersey Bureau of Flood Engineering and Climate Resilience Design."Just yesterday, some task force members toured sites along the Whippany River to see firsthand the extent of the obstructions in the river that cause the river to back up during rain events," Shaw said.
The grant comes as a welcome addition to the Whippany River Regional Improvement Initiative funding and ongoing municipal cooperation.
"With these watershed study dollars, along with the Whippany River Regional Improvement Initiative funding and ongoing municipal cooperation, we can and will make a difference for those homes and businesses that are subject to chronic flooding," stated Commissioner Shaw, who also serves as liaison to the Morris County Flood Mitigation Program.
(l-r): U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill; Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty; Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen; state Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris; Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr; Col. Matthew Luzzatto, commander of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers; Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw; Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor; Assemblywoman Aura Dunn.The Flood Mitigation Program, which marked its 11-year anniversary in March 2023, has been instrumental in addressing flood-related concerns in the area. To date, the program has purchased and restored 86 flood-threatened homes to Open Space, preventing further damage to property and the environment.
The collaboration between the Congresswoman, Commissioners, and local leaders signifies a unified effort to address and ultimately resolve the persistent flooding problem along the Whippany River. The allocation of these federal funds to the Army Corps of Engineers will further strengthen ongoing initiatives and provide valuable insights for developing future flood reduction strategies.
