PATERSON- U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment praised the Army Corps of Engineers for their work on the Pompton Dam project and thanked Assistant Secretary of the Army, John Paul Woodley for visiting the site.   

“I commend the Army Corps for prioritizing flood control in this community,” stated Pascrell who was unable to attend the tour.  “Despite tight budgetary restrictions, the Corps identified this problem and resolved an issue that will contribute to a greater quality of life along Pompton Lake and the Ramapo River.”

On May 25, 2006, the House of Representatives voted to pass the “Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act” that included $455,000 to complete the Pompton Lake Dam project on the Ramapo River.  The money, which will be used to handle minor erosion issues remaining at the site, would be made available through the legislation.   

“I’m pleased that the House of Representatives recognized the importance of completing this critical flood management project.  The people who live along Pompton Lake and the Ramapo River have been burdened by flooding for too long.  I am encouraged that this cooperation between Congress and Corps will continue it as I pursue water infrastructure improvement throughout northern New Jersey.”

The funding to complete the project comes less than one month after Pascrell worked with Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ-05), Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez to reach an agreement with the Army Corps and committees of jurisdiction to return $1.75 million dollars in previously appropriated funding to complete construction of the new dam.

“The Ramapo River project had been promised this money in the past, and I am proud that we have fully reconciled the reprogramming issues and can now see this project to its completion.”

Flooding that occurs regularly along the Ramapo River can be attributed to insufficient channel capacity, the backwater effect produced by the Pompton Dam and hydraulic constrictions produced by bridges that cross the river.  Parts of Wayne Township, the Borough of Pompton Lakes, and the Borough of Oakland will benefit most from completion of the dam.  

The Energy and Water Appropriations Act will have to be agreed upon in the Senate and signed by the President before funding is made final.

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