Passaic River Basin Flooding – Summary History of Flood Damage Reduction Studies and Projects

Paul A. Tumminello

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, Programs and Project Management Division, Room 2127, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278, 917-790-8210, 212-264-2924, paul.tumminello@usace.army.mil   http://www.nan.usace.army.mil

Flooding has long been a problem in the Passaic River Basin.  Since colonial times, floods have claimed lives and damaged property.  The growth of residential, commercial, and industrial development in the last several decades has multiplied the threat of serious damages and loss of life from flooding.  Approximately 20,000 homes and places of business as well as significant public infrastructure lie in the Passaic River floodplain. 

Since 1900, at least 26 lives have been lost in floods with losses from flood damages totaling over $4.5 billion dollars (October 2004 price level).  In addition to the flood damages that occur in over thirty-five municipalities in the basin, environmental damage from flooding has also occurred.  Significant interruption to businesses and transportation has also resulted in hardship in the basin and region after each flood event. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working with the State of New Jersey and basin communities on plans to reduce flooding in the basin since 1936, but no comprehensive plan has yet been implemented due to the lack of local support, costs, and environmental concerns.  The most recent comprehensive action was a new study of the Passaic River Basin for the State of New Jersey authorized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-587).  The Corps evaluated more than 150 alternatives in cooperation with the State of New Jersey, municipalities, and local groups.  The study led to a series of recommendations to the U.S. Congress in the 1980’s.  Congress in turn authorized a comprehensive plan for the basin and further authorized a number of smaller separable, but related projects protecting limited areas in Water Resources Development Acts in 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, and 2000. 

Today these authorities provide the State of New Jersey and local communities with an array of alternatives for flood damage reduction and environmental restoration.  A number of plans have been or are in the process of being implemented and these projects along with continuing studies represent the ongoing efforts of the Corps of Engineers, the State of New Jersey, and communities’ efforts to address flooding in the Passaic River Basin.

Further information on projects in the Passaic River Basin may be found under the New Jersey projects menu at the WEB address noted at the top of this abstract.