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FACT SHEET - Ramapo River at Mahwah, NJ and Suffern, NY

Flood Damage Reduction Project

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Published Dec. 13, 2023

DESCRIPTION: Flooding has occurred frequently on the Ramapo River, with flood events in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1996, and 1999.  The 1977 and 1984 floods were the most severe causing extensive damages to the project area. Tropical Storm Floyd in September 1999 also caused significant damage. 

The authorized project involves the construction of features for flood risk management totaling 13,000 feet along portions of the Ramapo River, Mahwah River, and Masonicus Brook in Mahwah, New Jersey and Suffern, New York. The modifications include the widening and deepening of the channels, sheet pile walls, and bridge modifications. The project will provide risk management to residential, commercial, and industrial developments in Mahwah and Suffern. The non-Federal partners are the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). 

AUTHORIZATION: The Ramapo River and Mahwah Rivers Flood Control Project is authorized for construction by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 (Public Law 99-662). 

STATUS: A project design memorandum was completed and approved in September 1987. Plans and specifications were substantially complete in 1990. Initial construction funds were appropriated, but work was never initiated due to the lack of Project Partnership Agreement. 

After the flooding in 1999 caused by Tropical Storm Floyd, the States, counties, and towns involved expressed interest in resuming the project. Letters of support from New York and New Jersey documented the interest and requested an update of the project to determine whether further interest is warranted. Funds were last appropriated in Fiscal Year 2010 and coordination with the interested parties was initiated, but due to lack of a non-Federal sponsor, no further action has been taken and the project terminated.

 

CONTACT:

Mr. Paul Tumminello, Program Manger

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District Phone: (917) 790-8120,

E-mail: paul.tumminello@usace.army.mil

26 Federal Plaza

New York, NY 10278-0090

 

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: NY-17, NJ-5