DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), is conducting a General Reevaluation Study to reevaluate the feasibility of implementing flood risk management measures within the Green Brook Upper Basin in the municipalities of Plainfield, North Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Watchung in Somerset and Union Counties, New Jersey. The Green Brook Upper Basin is part of the overall Green Brook Flood Risk Management Project, which also consists of the Lower Basin and the Stony Brook Basin. The Green Brook Flood Risk Management Project was authorized in 1986, and initiated construction within the Lower Basin in 1999. A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement with NJDEP was executed on September 8, 2022 to initiate that General Reevaluation Study.

AUTHORIZATION: The project is authorized by Public Law (P.L.) 99-162 Section 401.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The goal of the GRR is to reduce flood risk to vulnerable population and reduce economic and social impacts from riverine flooding in the Upper Basin. 

The following objectives were identified for the study:

• To reduce the flood vulnerability of communities in the study area, especially communities with environmental justice concerns, by reducing economic damages and life loss, and improving community resilience in the study area;
• To preserve, maintain and to, the extent possible, enhance the resources of the existing natural, cultural, and historic resources in the project area;
• To reduce flood risk to critical infrastructure (hospitals, municipal buildings, emergency response facilities and transportation corridors) in the study area by reducing disruption to the operation of public health and safety services;
• To preserve to the extent possible existing open space areas and associated recreational opportunities in the project area; and
• To provide a plan that is compatible with existing and planned USACE FRM projects within the basin.

STATUS: USACE is currently working with the NJDEP and study stakeholders in developing preliminary alternatives. A 30-day National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Scoping Period to obtain public and agency feedback on the preliminary alternatives developed is anticipated to be initiated in Fall 2023. Public meetings will be held within the Scoping Period. The study schedule is listed in the below table.

CONTACT:

Nathanael Wales, PE
Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8731
Email: Nathanael.T.Wales@usace.army.mil OR greenbrookfrmproject@usace.army.mil
Programs and Project Management Division
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278

http://www.nan.usace.army.mil

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: NJ-6, NJ-7, NJ-12