DESCRIPTION: The study area encompasses the Rahway River Basin located in northeastern New Jersey. The Rahway River Basin is 81.9 square miles and lies within the metropolitan area of Greater New York. The most damaging floods of record within the Rahway River Basin resulted from the storms Tropical Storm Floyd in September 1999, April 2007 Nor’easter, Hurricane Irene in August 2011 and Hurricane Ida in September 2021. During the April 2007 storm, 70 to 100 homes suffered major damage to first floor and foundations. Union County and the Township of Cranford were declared federal disaster areas as a result of the April 2007 storm. As a result of Hurricane Irene, residents and business owners along Rahway River have suffered extensive financial losses and personal hardship than in most severe prior storms. Flooding from Hurricane Ida have caused damage to houses, businesses, municipal facilities, and public infrastructure.
AUTHORIZATION: U.S. House of Representatives Resolution Docket 2548, dated March 24, 1998, authorizes a study of the Rahway River Basin, NJ. Study Resumption Authority: Section 336 WRDA 2020.
STATUS: Congress reauthorized the study in Section 336 of WRDA 2020 to reactivate the study in response to locals concerns regarding frequent flooding. In August 2021, HQUSACE issued an Implementation Guidance (IG) stating forecast-base operation of the Orange Reservoir dam alternative is not Federally acceptable and will not be considered for further evaluation. The study is included in the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act (DRSAA) 2022 for $1,540,000. A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) was executed on 28 February 2023 with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as the study cost sharing partner. A scoping Charrette meeting was held on 23-23 May 2023 in Township of Cranford. The purpose of the Charrette was to include the sponsor and local stakeholders in the study process, listen to their concerns and narrow down alternatives which are supported by stakeholders and sponsor. An Alternative Milestone Meeting (AMM) was held on 18 September 2023 with HQUASCE and North Atlantic Division to discuss potential alternatives and get concurrence on path forward. Team has identified several flood risk management measures such as channel improvements, levees, floodwall, dry detention basin and nonstructural plans to formulate into alternatives. The completed work includes surveys, structure inventory, and existing condition hydrology and hydraulics (H&H), Currently, team is working on the improved conditions H&H. The future work includes benefit to cost analyses and identification of a plan that is engineering feasible, economically justifiable, and environmentally acceptable. The next milestone, Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP), meeting is scheduled in February 2025.
CONTACT:
Rifat Salim, Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New York District, Programs and Project Management Division, Civil Works Branch
26 Federal Plaza, Room 2118, New York, NY 10278-0090
Phone: (917) 790 –8215
E-mail Address: rifat.salim@usace.army.mil
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: Congressional Districts: NJ-07, NJ-10