Some New Jersey Towns Taking Steps to Reduce Flooding

Several northern New Jersey towns hit hard by recent flooding are taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection has awarded $350,000 to four communities in the Passaic River Basin that suffered damage in late August and early September.

Much of the cleanup has been completed in Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Riverdale and Wayne. But fallen trees and debris in the rivers can lead to more flooding.

The four towns are developing a plan to clear the rivers before flood season arrives in the spring.

Back-to-back floods in August and September from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee combined with a late-October snowstorm to send branches whole trees into area rivers.

Experts are praising the project but say a comprehensive, long-term solution is needed.