BERKELEY – Water management issues have been the topic of conversation at many Township Council meetings this year as officials address flooding and other concerns.
Much of the bayfront communities were built on low-lying land, or lagoons that were built jutting out into the water. These don’t have staying power against the forces of nature. Berkeley is not alone in this. Brick recently accepted a $401,859 grant from the State Department of Transportation to elevate areas of Normandy Beach.
Michael Heisemer became the latest Berkeley resident to ask the governing body for help with flooding, in particular on Island Drive and Balsam Drive. The area has been flooding frequently, even prior to when he moved here a few years ago.
Councilman James Byrnes said that the county engineers have been working on a plan to mitigate flooding in many areas of Berkeley. The town’s own professionals and the volunteers at the Waterways Advisory Committee provided a lot of important information for them. It’s going to be an enormous undertaking, so they are looking for federal funding.
“A lot of times we can’t raise the road because it’ll drown houses,” he said. The water will follow gravity into people’s yards, basements (if there are any) and homes.
Township Planner James Oris said they have been dealing with the State Department of Environmental Protection as well so they can see what they are allowed to do. One portion of the road was recently paved and residents should have seen some improvement during certain circumstances.
In related news, Mayor John Bacchione talked about a project to fix culverts at Holiday City. The goal is to be able to better control the lakes in the senior community. This received murmurs of recognition from residents in attendance at the meeting.
This is the last round of money the county is going to appropriate, the mayor said, thanking “the county for thinking of us.”
The township worked hard to clean the lakes in the past, Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich said. With the culverts being repaired, they are going to be in good shape.
Photo by Chris Lundy
Resident Tom Porpora said that there are sand bars and bugs when the water’s not flowing.
Bacchione said they redirect the culverts where they want the water to go.
Oris said that will help with the water quality as well, because it will improve the flow between the lakes.
Some of the projects are smaller in scope, but no less important.
Business Administrator Scott Tirella explained that there’s a storm drain between two houses on Bananier Drive that was collapsing and creating a sinkhole. If left unrepaired, it would eventually affect the foundation of a nearby house. In order to pay for the work, the township is going to use funds leftover from another project.
The post Flooding, Other Water Issues Cause Concern appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
