Safety Measures and Relief Needed Now For Flood Prone Residents of Pompton Lakes, NJ and Other Affected Communities

Petition:

We, the undersigned, are seeking the following pre-cautionary measures be expedited and implemented for all the flood-prone residents in the borough of Pompton Lakes, NJ along the Ramapo and Pompton Rivers. We are seeking relief and assistance for our community as well as for our neighboring communities: Pequannock, Pompton Plains, Riverdale, Lincoln Park, Little Falls and Wayne, NJ.

We, the undersigned, insist that a responsible employee of the NJDWSC man the Pompton Lake Dam floodgates when a weather advisory notice is released and forewarning occurs about inclement weather (rain, storms) that can seriously damage our community and other communities that are close to our waterways; Pequannock, Pompton Plains, Riverdale, Lincoln Park, Little Falls and Wayne, NJ.

We, the undersigned, insist that the North Jersey Water Supply District Commission lower the Pompton Lake when there a weather advisory notice is released and forewarning occurs about inclement weather (rains/storms). This will aid the flood prone residents downstream by giving water from upstream a deeper basin to flow through and accumulate without increasing the flow from the Pompton Lake Dam floodgates.

We the undersigned, insist that the North Jersey Water Supply District Commission monitor and remove debris accumulated on the crest of the dam as well as install proper screening to mitigate debris collection which was lodged in the gate preventing closure.

We the undersigned, insist that our rivers, waterways and canals be regularly monitored and maintained removing excess debris and silt, which impedes the natural progression of water flow. The first two of the three canals are impassable and the third is critically jammed due to accumulated debris and silt. Clearing these canals would allow the water to disperse through three free flowing canals instead of seeping into neighborhood homes. Additionally, in the area above the Garder Dam in Pompton Plains, a debris field of 100 or more discarded tires, which do not decay, are filled with silt resulting in the formation of an additional water barrier.

We, the undersigned, demand that testing of the flood-prone area of Pompton Lakes, NJ receive precautionary chemical testing for all chemicals related to the DuPont Corporations contamination of their own site, north-end Pompton Lake neighborhoods, and the toxins released into the Pompton Lake as well as other rivers adjacent to and within the Pompton Lakes waterway system.

We, the undersigned, strongly request that we be provided detailed analytical reports on the effects of the raw sewage discharge as a result of the three/four major floods in the last 5 years. Additionally, we request that we be provided with detailed analysis of the potential short and long-term affects this has on our health, drinking water, environment and land used for consumable fruits and vegetables.

We, the undersigned, respectfully request the above issues be addressed immediately and resolved to the satisfaction of those affected by continuous downstream flooding.

Too many residents throughout Pompton Lakes, NJ and our neighboring communities are affected by increased controllable flooding as a result of the Pompton Lake Dam floodgate mismanagement. Our tremendous personal loss and concern over our safety, health and quality of life can easily be mitigated through collaboration and communication between residents and government agencies. Relief is needed now.

Sincerely,


THE UNDERSIGNED