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Council president briefs New Milford on Army Corps Harbor and Tributaries study; urges coalition and 'shelf‑ready' projects
Summary
Council President Duffy summarized a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York–New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries study focused on coastal and storm-risk management, noted a nearby New Jersey project selected for culverts and a pump station, and said sites on the Hackensack superfund list require polluter remediation before Corps projects can proceed; she urged coalition building and preparing engineering-ready proposals.
Council President Duffy reported on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers briefing for the New York–New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk Management Study and advised the borough on next steps.
Duffy said the Corps' study, originally prompted by Superstorm Sandy, identifies regional actionable projects intended to reduce economic losses from coastal and storm flooding. She told councilors one New Jersey project selected by the Corps would add culverts and a pump station. Duffy said she asked Corps staff whether Hackensack‑area sites on the Superfund list could be considered; Corps staff replied that locations on Superfund lists require responsible parties to remediate contamination before a Corps project can be advanced.
Noting the Corps favors "shelf‑ready" projects with completed engineering and environmental work, Duffy recommended New Milford participate in regional coalitions (for example, the Hackensack River Nation steering committee she helps lead) and gather the technical data the Corps seeks. She also encouraged residents and interested groups to submit public comments to the Corps before the August 25 comment deadline.
Duffy said the study includes a variety of project types — structural (seawalls, pumps and culverts) and nature-based solutions — and stressed that multiple agencies are involved (Army Corps vs. EPA Superfund work), so coordination is needed.
Next steps: Council to consider flood‑committee or environmental-commission involvement in data collection and coalition activity to support potential future Corps project proposals.
