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Residents press Cranford to fund hydrological (HEC‑RAS) study as Army Corps signals limited large-scale help
Summary
Residents urged the Cranford Township Committee to add a comprehensive hydrological study (a HEC‑RAS analysis) to the 2026 budget to address repeated flooding on Burnside, Elise and Johnson avenues. Commissioner Terrence Curran said the Army Corps of Engineers is not pursuing a large regional project but may support smaller, targeted efforts with municipal-led planning.
Residents affected by repeated flooding urged the Cranford Township Committee on Jan. 20 to fund a comprehensive hydrological study to guide mitigation work.
Kevin Harrison of 20 Burnside Avenue told the committee that a HEC‑RAS analysis is essential to understanding how Orchard Brook, the retention basin and local drainage perform during storms and urged the committee to "include funding for a comprehensive hydrological study (specifically a HEC‑RAS analysis) in the 2026 budget." He said township consultants agreed the study would be foundational to identifying effective mitigation and stressed the repeated property damage and stress experienced by residents.
Commissioner Terrence Curran responded that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is not pursuing a large-scale, regional flood-mitigation project for Cranford, Millburn and Roselle Park. "Instead," Curran said, "the Corps is open to supporting smaller, targeted projects and preferred that municipalities lead the planning, with the possibility of federal assistance later." James Rinaldi of 16 Burnside Avenue later thanked the committee for attention to the issue and said residents are willing to participate in capital planning.
The discussion did not produce a formal vote to fund a HEC‑RAS analysis that evening; the committee instead recorded the public concern and identified the issue as a capital-planning priority. Commissioner Curran noted municipal staff and consultants have been engaged on related stormwater topics and that funding paths may be discussed at the Township’s upcoming Feb. 14 budget meeting.
