Sediment Buildup An Issue At Stouts Creek In Lacey, Residents Say

LACEY, NJ — An excess amount of silt is causing problems for Lacey residents who live near Stouts Creek in Forked River, some said at a recent Lacey Township Committee meeting.

One resident, Arthur Morris, spoke representing residents who live off Stouts Creek, some of whom were at the meeting as well.

The waterway, a subwatershed of the Barnegat Bay, has been so inundated with silt that it is "no longer passable," Morris said.

"My sailboat is stuck in a lagoon," he said.

The area is up against the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, which Morris said is being "inundated with water" from the building of new homes and parking lots in Lacey.

The water is silting in quicker because it goes to the Barnegat Bay, he said, bringing with it sediment, silt and more.

Sediment pollution can cause a number of problems along with impacting recreational use of waterways. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it can harm plants and animals in the water and increase the potential for flooding.

Without proper water flow through the lagoons, Morris said, nitrogen builds up. This invites sea nettles which keep kids from swimming there.

Township Administrator Veronica Laureigh said that the township dredges certain areas every seven to 10 years and Stouts Creek is coming up, but "I just don't have a checking account that I can go write out a check and go and do it today."

She said that they are planning to put money in the upcoming budget to start the engineering and permitting, and that the township is working with the Department of Transportation, which oversees dredging.

The biggest problem for the township is of what to do with the sediment when it is taken out, Laureigh said. So, the township is working with the DOT to figure out different programs, such using sediment to rebuild the marshes.

She said she would be meeting with engineers soon to discuss dredging.

Committeeman Mark Dykoff added that he had met with Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who both voted in favor of infrastructure bills, to get more funding in Lacey.

"We're hoping that maybe they can help us out," Dykoff said.