Tree Debris Removed From Ramapo River

Truckloads of what township officials are calling “major” debris – large tree limbs and branches, and other large objects that have fallen or been dumped – have been removed from the Ramapo River.

Over the past two weeks, contractors from Uniscape Landscaping have been removing the debris from the river along the area of Route 202 south of West Ramapo Ave.

The $10,000 removal project, which was budgeted for this year, was a result of the ‘Mahwah Flood Conference’ held this January, Mayor Bill Laforet said. “We are looking at other, more costly long-term measures to control flooding in the township, but we are also doing projects that can help provide relief right now,” he said. The $10K is traditionally set aside for shorter-term flood prevention measures, he said.

According to Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Ray Roe, the large debris removal should help flooding conditions in West Mahwah.

“The debris basically creates a big dam,” he said. “Clearing it out keeps the water flowing a lot better.” The Ramapo has been “so clogged up” with tree debris since Hurricane Irene, he said.

According to Roe, the township has completed similar maintenance projects in the past, including one near Catherine Ave. soon after Hurricane Irene.

The clean out “combines with some of the other great, individual efforts the town has engaged in like the Beautification Committee clean ups, route: {:controller=>"articles", :action=>"show", :id=>"community-cleans-lake-henry-photos"} -->, , individual volunteer cleanups, , and