Westwood Mayor Sends Letters to Others About Drainage Study

Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr. sent a letter to all members of the Pascack Valley Mayors Association Friday outlining the borough's plans for an engineering drainage study relating to flooding.

During the last council meeting,

In the letter to the nine other mayors in the association, Birkner explained that because of the flooding that has occurred in the area this year, Westwood officials have authorized Boswell Engineering to perform the drainage study along the Pascack Brook through the Pascack Valley.

"The study will include a review of the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers ... analysis of the Pascack Brook, a review of United Water's operational procedures for the Woodcliff Lake and Oradell reservoirs, a review of the current NJDEP [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection] operating permits for the dams associated with these reservoirs and ways to optimize the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir that may have the potential to assist in reducing the severity and frequency of flooding in our area," Birkner wrote.

After the study is complete, which is expected to take about a month, Birkner said the other mayors would receive copies of the report and the other municipalities would have time to let their engineers review and comment on the information before it is presented. Birkner encouraged other municipalities to participate.

Birkner has said his hope is that the study will show how changes can be made to reduce flooding during rainstorms.

"I am hopeful that the study will reveal modifications that can be made to the operational procedures of the Woodcliff Lake and/or Oradell dams, and that we will be able to petition the State of New Jersey to incorporate such changes into the permits regulating those operations," Birkner wrote.

While the study could conclude that changes would not benefit residents and business owners in flood prone areas, Birkner said then at least the municipalities will have scientific data to draw its conclusions instead of anecdotal evidence.

In the letter, Birkner also recommended that the public meeting of the Pascack Valley Waterway Management Task Force that officials originally hoped to schedule in September be postponed until after the study is complete.

Washington Township Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said late Monday that she had not yet received Birkner's letter, but during the township council meeting Monday, she told the council and residents that Pascack Brook flooding impacts the township.

"While the flooding in the Pascack Brook doesn't directly affect us, it does affect us in terms of our mutual aid with surrounding towns," she said.

Sobkowicz explained that because of mutual aid agreements, members of the township fire department assist with water rescues in other municipalities when necessary. She said township firefighters rescued the most people, 31, during the June 23 flood.

The Pascack Valley Mayors' Association includes leaders from Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, Old Tappan, Oradell, Park Ridge, River Vale, Washington Township, Westwood and Woodcliff Lake.