Pascrell, Sherrill Celebrate Inclusion of Peckman River Project in Water Resources Bill

Members fought to include Peckman in bill, which was approved by the House earlier today

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) today celebrated their successful efforts to incorporate the Peckman River Basin Flood Risk Management project into the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (S. 1811). The act, which passed in the House this week, authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to build and study new lock, dam, levee, and ecosystem projects throughout the nation. The inclusion of the Peckman River flood management project, which was first conceived in a study authorized by Rep. Pascrell after a local resident lost his life during Hurricane Floyd, comes after Reps. Pascrell and Sherrill advocated the project be included in the bill. WRDA 2020 authorizes $95,022,000 in federal dollars for the Peckman River project, which when added to the local match would fully fund the $146,188,000 project.

“I have long worked with local officials to address dangerous flash flooding from the Peckman River that has caused major damage and loss of life. Congresswoman Sherrill has taken up this fight in the Eleventh District and I am thrilled we were able to secure this needed funding for North Jersey,” Rep. Pascrell. “We have worked hard to get this project authorized and put an end to these pervasive flooding issues. Passage of this bill is terrific news for our North Jersey communities.”

“Little Falls and Woodland Park have dealt with dangerous flooding along the Peckman River for decades,” said Rep. Sherrill. “This authorization represents a significant milestone and brings us much closer to addressing an issue that impacts homes, businesses, and the safety of our residents in Passaic County. I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Pascrell to deliver for our communities.”

As a then-member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Pascrell wrote the resolution initially authorizing the USACE reconnaissance report on the Peckman River. In 2002, Rep. Pascrell announced the findings of the reconnaissance report and over the next several years helped secure millions in state and federal investments to advance the feasibility study. Pascrell led the fight against development on the banks of the Peckman River. Pascrell also helped negotiate the purchase of land on Wilmore Road along the river in 2005 to preclude the construction of a proposed housing development that would have threatened additional flooding and flash flood events. In November 2019, Rep. Pascrell wrote to the USACE regarding the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report & Environmental Assessment (DIFR/EA) for the Peckman River Basin, which runs through portions of Essex and Passaic Counties.

In Congress, Pascrell has always made it a top priority to find funding and advance policy for smart flood management in Northern New Jersey.

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