The Saddle Brook Flood Advisory Committee was formed in early 2015 to be more proactive in addressing our flooding problem, which has had a tremendous impact on, and continues to affect, many of our residents. As such, flood prevention and mitigation is one of our highest priorities.

Knowing and recognizing the problems that floods have caused to our community, we must find meaningful and comprehensive solutions. We must continue to educate ourselves as to why flooding occurs in Saddle Brook and investigate the best ways to prevent further flood damage.

This task force will be working together with other municipalities to develop and share different ideas and strategies that can be implemented at the local level to help mitigate the flooding that has plagued our area.

We will continue to make necessary adjustments to infrastructure such as repairing drainage and de-snagging waterways. The Advisory meets quarterly to discuss flooding and work together to address these issues. In 2015, we held meetings in June and September.

We are working with Assemblymen Joseph Lagana and Timothy Eustace. They have been working hard to pass legislation for flood victims and provided us with valuable information from the state. They have both advocated and / or sponsored legislation to raise the Marsellus Place Bridge in Garfield. The Saddle Brook governing body passed a resolution this past May also supporting this legislation. It is believed this reconstruction will prevent debris from catching under the bridge, this allowing for an unobstructed flow of the Saddle River.

At the September Meeting, Assemblymen Timothy Eustace attended along with  representative from U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell’s office and individuals from other surrounding communities. Assemblyman Eustace brought up that a new bill had passed in the assembly that would allow towns to clean their own tributaries eliminating the need to get permits. He also stated that there has been discussion about towns in northern Bergen County diverting storm water to man-made reservoirs or basins. The idea of flood prone areas pooling resources together was also mentioned. Overall, it was a very productive meeting and the committee plans to meet again in early 2016.