file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, flooding has become a recurring nightmare for many New Jersey residents, and one of the biggest contributors is not just nature—but overdevelopment. In flood-prone areas like Bergen County, rapid urban expansion and construction on floodplains are compounding water damage, harming the environment, and putting entire communities at greater risk.
What Happens When We Build on Floodplains?
Floodplains are natural buffers designed to absorb and slow down floodwaters. But when developers pave over these areas with concrete, asphalt, and buildings, the landscape loses its ability to absorb excess rainwater.
Instead of soaking into the ground, rainwater runs off quickly, overwhelming storm drains and waterways. The result? More frequent and intense floods, especially during heavy storms.
Bergen County Ranked Among Nation’s Most At-Risk Flood Zones
A 2024 study by LawnStarter ranked Bergen County as the second most at-risk county in the U.S. for flooding, only behind Harris County, Texas. Four other New Jersey counties also made the top 20, including Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, and Middlesex.
Why is North Jersey particularly vulnerable? Experts say it stems from the ancient geological history of the Passaic River Basin, which used to be a massive lake. The slow-draining river system, combined with modern overdevelopment, has created a perfect storm for flooding today.
Real Impact: Flooding Is a Way of Life in North Jersey
Residents of Lodi, Teaneck, Hackensack, Mahwah, and Edgewater are no strangers to flash flooding. The January 2024 storm that dumped 3.5 inches of rain across the state left streets submerged and homes damaged.
In Lodi, floodwaters routinely spill over the Saddle River, and in one storm, employees at a local ShopRite had to be rescued by boat. Officials say aging infrastructure, overdevelopment, and dense population centers are making mitigation nearly impossible without major intervention.
Environmental Degradation and Biodiversity Loss
Floodplains aren’t just vital for flood control—they’re ecological hotspots that support a wide variety of plant and animal species. Overbuilding in these areas destroys natural habitats, leading to:
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Loss of biodiversity
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Disruption of ecosystems
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Contamination of rivers and water bodies
Runoff from construction sites often carries chemicals, oils, and debris into rivers and streams, endangering aquatic life and contaminating local water supplies.
Socioeconomic Costs of Overdevelopment
Aside from environmental consequences, the overdevelopment of floodplains has major economic and social impacts:
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Displacement of families and businesses
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Property damage from repeated flooding
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Rising insurance premiums
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High taxpayer costs for disaster recovery and infrastructure repair
In Ridgewood, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently studying flood patterns after the village experienced three major floods in four months in late 2024. Mitigation isn’t cheap—and it’s often taxpayers who foot the bill.
Development Must Be Sustainable
While urban development is necessary for growth, it must be sustainable and respect natural floodplains. Reckless construction in high-risk areas not only amplifies flooding but also burdens communities with avoidable long-term costs.
Communities and policymakers must prioritize:
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Stricter zoning laws
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Stronger environmental assessments
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Green infrastructure projects
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Restoration of wetlands and floodplains
Want to Know Your Flood Risk?
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection offers an interactive flood indicator tool where residents can check flood risks near their properties. It includes information on FEMA flood zones, rivers, and other potential hazards.
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And how many politicians and real estate developers care about this? Developers just keep building , collect their $ and move on to the next mega development project. Let’s stop the overdevelopment once and for all and let’s stop building in flood plains and already high-risk flood areas. Let’s stop destroying woodlands. You get the picture.
Love that pic !
New man-made lakes😊
The problem is Maple Field. Rain water in not collecting there because there is a big plastic field and parking lot where woods should be.
That doesn’t help but that stream has been flooding since the days of Pocohontas…Poco and John Smith used to like shop in Paramus on Sundays.
The picture captures a major part of the problem, at least in Ridgewood. Most of the floodplain development is done by the local government. Private developers are allowed to don that, but the school and village council ignore the restrictions
Finally, the truth.
Cover up all of the permeable surfaces on the hill, and the flood plain gets more water.
There is no fix despite promises from the midget congressman.
This mayor Vagianos and council , Winograd, Mortimer and Weitz are all pushing for turf in an area that gets flooded. Residents need to understand that in addition to this the council and manager of the village are willing to ask residents to foot the 1.5 million plus bill for a huge mistake to get another artificial turf field on the east side of Ridgewood. Promises were made to the sports groups who feel empowered to demand another field when Ridgewood can barely manage what they have which is why they want turf. It is really a bad situation all around. This will cost millions upon millions. They don’t fix what they already have. sports groups “donate” to have the fields on which they play on, fixed and therefore gives them the belief that they “own the rights to use” them.
Sports groups mafia. Big Bucks $$$ Promises made, Deep pockets.
Enough people voted for this mayor