the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hillsdale NJ, with heavy storms expected to hit New Jersey this week, Veolia Water, the company that owns Woodcliff Lake, has decided to lower the reservoir’s water level to protect its “structural integrity,” according to Westwood’s Mayor Raymond Arroyo.
In a Facebook post late Monday afternoon, Mayor Arroyo revealed that Veolia Water, in consultation with Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sheinfield, announced plans to draw down the water level of the reservoir in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debbie. “For the purposes of safeguarding the structural integrity of the dam gates, and out of an abundance of caution, they will begin drawing water out of the vessel,” Arroyo stated. The company aims to reduce the water level from over 95 feet to between 92 and 93 feet.
Historical Resistance to Lowering Reservoir Levels
For years, towns in the flood-prone Pascack Valley, including Westwood, have urged Veolia to preemptively lower the lake level before storms to absorb potential rainfall. However, Veolia and state regulators have resisted, emphasizing that their primary mandate is to ensure a stable water supply.
“The company’s specifically stated purpose is not flood mitigation, just structural safety concerns,” Arroyo noted. “Until Trenton changes the law, this is the best we are going to do.”
Flood Watch Issued for Much of New Jersey
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch early Tuesday for 15 of New Jersey’s 21 counties, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex, and Hudson, as storms are expected to bring heavy rains and potential flash flooding. The remnants of Tropical Storm Debbie are anticipated to contribute significantly to the deluge.
Veolia’s communications director, Debra Vial, confirmed that the company was preparing for the storm by ensuring emergency staff readiness and backup power availability. “We continue to be in contact with local and county emergency officials,” she said.
Calls for Preemptive Action
On Monday, a coalition of Bergen County mayors, including Arroyo and Sheinfield, along with state Senator Holly Schepisi, urged Governor Phil Murphy to order the lowering of Woodcliff Lake ahead of the storm. Schepisi emphasized the urgency of the situation in her letter to Governor Murphy and state Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, shared by Arroyo on Facebook.
“With the reservoir at its summer level of 95 feet, there is simply nowhere for the water to go,” Schepisi warned. “Even a small rain results in runoff and spillover, continuously damaging properties.”
In response, LaTourette expressed empathy but maintained that the primary function of the reservoirs is to ensure a sufficient drinking water supply. “The state does not allow levels to be lowered in advance of storms because the mission is to ensure there is enough drinking water for the region,” he said.
Continued Efforts and Legislative Actions
The ongoing flooding issues in Westwood and surrounding towns have prompted local leaders to commission studies from the Stevens Institute of Technology to explore flood-control tools and identify debris-clogged waterways exacerbating local flooding. Additionally, state legislators are promoting bills to grant local emergency management offices the authority to order the reservoir to be lowered in response to severe weather.
As communities brace for the incoming storm, local leaders and residents hope that preemptive actions will mitigate the potential for significant flooding and damage.
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amazing… yet we still have water restrictions
Amazing you still do not understand the reason for the restrictions
incompetent leaders?