A $3 Billion Proposal to Engineer New Jersey's Passaic River

According to James M. O'Neill "federal engineers believe they now have a plan that will finally corral the [Passaic River] and stop the chronic flooding that has caused billions in property damage."

"The $3 billion proposal involves building 24 miles of levees and 17 miles of flood walls from Kearny to Totowa to hold in the river and its tributaries. It is one option the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is weighing over the next 18 months as it seeks a way to reduce the flooding that has inundated towns along the river for a century."

In addition to the $3 billion price tag, the project would incur another, significant cost: "The levee project offers a permanent solution, but it would also permanently alter the landscape and even the ability of residents to use the river. Scenic views of the river would be blocked and parks along the river’s banks would be lost."

O'Neill's reportage finds residents on either side of the issue, which obviously hits close to home for many in one of the most densely populated floodplains on the East Coast. The article is a thoughtful and thorough examination of the project's potential.

As for the plan, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will spend up to 18 months considering three alternative plans. If Congress approves the chosen plan, construction and engineering plans would still be necessary, as would the state and local governments coming up with the money necessary to finance the project.