SENATE, No. 1162

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 16, 1996

By Senator MARTIN

An Act concerning flooding and supplementing Title 58 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission shall maintain the water level of the Wanaque Reservoir at a level not to exceed that necessary to protect against flooding of the Wanaque river during and after storm events. The level shall be determined by the Department of Environmental Protection and may vary according to the season.

    2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would require the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission to maintain the water level of the Wanaque Reservoir at a level not to exceed that necessary to protect against flooding of the Wanaque river during and after storm events. The level would be determined by the Department of Environmental Protection and may vary according to the season.

    In the past, when the reservoir is filled to capacity, residents along the river have been threatened with flooding during and after storm events. This bill would require that the reservoir be used for both water supply and flood control purposes.

Requires Wanaque Reservoir to be kept at a level to protect against Wanaque river flooding.