Congressman Chris Smith today announced that a key House appropriations subcommittee will include funding to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take a greater role in ongoing efforts to fix environmental hazards posed by Wreck Pond in Monmouth County.

“This is a water quality problem that calls for immediate action,” said Smith, who secured this funding in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill which was approved by the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development today. “On an average summer day Wreck Pond is a picture-perfect postcard; however, just below the surface lies dangerous concentrations of high levels of fecal coliform as well as other nasty contaminants. In the past few years, Wreck Pond is suspected of having caused a majority of all beach closings at the Jersey Shore. The good news is that with an adequate remediation plan and appropriate funding, Wreck Pond can be reclaimed, made pure and be pristine once again.”

Once the Corps receives this $100,000, it will be able to implement a study phase. After the study is completed, the project can advance and proceed to construction.

“This funding will allow the Army Corp to step-up its work to clean up Wreck Pond and make the project eligible for future funding,” Smith said. “This is a good example of federal, state, county and local officials working to resolve a difficult challenge.”

In the past few years, Wreck Pond has caused on average about 80 percent of all beach closings in New Jersey. Wreck Pond is a 48-acre body of water bordering Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township.

In 2007, at Smith’s request, the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. James Oberstar, attended a meeting in New Jersey on Wreck Pond with officials and residents from Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township as well as Army Corps of Engineers representatives.  Since then, Smith and the Chairman have actively worked to secure this funding.