The Corps detailed its plans at a meeting this week with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Hamilton Township Department of Water Pollution Control and Township Department of Community Planning and Compliance, and Smith’s office. The meeting was held at the Hamilton Municipal Building.

     “These types of projects take time, but the Army Corps of Engineers has committed itself to investigate all possible solutions to the flooding which has plagued this area of Hamilton Township for many years,” Smith said. “I recall touring the damaged homes along the creek after Hurricane Irene and seeing the devastated homes first hand. Mayor Yaede is leading the effort locally, and with State and federal partners, we will work together to seek long-term improvements to this flooding.”

     “It is a promising sign for our community, and especially our residents who have endured significant flooding in the past, to finally see a study like this take place; and I am pleased that this issue is now getting the consideration that it deserves. While the study will take time to complete, it serves as a real opportunity that could lead to preventative flooding measures benefitting all of the communities surrounding Assunpink Creek,” said Mayor Yaede.“I want to thank Congressman Smith for his continued dedication to addressing this issue and for working collaboratively with our Township government in the hopes of finding a solution to benefit our community.”

The State DEP has signed on to the effort, which calls for the $500,000 feasibility study to collect and examine data on flooding causes and impacts. The cost of the study—expected to take two years for engineers to complete—will be split between the state and federal governments. When complete, if a feasible solution is identified, the Corps and the State will begin to design alternative improvement options.

PHOTO: New Jersey, at center of photo, received between 12-32 inches of rain statewide during Hurricane Irene.

     Working with the Township, Smith has been encouraging the USACE to seek solutions to reduce the type of flooding the Township experienced in August 2011 following Hurricane Irene. Flooding across the state occurred and at least 45 people lost their lives on the East Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including one rescue worker who sustained fatal injuries during a water rescue attempt in Mercer County, and one man died off the beach in Ocean County. Hamilton and especially its Cornell Heights and Whitehead sections near the creek were hit particularly hard.

     The study area will include the approximate eight-mile section of the creek from Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park on the Hamilton and Lawrence border through Trenton to the Delaware River. The Trenton portion of the study is currently undergoing a USACE “daylighting” project to a culvert area that directs the Assunpink underground through the city. The daylighting project is expected to improve fish migration and natural habitat, but have no impact on flooding.

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