Chris Smith (NJ-04), who has worked for several years securing federal support through multiple initiatives aimed at mitigating the flood and pollution problems associated with Wreck Pond, today said the new $3.5million in federal support through the federal Superstorm Sandy funds

“is timely and represents another way the federal government is working to help the local residents who have been plagued by Wreck Pond flood issues for years.

    “Superstorm Sandy highlighted the significant health and safety hazards associated with the toxins in Wreck Pond, which did more damage to local residences than did the water coming in from the ocean,” said Smith, who has worked with the Army Corps, NJDEP, Monmouth County and Spring Lake officials to provide ongoing assistance to mitigate the flood damage done by storms. “The work on Wreck Pond to date has paved the way for this grant and has been a good example of federal, state, county and local officials working to resolve a difficult challenge.”

    The $3.58 million was provided by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (PL 113-2), legislation Congress enacted after the storm ravaged New Jersey’s coastline. Smith, dean of the NJ delegation, led fight to see that the funding bill passed in the House. These resources will build on a previous $2 million grant awarded by the Fish and Wildlife Service to Spring Lake in 2013 and be used to construct a secondary outfall pipe and a living shoreline that is designed to protect residents and businesses in the area from similar flooding in the future.

    Smith, who represents some of the hardest-hit coastal areas in Monmouth and Ocean Counties along the Jersey Shore, including Spring Lake, worked to include initial federal funding for Wreck Pond in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, and as far back as 2007, at Smith’s request,U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) who was the chairman of the congressional committee that oversaw federal infrastructure projects, attended a meeting in New Jersey about 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 has worked tirelessly to secure funding.

    In June 2013, Smith announced funding for a federally-led study to identify the best way to combat the significant hazards associated with drainage problems at the pond. He said this new $3.5 million in added federal funding will be directed to alleviate the flood risk around Wreck Pond—which has long besieged residents and beach-goers in southern Monmouth County. And it will also be used to enhance water quality to make the pond pure and pristine once again.

    “We’ve been working toward the full restoration and proper management of Wreck Pond for many years, and this federal funding is a huge step in that direction,” Smith said.

    Wreck Pond, located primarily in Spring Lake, and sections of Sea Girt, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township N.J., is a 48-acre body of water in a residential area that has filled in with silt and pollutants and causes beach closures and home damage when it overflows.

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