U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), who has worked for years securing federal support through multiple initiatives aimed at mitigating the flood and pollution problems associated with Wreck Pond, today joined N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin and other State, county and local officials to mark the ground breaking of the next phase of the Wreck Pond restoration project.

 “Today’s Wreck Pond Phase 2 Restoration groundbreaking is cause for celebration and hope,” said Smith, who has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NJDEP, Monmouth County and Spring Lake officials to provide ongoing assistance to mitigate the flood damage done by storms. “This has been a team effort from start to finish. The people of Spring Lake and adjacent communities deserve no less.” Click here to read his opening statement.

 In 2015, $3.58 million provided by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (PL 113-2), legislation Congress enacted after Superstorm Sandy ravaged New Jersey’s coastline, was added to a $2 million grant awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the project in 2013. DEP earmarked another $608,000 for the project, and the Borough of Spring Lake contributed another $915,000. The combined funding is now being used to construct a secondary outfall pipe and a living shoreline that is designed to help protect residents and businesses in the area from similar flooding in the future.

 Phase 1 of the project—the dredging of Wreck Pond—was completed last week.

 Smith, who represents some of the coastal areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy in Monmouth and Ocean counties, including Spring Lake, worked in 2005 to have the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approve a resolution authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study of Wreck Pond. In 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 worked tirelessly to secure funding, including the initial federal funding for Wreck Pond in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

 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.

 In his remarks, Smith also noted the important contributions of a number of individuals, including Eric Schrading of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Littoral Society Executive Director Tim Dillingham., Assemblymen David Rible and Sean Kean, Monmouth County Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMasso and Gary Rich, and Spring Lake Mayor Jennifer Naughton.

 “Since 2010, the Christie Administration has made a strong commitment to Wreck Pond to address flooding and water quality issues,” Commissioner Martin said. “Today marks an important step toward our shared goal of making Wreck Pond the ecological gem that it can be. By restoring tidal flows to the lake, the outfall system will set the stage for creation of living shorelines that will create natural habitats and provide a buffer against flooding.”

 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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