Press Release
Smith secures $1 million in federal earmarks for Silver Lake restorationCongressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) today announced that he has secured a $1 million federal earmark in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill due for a final vote in the full House of Representatives in September. “This critical funding will boost the federal/local partnership already underway to address the critical water quality issues at Silver Lake,” said Smith, who has represented Belmar in Congress for many years. “Ultimately, the restoration project will help return a healthy estuarine ecosystem to the lake, reconnecting the outflow pipe to the ocean, which will bring back a thriving fish and marine life habitat, an essential component for restoring the water quality of the lake and eliminating the conditions that led to its current eutrophic state,” Smith said.
“As residents and members of the Belmar Environmental Commission well know, damage from Superstorm Sandy to the pipe has stopped the natural flow of fresh and ocean water into the lake, which used to take place twice a day with tidal changes. Without it, the water quality of Silver Lake has degraded severely,” Smith said.
The million-dollar federal earmark will come on the heels of Smith’s success in securing comprehensive planning assistance for the lake from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) just two months ago. The total value of the USACE assistance on this preliminary phase of the project is estimated to be roughly a quarter of a million dollars and will likely be completed next spring. Their work will guide alternative plans to improve water quality, restore the habitat and potentially reduce residual flooding around the lake.
“It has been a pleasure working with Environmental Committee Chair Dianne Vellieux and Committee Member Gary Henniger, who first brought the issue to my attention,” said the Jersey Shore Congressman.
Smith also thanked the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, led by Commissioner Director Tom Arnone, which has also targeted funds to the project.
“Working together, I know we can make a positive and long-lasting impact on the lake and the entire Belmar community,” he said.
This is the second time in two years that Congressman Smith has advocated for earmarked, federal Community Project Funding for Silver Lake. Additionally, in 2023, Smith secured a housing earmark for the Belmar Housing Authority for critical safety repairs to the town’s Senior Public Housing Building.
Congressman Smith’s appropriations request letter for Silver Lake funding can be found here. A copy of the Belmar Housing Authority appropriations earmark can be found here.
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