$3.5M-plus in Federal Funding Slated to Restore Wreck Pond

Press Release

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.

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