Quote:
Originally Posted by phil
totally agree on the rahway, wish they would figure out a way to dredge it also. im tired of hearing stories from my OG neighbors about how it used to be 10'+ deep all the way from the parkway overflow to the train bridge.
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Consider yourself lucky south-sider! The sediment buildup on the north side of town is much worse. The stretch from the N. union Dam up to the footbridge is practically devoid of life (monstrous carp and snapping turtles not included). While the dam at N. Avenue does provide some uniform depth for that stretch you can see just how bad the silt buildup is whenever they open the flood gates in anticipation of a big storm. Nothing but muck until you get up to Nomahegan Park where the effects of the dam are diminished and you start to see some rocks, pools, riffles, etc. The mill dam on the south side on the other hand fails in a dams main purpose (to retain water) because one of the flood gates has been stuck in the ‘open’ position for years. So you get all the downside of a dam (sediment buildup) without any of the upside (increased depth). Supposedly the next phase in the Army Corp. of Engineers flood mitigation plan is going to include both dredging as well as repairs to the mill dam but I will believe it when I see it.
It’s unfortunate that the plan advocated by the experts and considered the only plan that might have a measurable impact on flood mitigation in Cranford was shot down by our neighbors to the north (ahem, Milburn) because the plan called for construction of a massive dam in the south mountain reservation which would have created an enourmous reservoir that encompasses not only what is now Orange Reservoir but also those two ponds further downstream. That reservoir could then be drawn down before storms to absorb the floodwaters coming from farther north. In my mind that plan would have been ideal - it would have helped protect my home from flooding and also would have created an amazing body of water nearby for fishing and recreation.
Ps - if you want 10’ deep pools in the Rahway just venture to the other side of the parkway. Last summer I paddled from Bloodgoods up to the parkway and could hardly believe the depths I was seeing on sonar. Numerous spots up to 12’ deep. Hard to believe one of the healthiest stretches of the whole river is the part that parallels the states busiest highway.