PASCACK VALLEY—Dozens of property owners and residents here and in surrounding areas answered the Borough of Westwood’s call to share their flood stories and photos, providing firsthand accounts of damage and hardship.
The project, which was active through March 4, is in an effort to strengthen the borough’s federal grant application for flood mitigation funding. The borough has applied for $325,000 in federal funding as part of a statewide FEMA grant package aimed at mitigating flooding across multiple Pascack Valley towns, officials told Pascack Press.
Respondents were asked to describe any local flooding events they’ve experienced, including approximate dates, extent of flooding, and how it impacted their home or property. They were invited to consider sharing details such as water depth, property damage, access issues, and actions taken in response.” Photo attachments were welcomed.
Toward the end of February, deputy administrator Karen Hughes posted a notice on the borough website seeking residents’ “flood stories” to detail damage from recent storms. She said grant officials advised her late in the application process that personal accounts could significantly bolster the borough’s case for funding.
By March 4, Hughes had already received approximately 30 responses from Westwood residents, as well as a few from nearby towns that saw the posting.
Westwood’s application seeks to fund a “scoping project” that would examine regional flood mitigation solutions, with Westwood as the lead agency. The project would also benefit Hillsdale, River Vale, and Washington Township, as flooding in these areas is interconnected.
“The idea is to take a holistic look at the waterways impacting multiple towns,” Hughes said. She noted that FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance office is more likely to approve future grants if local municipalities demonstrate a comprehensive approach to flood management.
The proposed study would focus on the Musquapsink and Pascack brooks, analyzing the hydraulics and hydrology of the region. If funded, the study would develop plans and concepts to reduce flood frequency—an investment that Hughes says is more cost-effective than FEMA continually paying for flood damage recovery.
The 10-member Pascack Valley Mayors Association is expected to support the grant, with individual letters of endorsement from the mayors of Hillsdale, River Vale, and Washington Township. Additional support is anticipated from Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-39), and Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-39).
The grant would cover an area stretching from the Woodcliff Lake dam through the end of Westwood, a section prone to severe flooding during heavy rainfall.
Hughes highlighted a separate rainfall study that began in early 2024, conducted by Stevens Institute of Technology. This research, using a model called Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO), aims to analyze rainfall patterns and runoff flow.
By leveraging real-time rainfall data, FIRO could help conserve reservoir capacity while minimizing downstream flooding, a key concern in the Pascack Valley.
Several Pascack Valley towns—including Hillsdale, River Vale, Township of Washington, and Westwood—recently completed drone surveys of local waterways. These surveys identified obstructions such as downed trees, sediment shoals, and severely eroded streambanks, all of which contribute to worsening flood conditions.
Township of Washington has already allocated $700,000 for emergency streambank repairs near two deteriorating sanitary sewer manholes that risk being undermined by stream flow. Officials warn that if these structures fail, they could cause significant stream pollution.