Rep. Tom Kean Jr. visited Passaic River Park in Berkeley Heights on Monday, Oct. 26, to highlight $3 million he included in a House funding bill for flood mitigation work along Passaic River tributaries.
The money, part of the Passaic River Regional Flood Mitigation Project, would pay for clearing debris and obstructions from clogged tributary stretches and reinforcing eroding stream banks in Berkeley Heights, Long Hill, New Providence, Summit and Chatham Borough. The goal is to improve the tributaries' capacity to carry water and reduce flooding in those communities.
“Residents in the area know the detrimental impacts of the Passaic River Basin flooding,” said Congressman Kean. “Local municipalities have experienced repeated and severe flooding events in recent years, resulting in significant public safety hazards, damage to public infrastructure, damage to property, roadway closures, emergency response impacts, and disruption to residents and businesses. I am pleased to secure this federal funding to ensure that families in these communities are safe and can continue to live in their homes.”
The funding has not been finalized. The $3 million is included in House appropriations legislation but is not yet a final federal award. The relevant funding legislation must be enacted before the money can be made available.
Kean, a Republican representing New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, originally requested $4 million for the project when he submitted his fiscal year 2027 Community Project Funding requests in April. The House Appropriations Committee reduced the amount to $3 million when it included the project in a July spending package covering 18 district projects totaling $17,765,906.
Berkeley Heights Mayor Angie Devanney, New Providence Mayor Al Morgan and Summit Mayor Elizabeth Fagan all praised the funding and the regional collaboration behind it, according to statements released by Kean's office. Devanney called it an important step toward protecting homes and families across the area. Morgan said residents know firsthand how damaging the flooding has been. Fagan called the investment critical for reducing future flood damage.
“We are very grateful to Congressman Kean for his work to secure these funds for Summit and our neighboring towns who are also battling this ongoing issue,” said Summit Mayor Elizabeth Fagan. “With severe storms becoming more frequent, residents all throughout this area continue to lose land and suffer significant damage to their properties. This funding represents a critical investment in protecting our residents, mitigating future flood damage, and building more resilient communities for the long term.”
Kean said in a statement that local municipalities have faced repeated flooding in recent years, causing public safety hazards, property damage, road closures and disruptions to residents and businesses.
Separately, the House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 in September. WRNJ Radio reported the legislation includes authorization for the Army Corps of Engineers to provide emergency streambank erosion and shoreline protection along Salt Brook in Summit. It also advances flood mitigation studies in the Passaic River Basin. Kean voted for the bill.
In March 2025, Kean visited a Summit constituent's home to observe backyard erosion caused by Salt Brook flooding, according to WRNJ Radio.
The Township of Berkeley Heights is the designated recipient for the $3 million, according to Kean's funding submission. The project would use what Kean's office described as environmentally responsible de-snagging and debris removal in the most clogged stretches of tributaries feeding the Passaic River.
