The Highlands vote on the question asking how the residents feel about a 14 foot wall between them and the river, not surprisingly, showed they certainly don’t like the idea. And the Mayor has said loud and clear she is hearing them and paying attention.
It does make me wonder, though, why the Army Corps of Engineers came up with this solution as the only one they feel, regardless of cost, that will save Highlands from flooding.
That raises more than a few questions to someone who lived in Highlands for more than four decades. Primarily…..exactly what flooding would this 14-foot wall halt? And when has the borough ever experienced that?
What could be the results of such a wall should Highlands ever experience water that high coming from the ocean?
Over the decades, it seems Highlands has done a lot more to encourage flooding and permit flooding through their own thoughtlessness, lack of regulations, lack of maintenance, greed, or so many other reasons other than the ocean.
Think of the primary reasons why Highlands floods.
One is water coming down the hills from Middletown, rushing down to meet rain waters already falling on the lower land.
One is a drainage system that can’t handle it all, particularly when it’s torrential rain.
And one is there has been so much construction in Highlands over the more recent decades that ground that used to absorb and distribute the water beneath the surface has now been covered over with concrete and hard materials that prevent this from happening naturally.
The clammers and all those hardworking and wonderful families who have lived in Highlands for generations knew the land floods and knew they could deal with it. And do. They also know the water doesn’t come over any bulkheads except on very rare occasions. And even then, it wouldn’t take 14 feet to keep it out.
In the 1950s, there was never any water on the streets in the Waterwitch section. Only Hurricane Donna in 1960 brought a couple of feet of water to that section of town.
And that didn’t happen because it came over the bulkhead on Marine Place; it came from a variety of sources, including the beaches and areas not covered by a bulkhead. But for the very few times that happens in a lifetime, is it really necessary to wall off some of the charm of Highlands in its view, its beaches, its waterfront businesses?
Hurricane Sandy brought town wide flooding, but again, because of a variety of reasons, not necessarily the river or ocean dashing up the waterfront properties.
The marina in Waterwitch has created more than its share of problems, the broken piers, the holes in the wall, carelessness. Hopefully that is all going to be taken care of, corrected, and folks on Washington and Huddy will be able to be restored to dry conditions all the time.
This administration is working on more plans to improve Middletown runoff, including that idea of a giant pit in Kavookjian Field. It all seems so much cheaper, more simplified, and less harmful to Highlands than a 14 foot wall.
Highlands voters are wise. Just because the Army Corps thinks a 14 foot wall is the solution, just because the feds are willing to finance a portion of it , but leave the cost of maintaining it up to Highlands, doesn’t make it a good thing, or the right thing.
Think of this. What happens to Sandy Hook if Highlands needs a 14-foot wall to keep out ocean water?
How come the Army Corps isn’t trying to wall off the ocean and the beaches that millions go to every summer at Sandy Hook if it’s so necessary to have a 14 foot wall to protect Highlands?
It is rare, but it has happened, that a portion of Sandy Hook became an island, briefly, as the ocean met the river at the lowest area of Sandy Hook. But even then, a 14 foot wall wouldn’t have kept water from Highlands.
None of these even touches on eminent domain.
Why should the state or federal government have the right to take anyone‘s property because it is their idea, it is the best thing for a town?
What happens to the people’s right to have their say?
Anyone buying a house or business in Highlands knows it floods sometimes; if they’re willing to take the risk and get the mortgage and pay for the insurance, doesn’t that mean anything?
The Mayor has warned the people in her town that there is no doubt, even though she has assured residents she is listening to their plea to save the town from being walled off from the river, it is not the end of it.
With the Army Corps continuing to work on its plans, a future administration come well go along with them, could approve a finished product when the Corps comes back with more detailed ideas, more or less houses or businesses to taken in order to put their plans in place or any other change it designs.
But for now, Highlands can rest easy; they have spoken, the governing body has listened, and Highlands residents can continue to put up with the occasional water in the street, the occasional moving cars or furnishings from moon tides and be grateful that not only have they spoken, but they have actually been listened to.
Now it is up to them to keep alert in the future, keep informed about plans for the borough, and keep using the ballot box to endorse their opinions and let their elected leaders of the future know how they feel about walling off their town from the very thing that gives it its charm
