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Bernards Flooding and Stormwater, Explained: The MS4 Mapping Redo, the Culberson Road Study and Township Easements
What the township did on stormwater from November 2025 to October 2026: why it rescinded and re-awarded its state-required MS4 mapping, the Culberson Road storm sewer study, two federal funding requests, the conservation and drainage easements it accepted, and where residents can find flood information.
The short version
- The MS4 stormwater mapping was re-awarded. The township rescinded a 2025 contract with Aqualis in November 2025 and hired Boswell, Inc. in April 2026, up to $94,000.
- A Culberson Road storm sewer study (Boswell, up to $40,500) runs to Nov. 27, 2026.
- $250,000 in federal money was requested for stormwater planning; the outcome is not in the record.
- Eight easements protecting wetlands, stream buffers or a detention basin were accepted by ordinance, with no public comment.
The MS4 permit work
New Jersey’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit, administered by NJDEP, requires towns to map their storm sewer outfalls and systems and to assess their watersheds.
| Date | Action | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| July 29, 2025 | MS4 Mapping and Watershed Inventory Report awarded to Daniel G. Flynn, PE, of Aqualis (Res. #2025-0303) | — |
| Nov. 11, 2025 | Award rescinded: “a review of the Township’s GIS data, the RFP, and Aqualis’ proposal found that Aqualis’ proposal will not cover all work needed to comply with NJDEP requirements and Aqualis cannot complete the project at the cost awarded” (Res. #2025-0398) | 5-0 |
| April 14, 2026 | MS4 Mapping and Watershed Inventory Report awarded to Joseph A. Pomante of Boswell, Inc., up to $94,000.00, four months from April 14 to Aug. 13, 2026 (Res. #2026-0243) | 4-0 (Asay absent) |
The Boswell resolution charges $49,985.43 to an account it names “Watershed Improvement Plan” and $44,014.57 to a second capital account. LocalWhy has not reviewed the finished report.
Culberson Road storm sewer study
On Jan. 27, 2026 the Committee hired Paul W. Ferriero of Boswell, Inc. for a Culberson Road Storm Sewer Study, up to $40,500.00, from Jan. 27 to July 27, 2026 (Res. #2026-0154, 5-0). On June 23 it extended the contract to Nov. 27, 2026 because “the Township of Bernards requires additional time” (Res. #2026-0324, 4-0, McNally absent); no added cost is stated. What prompted the study is not stated in the resolutions.
Federal funding requests
- Stormwater planning, $250,000 (Res. #2026-0202, March 10, 2026, 4-0, Tompkins absent): an FY2027 Community Project Funding application to Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. for “professional engineering services to comply with NJDEP Municipal Stormwater regulations including the updating of the Township’s Stormwater Management Plan, the preparation of a Watershed Assessment Report, and preparation of the Watershed Improvement Plan.” No award is in the record LocalWhy has reviewed.
- Pleasant Valley Park culvert, $1,840,125 (Res. #2026-0207, March 24): the township says hundreds of vehicles a day drive through the stream crossing the park road, “negatively impacting the water quality.” See Parks and recreation for where that request stands.
Drainage in other projects
The 2026 capital ordinance (#2597, May 12, 2026, 5-0) includes $2,825,000 for engineering projects including “Sidewalk and Drainage Improvements” and $635,000 for DPW work including “Repair and Retrofit Drainage.” The Lake Road project adds curbing “to assist with grading and stormwater runoff” (township project page).
Easements accepted by ordinance
Each was adopted after a public hearing at which no one spoke.
| Ordinance | Property | Easement | Adopted | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2588 | 16 Saint Nickolas Way | Wetlands conservation | Nov. 11, 2025 | 5-0 |
| #2589 | 3 Emerald Valley Lane | Amended wetlands buffer conservation | Nov. 11, 2025 | 5-0 |
| #2590 | 24 Briar Lane | Riparian zone conservation | Dec. 23, 2025 | 5-0 |
| #2591 | 24 Rocky Lane | Wetlands conservation | Jan. 27, 2026 | 5-0 |
| #2595 | 34 Cherry Lane | Riparian zone conservation | April 28, 2026 | 5-0 |
| #2596 | 24 Rocky Lane | Detention basin, drainage and access | May 12, 2026 | 5-0 |
| #2604 | 30 North Stone Hedge Drive | Riparian zone conservation | Sept. 15, 2026 | 4-0 (Hodges absent) |
| #2605 | 95 Tuxford Terrace | Riparian zone conservation | Sept. 15, 2026 | 4-0 (Hodges absent) |
A conservation easement keeps a strip of private land, such as a wetland or stream buffer, undisturbed; the township holds the right to enforce it. Each easement “is on file with the office of the Township Clerk.”
Who handles flooding
The 2026 Local Emergency Management and Flood Mitigation Committee, appointed Jan. 6, includes the Office of Emergency Management coordinator, the Township Engineer, fire and EMS representatives, the Construction Official, the Health Officer and others. The Engineering Department’s Flood Information page links FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and flood-insurance publications, the state’s Blue Acres floodplain buyout program, a USGS stream gauge on the Passaic River near Millington, and township maps: a Buildings Floodway Flood Zone Map, a Floodplain 1 Acre Minimum Zoning Map, an Open Space Flood Zone Map and a Township Property Flood Zone Map. It also lists an “NFIP Class 7 Approval.”
What the record does not show
From Nov. 2025 to Oct. 13, 2026 the Committee minutes contain no flood-damage item, no floodplain-ordinance change or FEMA map adoption, and no public comment on flooding or drainage. Residents thanked Public Works staff (June 9, 2026) and township employees (July 14) for their work after storms.
What is not known
- The findings of the MS4 inventory and the Culberson Road study.
- Whether the $250,000 federal request was funded.
What residents can do
- Look up flood zones through the township’s Flood Information page or FEMA’s Map Service Center.
- Raise drainage problems at public comment at Township Committee meetings, where study results and projects would be presented and voted on.