Open space and environment

Flooding and stormwater

The township is redoing its state-required MS4 stormwater mapping after rescinding a 2025 award (Boswell, up to $94,000), studying the Culberson Road storm sewer (due Nov. 27, 2026) and seeking $250,000 in federal money for stormwater planning. It accepted eight conservation and drainage easements by ordinance.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

Culberson Road storm sewer study due Nov. 27, 2026 Last moved

What happens next

The Culberson Road storm sewer study contract runs to Nov. 27, 2026. Results and any project would come to the Township Committee.

The state stormwater permit. New Jersey’s municipal stormwater (MS4) rules require the township to map its storm sewer system and inventory its watersheds. In July 2025 it hired Aqualis for that work; on Nov. 11, 2025 it rescinded the award, 5-0, because a review found the proposal “will not cover all work needed to comply with NJDEP requirements and Aqualis cannot complete the project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). On April 14, 2026 it hired Boswell, Inc. for the MS4 Mapping and Watershed Inventory Report, up to $94,000, for April 14 – Aug. 13, 2026 (Res. #2026-0243, 4-0, Asay absent). The report is not in the record LocalWhy has reviewed.

Culberson Road. A storm sewer study of Culberson Road went to Boswell, Inc., up to $40,500, on Jan. 27, 2026 (Res. #2026-0154, 5-0); on June 23 its term was extended to Nov. 27, 2026 (Res. #2026-0324, 4-0).

Federal requests. On March 10, 2026 the Committee applied for $250,000 in FY2027 Community Project Funding for engineering to update the township’s Stormwater Management Plan and prepare a Watershed Assessment Report and Watershed Improvement Plan under NJDEP rules (Res. #2026-0202, 4-0). The outcome is not in the record. A separate $1,840,125 request for a culvert where the Pleasant Valley Park road crosses a stream is covered under Parks and recreation.

Easements. Between Nov. 2025 and Sept. 2026 the Committee accepted, by ordinance, seven wetlands or riparian conservation easements on private lots and one detention basin, drainage and access easement (Ord. #2596, 24 Rocky Lane). No one spoke at any of those hearings.

What the record does not show. No flood-damage item, floodplain ordinance or FEMA map adoption, and no resident comment on flooding or drainage, appears in the Committee minutes from Nov. 2025 to Oct. 13, 2026.

What residents can do. The Engineering Department’s Flood Information page links FEMA’s map service, flood insurance material, the state Blue Acres buyout program and township flood-zone maps. Raise drainage problems at public comment. The explainer has the details. Corrections: info@localwhy.org.

Flooding and stormwater, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. Resolved MS4 stormwater mapping award to Aqualis rescindedRes. #2025-0398 rescinded the July 29, 2025 award for the NJDEP MS4 Mapping and Watershed Inventory Report because the proposal "will not cover all work needed to comply with NJDEP requirements and Aqualis cannot complete the project at the cost awarded." Adopted 5-0.
  2. Active Culberson Road storm sewer study awarded to Boswell, up to $40,500Res. #2026-0154 hired Boswell, Inc. for a Culberson Road Storm Sewer Study, up to $40,500.00, through July 27, 2026, 5-0. On June 23 the term was extended to Nov. 27, 2026 (Res. #2026-0324, 4-0).
  3. Pending Township seeks $250,000 in federal funds for stormwater planningRes. #2026-0202 approved an FY2027 Community Project Funding application to Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. for engineering to update the Stormwater Management Plan and prepare a Watershed Assessment Report and Watershed Improvement Plan, requesting the full $250,000. Adopted 4-0 (Tompkins absent).
  4. Pending Township seeks $1,840,125 in federal funds for a Pleasant Valley Park culvert and pathsRes. #2026-0207 authorized an FY2027 Community Project Funding application to Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. for the "Pleasant Valley Park Culvert and Paths Project," requesting the full $1,840,125.00 estimate. Adopted 4-0 (McNally absent). The same night it ordered a $59,377.54 cricket pitch for the park.
  5. Resolved MS4 mapping and watershed inventory re-awarded to Boswell, up to $94,000Res. #2026-0243 hired Boswell, Inc. for the NJDEP MS4 Mapping and Watershed Inventory Report, up to $94,000.00, from April 14 to Aug. 13, 2026. Adopted 4-0 (Asay absent).
  6. Resolved Detention basin, drainage and access easement at 24 Rocky Lane acceptedOrd. #2596 accepted a detention basin, drainage and access easement on Block 3602, Lot 5 (24 Rocky Lane), 5-0, after a hearing with no comment. A wetlands easement on the same lot was accepted Jan. 27 (Ord. #2591).
  7. Resolved Riparian conservation easements on North Stone Hedge Drive and Tuxford Terrace acceptedOrds. #2604 (30 North Stone Hedge Drive) and #2605 (95 Tuxford Terrace) accepted riparian zone conservation easements, each 4-0 (Hodges absent), after hearings with no comment.
  8. Pending Rep. Kean says $1.84 million for Pleasant Valley Park is in a House billRep. Tom Kean, Jr. visited Pleasant Valley Park and said he "secured" $1.84 million for its culvert and paths "in a House Appropriations bill." The Mayor said the project "advances for consideration for FY2027 funding." The money is not yet enacted.

Explainers

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Committee — August 25, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2603, a property maintenance ordinance for non-residential properties, 4-0 after a hearing at which five speakers supported it and one did not. It rejected all seven bids for the 2026 road program as over budget, ordered Motorola radios for the fire companies and emergency management (not to exceed $536,023.28) and met in closed session on Toll/Tavistock v. BTSA. Ten people spoke in all.

  • Township Committee — June 23, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2599, as amended with the Planning Board's recommendations, prohibiting data centers in all zones, and #2598, a new construction fee schedule, both 4-0. It certified the 2025 audit, extended Ridge Oak's tax abatement 40 years, awarded Pleasant Valley Park court improvements and introduced salary Ordinance #2601. Thirteen entries naming 15 people commented on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — May 12, 2026

    The Committee adopted capital Ordinance #2597, $6,250,380.00 from the Capital Improvement Fund for roads, drainage, fire and EMS equipment, radios, parks and police equipment, and easement Ordinance #2596. It urged state leaders to curb public employee health premium increases after a 36.25% State Health Benefits Plan rise, and made seven police appointments and promotions, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — April 28, 2026

    After a public hearing with one speaker, the Committee adopted the 2026 municipal and golf utility budgets 5-0: $49,773,967.75 in appropriations and a municipal tax rate of $0.246. It authorized estimated third-quarter tax bills, adopted Ordinance #2595, and introduced capital Ordinance #2597 ($6,250,380.00) and easement Ordinance #2596. Four people spoke in all.

  • Township Committee — April 14, 2026

    After a closed session on potential litigation over the Reivax road improvements contract, the Committee awarded Renda Roads up to $1,025,000.00 for road repairs, hired Boswell for MS4 stormwater mapping ($94,000.00), approved a Speed Sentry radar display loan from RideWise and two police vehicles, and introduced Ordinance #2595, all 4-0 with Asay absent. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — March 10, 2026

    With Tompkins absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2593, the Fourth Round affordable housing compliance rules, and capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00), and awarded synthetic turf replacement at Mountain Park ($960,826.00), a pavement condition assessment and a $250,000.00 federal funding request for stormwater planning, all 4-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — January 27, 2026

    The Committee adopted Ordinance #2592, letting the 2026 budget rise up to 3.5% instead of 2% and banking any unused amount, and #2591, a wetlands easement. It hired Boswell for a Culberson Road storm sewer study ($40,500.00), joined the county recycling program at $28.16 per household and appointed Janice Fields to the Sewerage Authority, all 5-0. No members of the public spoke.

  • Township Committee — November 11, 2025

    The Committee voted 3-2 (Resolution #2025-0395) to have the Planning Board investigate the former Lord Stirling School property, 99 Lord Stirling Road and 25 Sherwood Drive, as a possible non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment. It adopted two wetlands conservation easement ordinances and rescinded the Aqualis award for MS4 stormwater mapping. Eight of the ten public speakers commented on the Allen Road incident.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Committee minutes, Nov. 11, 2025 (Res. #2025-0398)
  2. Township Committee minutes, April 14, 2026 (Res. #2026-0243)
  3. Township Committee minutes, Jan. 27, 2026 (Res. #2026-0154, Culberson Road study)
  4. Township Committee minutes, June 23, 2026 (Res. #2026-0324, extension)
  5. Township Committee minutes, March 10, 2026 (Res. #2026-0202, $250,000 request)
  6. Bernards Township Flood Information (Engineering Department)
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