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Bridgewater's Flooding and Drainage, Explained: The Nov. 13 Flood Maps, Ordinance #26-18 and the $2.5 Million Drainage Bond
Why Bridgewater must adopt a new flood damage prevention ordinance by Nov. 13, 2026, what the $2.5 million drainage bond names, the drainage problems residents raised at Council in 2026 and the responses on record, and the township's tree-planting program for stormwater.
The short version
- New flood maps take effect Nov. 13, 2026. FEMA’s final flood hazard determination for Somerset County (dockets FEMA-B-2353 and FEMA-B-2539) lists the Township of Bridgewater.
- The township must adopt a revised flood damage prevention ordinance by that date to stay in the National Flood Insurance Program, Director of Municipal Services Thomas Genova told the Council on Oct. 1. A township notice dated Oct. 16 announces the introduction of Ordinance #26-18 at the Oct. 15 meeting; the township’s resolution records the introduction 5-0 and sets the hearing for Nov. 5.
- $2.5 million for drainage. Ordinance #26-12, adopted July 9, 2026, 5-0, names the Spring Run neighborhood, the 1024 Brown Road area and the Brown Road/Carteret Road area.
The flood maps and Ordinance #26-18
FEMA’s notice in the Federal Register of Aug. 6, 2026 states: “The date of November 13, 2026 has been established for the FIRM and, where applicable, the supporting FIS report.” Bridgewater’s map repository is the Municipal Building, 100 Commons Way.
What Genova told the Council on Oct. 1, as the minutes record it:
- Bridgewater was accepted into the National Flood Insurance Program on Dec. 1, 1978, and “must adopt a revised Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance by November 13, 2026, to maintain its eligibility.”
- Under N.J.S.A. 58:16A-57 the township must regulate development in flood fringe areas to NJDEP standards.
- The ordinance incorporates Flood Insurance Rate Maps with a revision date of Nov. 13, 2026, and “would replace the existing ordinance in its entirety,” with requirements on flood hazard areas, development, elevation standards and flood protection.
- Adoption preserves residents’ access to flood insurance, federal disaster assistance and conventional mortgage funding in flood-prone areas.
Council members asked for a side-by-side comparison of the existing and proposed ordinances before voting on introduction; Genova said he would prepare it with the township’s attorney. Introduction was planned for Oct. 15 and final action for “the November Council meeting.”
The township’s file listing for Oct. 15 shows the ordinance as one that would repeal Article XXXIX, “Specific Floodplain Requirements” (Sections 126-289-101 et seq.), and adopt a new Article XXXIX. The township’s introducing resolution, #26-10-15-221, records the vote as 5-0 (Bucko, Isla, Kirsh, Ring, Geiger aye) and sets the public hearing and final action for Nov. 5, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed the ordinance text. Which properties move into or out of mapped flood hazard areas is also not in the record LocalWhy has reviewed; FEMA’s Map Service Center shows the new maps by address.
The $2.5 million drainage bond (Ordinance #26-12)
| Date | Step | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| June 25, 2026 | Introduced | 4-1: Bucko, Isla, Ring, Geiger aye; Kirsh nay (no reason recorded) |
| July 9, 2026 | Adopted after a hearing | 5-0 |
The ordinance appropriates $2,500,000 and authorizes $2,375,000 in bonds or notes for “various drainage improvements including but not limited to Spring Run neighborhood area; 1024 Brown Road area; Brown Road/Carteret Road area,” and other drainage work township-wide, with a $125,000 down payment and a 40-year period of usefulness; it took effect July 29, 2026 (ordinance text). Cost estimates and schedules for each area are not in the ordinance or the minutes.
The design work came first: on Dec. 17, 2025 the Council awarded engineering contracts for the Spring Run neighborhood (Colliers Engineering & Design, $95,250), 1024 Brown Road (Colliers, $93,750) and a Tributary to Chamber Brook drainage study (The Reynolds Group, $38,500), all from the 2025 Capital Road Bond. On Nov. 6, 2025 it had accepted a $156,000 grant for a Universal Drainage Assessment, found by Township Engineer Burr, and awarded that work to Colliers, funded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the 2025 capital ordinance (Council minutes).
At the July 9 hearing, Councilman Michael Kirsh said Bridgewater “maintains a strong AA bond rating, has approximately $85 million in outstanding debt, and continues to have bonding capacity.” Robert Albano (1149 Papen Road) said water from the Brown Road and Carteret Road areas affects drainage behind his property and that gabions installed “approximately 35 years ago” have deteriorated; Mayor Matthew C. Moench said engineering reviews for those projects will evaluate downstream effects.
What officials said in January. In his Jan. 5 remarks the Mayor said: “In 2025, Bridgewater approved the most aggressive stormwater and flooding mitigation initiatives in our Township’s history,” and “Significant funding will be required.” The November and December 2025 drainage awards above are among the 2025 actions in the minutes; LocalWhy has not yet reviewed the Council’s earlier 2025 minutes. On Jan. 8 the Council appointed Council President Joan Geiger liaison to the Green Brook Flood Control Commission (Kirsh alternate) and to the Raritan Millstone Flood Control Commission.
PSE&G’s Polhemus Lane substation
On May 5, 2026 the Planning Board approved PSE&G’s major site plan with three bulk variances for its substation at 5 Polhemus Lane (Block 347, Lot 1.01; App. 25-025-PB), 6-0 (Bongiorno, Magura, Wang, Banga, Choudhury, Vescio), and memorialized it June 16. As the transcript records:
- Noreen Merainer of PSE&G said Hurricane Ida put about two feet of water on Polhemus Lane and a transformer failed, that the troubleshooters’ building sits in the Cuckels Brook floodway, and that NJDEP’s 2023 rules put almost the whole station in a floodplain.
- Engineer Bryce Hansen (Black & Veatch) said the station’s grade is 45 to 46 feet, NJDEP’s climate-adjusted flood elevation 46.2 to 48 feet and Ida’s high water about 47.7 feet; critical components would be raised to 49 feet.
- Township Engineer Burr asked for a stormwater operation and maintenance manual. No members of the public spoke.
Drainage problems residents raised in 2026
| Date | Speaker | What they raised | Response on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 19 | Cory Gardner, 1514 Washington Valley Road | A 1989 township easement on his property, originally 10 feet wide and 3 feet deep, has eroded to about 25–30 feet wide and 25 feet deep and is nearing his home’s foundation | On April 9 the Administrator said staff had visited; the site “may involve easements held by both the Township and the County” |
| May 7 | Susan Dorward, 3 Waldron Drive | The fence around the Waldron Drive detention basin has deteriorated; replacement (about $20,000) has been in Public Works budget requests for three years | The Mayor said it “could reasonably be addressed within this year or the next” |
| May 18 | Chris Drew, 755 Dow Road | Flooding on his property since 2024 involving drainage from a neighboring lot; he said he spent about $10,000 on a berm | The Mayor said the administration will follow up |
| July 9 | Robert Albano, 1149 Papen Road | Runoff behind his property; deteriorated gabions (at the bond hearing) | Engineering reviews will look at downstream effects |
| July 23 | Cathy Franco | Whom to contact after flash flooding | Administrator Pappas: the Office of Constituent Relations, which forwards to Public Works and Engineering |
| Aug. 20 | Curtis Kraut, 199 Adamsville Road | Sewer backups along Cuckels Brook during Hurricane Ida | Manhole repair there is a priority of the 2027 inflow-and-infiltration program (see Water and sewer) |
Two related items: on Aug. 6 Council President Geiger said a tour of the quarry with the Environmental Commission chair showed “the potential for a portion of the quarry to be used as a basin to collect water during extreme weather and storms,” to be explored further; and the same night Councilman Andrew Bucko raised “sinkholes developing around the newly added drainage facilities on Lilac Court,” which led the Council to table a road contractor’s final payment until Sept. 17.
Trees for Tomorrow
On June 4 Superintendent of Public Works Richard Shimp presented “Trees for Tomorrow,” a Public Works program “aimed at improving stormwater control and expanding tree canopy coverage.” The township had 184 resident applications, with about 120 native trees to be planted this year using about $60,000 from the Shade Tree Removal Fund, “not directly funded by taxpayers.” The Council awarded the planting contract to SJC Lawncare, Inc. (Cranford), up to $60,000 (5-0). On July 9 the Mayor said about 20 trees had been planted in Bradley Gardens.
What is not known
- The text of Ordinance #26-18.
- Which properties’ flood zones change on the Nov. 13 maps.
- Design, cost and schedule for the projects under Ordinance #26-12.
- The status of the Washington Valley Road easement and the quarry-basin idea.
What residents can do
- Look up your property on FEMA’s Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) or at the Municipal Building, and speak at the public hearing on Ordinance #26-18, set for the Nov. 5, 2026 Council meeting.
- Report drainage problems to the Office of Constituent Relations.
- Follow the drainage bond projects at Council meetings, where design and construction contracts come before the Council for a vote.