Waterway Debris Removal Continues in R-FH Area; State Gets $51M From FEMA

The debris-laden waterways in the Rumson-Fair Haven area — an environmentally unfriendly bi-product of Hurricane Sandy — are clearing up.

As work continues to restore the Jersey Shore’s waterways from $68.11 million worth of damage caused by Sandy, the state has received a $51 million reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the cost of it all.

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) received the federal grants to cover the use of contractors for the loading, hauling, disposal and monitoring of Sandy debris throughout the state's waterways.

Three contractors — Donjon Marine, CrowderGulf and AshBritt, Inc. — were the low bidders to clean the waterways of northern, central and southern New Jersey, respectively.

So far, according to a statement from the DEP, the cleanup has encompassed the removal of 85 percent of debris from the state's waterways; the clearing of 83 percent of Department of Transportation channels; the clearing of 71 percent of storm-impacted marinas; and the removal of 79 percent of abandoned vessels and vehicles.

The work has included removing boats, cars, cabanas, pieces of homes, docks and household items from the Sea Bright, Rumson, Fair Haven and Red Bank areas along the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. And much had reportedly remained in the rivers, some of it washing ashore bit by bit.

The DEP has been keeping towns apprised of progress and has sent out notification that if residents or officials have seen or heard of anything specific and significant in weight and magnitude that needs to be removed, they should be notified via town management.

Piles of debris washed up onto the Gunning Island between the Rumson West Park and Sea Bright Shrewsbury River banks. West Park lawns had been covered with Sea Bright remnants as large as boats and cabanas and as small as photos.

In Fair Haven, debris has been intermittently washing up along the river near the dock and along the shores. Residents have carted non-toxic items to the street for pick-up. But officials advise, per the DEP instructions, that anything seemingly toxic or dangerous should be left to the waterway clean-up.