2007 News

November 30 , 2007

Bucks County Commissioners, Flood Task Force Meet With Governor

Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman and James F. Cawley will join tomorrow with the appointed members of their Delaware River Flood Task Force to meet with Governor Ed Rendell. The commissioners and 17-member task force will engage in a discussion with the governor on recommendations for preventing future flooding incidents. The recommendations were outlined in a letter sent to Rendell in September, following months of comprehensive research by the task force on causes and solutions to the flood problems plaguing those river-side communities over the last several years.  

Back in March 2007, the Bucks County commissioners empanelled the task force to review recommendations from the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) report, and to chart a course for action moving forward. Over the next several months, the group became informed through testimony from the National Weather Service, Department of Environmental Protection, DRBC, and two citizens’ groups, as well as the county’s Emergency Management Agency, Parks and Recreation Department and Planning Commission.

Once their exhaustive study was completed, members concluded that maintaining safety voids and implementing year-round releases in New York reservoirs are both key to reducing future flood incidents.  Saturday’s discussion will focus on the group’s appeal to the governor to call upon his contemporary in New York to allow dialogue to begin.

Ex oficio members on the task force are COO David Sanko, Lynn Bush of the Planning Commission, Bill Mitchell of the Parks and Recreation Department and John Dougherty of the Emergency Management Agency.

The task force is comprised of the following riverfront communities:

Bensalem Township
Bristol Township
Bristol Borough
Tullytown Borough
Falls Township
Morrisville Borough
Lower Makefield
Yardley Borough
Upper Makefield
Solebury Township
New Hope Borough
Plumstead Township
Tinicum Township
Bridgeton Township
Nockamixon Township
Durham Township
Riegelsville Borough