So everyone in New jersey who lives in a flood plain should be moved out of harms way. Let"s get real.

The solution would be to plant more vegetation and/or trees in the area. The trees and/or vegetation will drink in the water thus making it less pron to flooding. Nature has many ways to help us if we just look to it to solve our problems. Also planting more trees in those areas will give more oxygen into the area as well. And during the summer months it will help to give shade so it won't be so hot. How nice, right?

The flooding experienced in Northern New Jersey is epic. Towns still seek to allow overdevelopment, removal of trees, right now Hillsdale considering 900 plus trees, Washington Township 150 plus trees, in residental areas for development. Taking homes out of the flood plain will not alleviate the issue. We do not know the scope of tree removal in New York State nor towns surrounding the area. Yes, the level needs to be dropped and with todays technology some of this flooding can be avoided. How many dams have been removed above this area in New York State? How many trees? The Municipal Land Use Laws need to be honored, and not fought by wealthy investors. Towns need to stand up for their residents, and residents need to stay very active.

I spoke with someone who believes that the problem isn't one simple answer. He thinks that the topography needs to be taken into consideration, with maintenance of the brook paths, the private commercial property retention systems, and a coordination of probable weather forecasts with the water company's management of its resources. A lot of moving parts. But then everybody has an opinion. The key will be finding a body capable of pulling it together to do something. I doubt it's a task open to a "scientific" answer.

I doubt a task open to the scientific answer that the municipal land use law need to be honoured.