Flood Solution Group Protests United Water, Pascack Brook Floods

Updated at 1:42 a.m. Saturday.

About two dozen members of the Hillsdale & Westwood Flood Solution Group faced the tail end of Tropical Storm Andrea Friday evening to protest United Water.

Members of the group gathered on the Woodcliff Lake side of Church Road near United Water's dam to protest the utility's refusal to release water from the reservoir prior to Friday's storm, which they feared could have flooded local homes near the Pascack Brook.

"If they just lowered it a little before it got like this it wouldn't be a problem," protester Anthony Bruno said. "They refuse to cooperate."

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning in Bergen County until 2:45 a.m. Saturday and a flash flood watch until Saturday afternoon.

As of 1 a.m. Saturday, the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir's water level was at 94.9 feet. It fluctuated above and below that point throughout Friday, but never hit 95.25, the point at which the gates open.

The Hillsdale Office of Emergency Management reported water in the Pascack Brook was 4.5 feet deep at the Patterson Street Bridge as of about 12:30 a.m., meaning flooding was occuring. The exact extent of flood damage could not immediately be determined, but Hillsdale OEM Tweeted that "multi streets flooded."

Prior to the storm hitting the area, members of the group had petitioned the Gov. Chris Christie and the Department of Environmental Protection to order the water level in the reservoir be lowered. United Water typically only lowers the level if ordered to by the state.

Westwood Mayor John Birkner and Hillsdale Mayor Max Arnowitz both sent messages to their residents saying that the DEP's engineers had decided not to order United Water.

Laurie Lieberman, another protestor, said she believed United Water and the DEP were "playing Russian roulette with our lives."

"It wouldn't solve everything, but it would be a big help," she said, referring to the water level being lowered. "I know they can't stop a 12-inch rainstorm, but some of these people get [flooded] every time it rains."