New Jersey Statutes Title 58. Waters and Water Supply 58 § 4-11

The Legislature finds and declares that the condition of many dams, lakes, and streams throughout the State has been deteriorating at an alarming rate due to a chronic lack of maintenance, and that the deterioration was exacerbated by unusually heavy amounts of rainfall during the summer of 2000, particularly the storms occurring on August 12 and August 13 that created a state of emergency in several counties.

The Legislature further finds and declares that these conditions have led to the collapse of dams, polluted lakes, stream flooding and property damage to homes, businesses, lake communities and public utilities; and that federal, State and local financial resources have not met adequately the costs of remediating the sites and facilities affected by these conditions.

The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to provide additional funding for State programs that are responsible for remediating, and for providing assistance to other public or private entities to remediate, the conditions described herein.