Melt DOWN; River's UP

 The recent warm weather along with the heavy rain and STRONG blustery winds have caused some flooding and damage to our property and township.  Our township is between the Raritan River (North and South Branches), and the Millstone River. Heavy rains and snow melt, cause the rivers to swell and spread out beyond their banks and onto adjoining fields and the main roads.  Although these pictures were taken two days after the rain, you are still able to see some of the damage that resulted. 

 Minor flooding in  along the path from the pool to the gate.

 The water just 'ponds' in the yard.  The soil is a no-drainage 'shale'.  Great for making bricks, but not so good for landcaping.

The blue-stone patio leading to the smoker is barely visable under the standing water. The deck is made of Ipe (e-pay) wood.  A wood that is very dense, and does not absorb water.  The reflection gives the impression of a double railing.

 There is so much water accumulated on the pool cover, that it looks like a pool within a pool. 

 The side-ways wind driven rain making its mark on the standing water.

 When the rain and wind washed away the snow, it left behind the stark sadness of broken tree limbs.  We aren't sure that this old Sugar Maple can be saved.  We have lost many limbs due to weather. One of the two remaining Pine trees also sustained weather damage. 

This old tree fell across the entrance to the bike path that connects Carriage Hill with Strawberry Hill.  The bike path also serves as  an emergency vehicle route. We will wait for the township DPW to remove it.

 This little 'creek' runs along the bike path.  It is usually barely a trickle, but today it is a mini-water fall. 

 This tree at a neighbor's house was split clear down the middle.  After storms like this last one, it is not unusual to hear the buzz of chain saws as residents and tree surgeons remove the damaged trees and limbs.

 The Millstone River at Griggstown overflowed its banks, floods the adjacent field.

 Even though these photos are taken two days after the rain ended, the extent of the flooding is still visible.

 It is not uncommon to see the bridge at the Griggstown Causeway closed. 

 This bridge was re-built several years ago, and probably should have been raised a few feet.  You can see where the river meets the bridge.  Many times in past years the water has actually risen across the bridge.

 The sign should also warn against 'water covered' roads.

 The same goes for the Blackwells Mills Causeway a mile or two north of Griggstown.  This bridge is also newly re-built and rarely is water covered, but the causeway between the Millstone River and

 the Delaware Canal does become submerged.  Since the waters have receded, there is only minor flooding on the causeway, but at times the water has been up to mid-tree level.