Wedgewood Brook
Wedgewood Brook is a tributary of the Woodbridge River, located within Woodbrige Proper, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States.

The brook arises near Woodbridge High School, flows east, and crosses Wedgewood Avenue, Amboy Avenue and Barron Avenue before entering Woodbridge River in the Woodbridge River Park. Interest in the brook has increased as it has had recurrent flooding in recent years. Woodbridge is bordered on the east by the Arthur Kill, into which the Woodbridge River flows. There is a history of tidal flooding along this river and its tributaries. Woodbridge rivers, have been described, also, as having a "high flow, flashy nature;" in addition to tidal flooding, fluvial flooding is also common. The land is relatively impervious, and flooding is exacerbated steep slopes, urban cover and outflow block. The twin culvert size at the railroad crossing just downstream from Barron Avenue is 4x4 feet; this leads to severe upstream flooding. It is estimated that a 100 year flood will put the area under nine feet of water and affect 42 homes. Farther downstream the Wedgewood Avenue neighborhood along the brook is susceptible to tidal flooding, and many of its homes have been offered buyouts by the city. Frequency of flooding has increased over time. Residential areas moved into previous marsh land, decreasing the ability of the land to absorb excess water. Wedgewood Brook is the northern boundary of the area most affected from Hurricane Sandy, Watson-Cramptom. Prior to 2009 this area was zoned for high density residential housing, including the area consisting of wetlands and meadows. When the Sandy came, there was a combination of tidal and fluvial flooding; it was "characterized as a tsunami-like water wall," destroying adjoining homes. After Sandy, using money from the New Jersey Buyout Program, Woodbridge bought out and demolished many residential properties in the flood hazard areas. Woodbridge's actions and plans have been called a "slow motion evacuation from climate change." As people move out of flood hazard areas, they will replaced by a "floodplain forest of native trees, shrubs and grass." In Woodbridge not everybody wants to sell; 2050, when the properties may be under water, seems too far in the future for some. This interferes with the goal of land buffers, entire blocks, between rivers and homes.
Q85816119
Woodbridge River
LOC
Q995263
Woodbrige Proper
LOC
Q496862
Middlesex County
LOC
Q1408
New Jersey
LOC
Q8032416
Woodbridge High School
LOC
Q2865187
Arthur Kill
LOC
Q28231765
tidal flooding
UNK
Q1434465
fluvial
LOC
Q4168092
culvert
Concept
Q264
Hurricane Sandy
LOC
Q170321
wetlands
Concept
Q7777019
meadows
Concept
Q8070
tsunami
Concept
Q7942
climate change
Concept
Q193110
floodplain
Concept
Q85814764
Wedgewood Brook
UNK
Q85814764
Wedgewood Brook
UNK
2009-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
2009
DATE
2050-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
2050
DATE
+4^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
4
NUMBER
+4^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
4
NUMBER
+42^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
42
NUMBER
located in the administrative territorial entity