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Atwood Lake Residents Sue Wyckoff, Neighbors Over Dam Repair
Wyckoff – A group of Wyckoff residents living adjacent to Rambaut Lake (also known as “Atwood Lake”) who control a homeowners’ association called “Beekmere Inc.” recently sued Wyckoff and owners of other homes in the adjacent development known as “Allison Acres” to force the town and others to pay for the repair of the Rambaut Dam.
Rambaut Lake, which flows into the Maple Lake tract, is just north of Wyckoff Avenue between Hampshire Court and West Shore Drive and was formed, according to the suit, in the early 20th century by the construction of a dam in Goffle Brook.
The suit maintains that as a “consequence of Wyckoff’s acts” – a reference to development and permitted additional drainage nearby and upstream, the volume of storm water flowing into the lake has caused eutrophication (excessive nutrients, causing excessive plant growth in the water) and caused the deterioration of the dam. The suit implies Wyckoff is using the lake as a municipal retention basin.
Estimates for dam repair range from $650,000 to $1 million. The suit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court, also names the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a defendant. Atwood Lake Residents Sue Wyckoff, Neighbors Over Dam Repair Prior to filing the lawsuit, residents of Allison Acres approached the Township Committee seeking a guarantee (co-sign) from the Township of Wyckoff to access low cost loan provided by the state of NJ to finance the repair of the dam. Wyckoff refused the request. The representatives then offered to donate the property to the town for public use of the lake, including acreage for public access on West Shore Drive. Again, Wyckoff refused.
This summer the Township of Wyckoff answered the complaint finding that “Wyckoff is without sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in” several paragraphs, and “denies the allegations” to several counts. In the same mailing, residents involved were notified of their status as a class in the suit. To date, there is no set hearing date.