$970K Grant to Remove Dam from Norwalk River Will Reduce Future Flooding

Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded the City of Norwalk a $970,000 grant to remove the Flock Process Dam from the Norwalk River. 

The project was a long time in the making, but according to a release from Himes, the removal of the dam will eliminate dam failure risk, restore native species populations, and build resilience to future flooding.

“One year later, the effects of Superstorm Sandy are still felt by many Norwalk residents,” Himes said in the release. “I am pleased that the city has received this important investment to reduce the effects of future storms while also improving the health of the river’s ecosystem.”

“This project will go a long way in ensuring that Connecticut is prepared for what has become the new normal – once-in-a-generation storms such as Hurricane Sandy that ravage communities and coastlines,” Blumenthal was quoted saying. “I applaud this critical investment in infrastructure by the U.S. Department of Interior. When it comes to superstorms, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  

“Connecticut’s shoreline has borne the brunt of storm after storm, disrupting lives and businesses and costing millions to recover,” Murphy said in the release. “Beaches, marshes, wetlands, and other natural coastal areas act as a critical buffer between dangerous storm surges and the people and structures on land, and restoring and strengthening these areas will help our state be ready to weather future storms.”   

The grant is one of 45 announced around the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy to assist restoration and research projects that will better protect Atlantic Coast communities from future powerful storms. The socioeconomic benefit of this project is estimated at $1.75 million, according to Himes release.