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U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, all Democrats, announced the grant this week in a news release. Removal of the dam would "eliminate dam failure risk, restore native species populations and build resilience to future flooding," according to the release.
“One year later, the effects of Superstorm Sandy are still felt by many Norwalk residents,” said Himes 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 said in the release. “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.”
Murphy added his praise for the grant, according to the release.
“Connecticut’s shoreline has borne the brunt of storm after storm, disrupting lives and businesses and costing millions to recover,” said Murphy 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 near the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy to "assist restoration and research projects that will better protect Atlantic Coast communities from future powerful storms" with the "socioeconomic benefit of this project is estimated at $1.75 million," according to the release.
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