NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and West Haven Mayor Edward M. O’Brien announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program has awarded a $2.6 million grant to protect homes in the Old Field Creek salt marsh area. The grant was made available as part of efforts to protect and maintain flood plains in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, and to reduce future risk. DeLauro and O’Brien were joined at the announcement by several homeowners who will benefit from the funding
“When a storm like Sandy hits, the federal government has an important role to play, both in getting disaster aid to help with immediate recovery, and in making the needed infrastructure investments to help prepare for future storms,” DeLauro said. “I am delighted that the NRCS is making this $2.6 million available to protect West Haven from future flooding. Fifteen months later, we are still rebuilding from Sandy. I will continue to fight to ensure that our state gets the federal support we need, and that we are investing in the infrastructure, like these floodplain easements, that will protect property and lives.”
“This grant money, which was secured through the assistance of Congresswoman DeLauro, will provide vital funding for residents of the Old Field Creek flood plain area whose homes and properties were impacted by Superstorm Sandy,” O’Brien said. “This initiative reflects the shared commitment of the federal government and the city of West Haven to resolve a long-standing problem by restoring this important salt marsh to its natural condition.”
Carol Soter, a Third Ave Extension resident said: “The West Haven Watershed Committee was formed to address the flooding in the Old Field Creek area. We worked to reach out to the city and wound up with Congresswoman DeLauro who absolutely understood the issue and followed through. And eight months later we have this grant and look forward to working with Rosa on securing additional resources.”
West Haven residents Sharie Roy and Connie Eberle, who spoke at today’s announcement, said:“We have been living in fear until hearing this news, which gives us hope for a new beginning. It is wonderful news; we have been plugging away for a year and can't believe something actually is being done. We are very appreciative to Cong. Rosa DeLauro, City Hall for being our sponsor and the NRCS for this funding.”
The funding will be used to purchase floodplain easements on 34 acres in the Old Field Creek salt marsh, as well as twelve damaged homes along Blohm, May, and Third Avenues, as well as the Third Avenue Extension. This grant is part of $19.2 million in funding for floodplain easements that USDA is making available to help victims of Sandy and to make sure we are better prepared for flooding in the future. Last year DeLauro met with the West Haven Watershed Committee about the damage and continuing problems.
