Settlements lead to grants for Farmington River projects
HARTFORD — Funds received by the state from manufacturers for environmental damage to the Farmington River will be used for projects to improve water quality and access to the river in Farmington, Plainville, Bristol and 11 other watershed towns.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell Wednesday issued a press release announcing $758,905 in grants, including $100,000 to study removal of the Middle Street Dam on the Pequabuck River and $55,250 to design a passage through a Unionville dam.
Funds are available as the result of court settlements involving two companies, Tyco and Hamilton Sundstrand, involving violations of clean-water laws and environmental damage to the river and its watershed.
The projects range from stream bank stabilization and eradication of invasive plant species along the Farmington River in Simsbury to the design of two fish passage structures at existing dams in Bloomfield, East Granby and Farmington.
Municipal planning grants are also being awarded to 10 communities that will work to revise their land use ordinances to incorporate more environmentally sound practices. These include $50,000 to Plainville.
"The Farmington River was subject to environmental damage that occurred as a result of violations of our laws," Rell said.
"These funds will improve water quality, restore aquatic life, improve public access to the river for recreation and strengthen local land use planning," Rell said. "As an added benefit, some of the projects will create much-needed jobs for our residents."
Farmington River Watershed Association will receive $55,250 for design of a passage at Winchell-Smith Dam in Farmington for American shad, alewife and blueback herring, and maintain the site quality for canoeing and kayaking
The Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency was awarded $100,000 to develop a Pequabuck Alternatives Analysis Report, which will be a feasibility study to evaluate various options for removal of impediments to fish passage in the vicinity for the Middle Street dam on the Pequabuck River
The Farmington Land Trust Inc. was awarded $15,000 for a handicapped fishing pier stabilization project which involves construction of a concrete cap over an existing stone and compacted stone dust fishing pier located in the Unionville section of the Farmington River to prevent significant annual erosion of stone entering the river and to provide improved handicapped accessible fishing opportunities for the public.
HARTFORD — Funds received by the state from manufacturers for environmental damage to the Farmington River will be used for projects to improve water quality and access to the river in Farmington, Plainville, Bristol and 11 other watershed towns.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell Wednesday issued a press release announcing $758,905 in grants, including $100,000 to study removal of the Middle Street Dam on the Pequabuck River and $55,250 to design a passage through a Unionville dam.
Funds are available as the result of court settlements involving two companies, Tyco and Hamilton Sundstrand, involving violations of clean-water laws and environmental damage to the river and its watershed.
The projects range from stream bank stabilization and eradication of invasive plant species along the Farmington River in Simsbury to the design of two fish passage structures at existing dams in Bloomfield, East Granby and Farmington.
Municipal planning grants are also being awarded to 10 communities that will work to revise their land use ordinances to incorporate more environmentally sound practices. These include $50,000 to Plainville.
"The Farmington River was subject to environmental damage that occurred as a result of violations of our laws," Rell said.
"These funds will improve water quality, restore aquatic life, improve public access to the river for recreation and strengthen local land use planning," Rell said. "As an added benefit, some of the projects will create much-needed jobs for our residents."
Farmington River Watershed Association will receive $55,250 for design of a passage at Winchell-Smith Dam in Farmington for American shad, alewife and blueback herring, and maintain the site quality for canoeing and kayaking
The Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency was awarded $100,000 to develop a Pequabuck Alternatives Analysis Report, which will be a feasibility study to evaluate various options for removal of impediments to fish passage in the vicinity for the Middle Street dam on the Pequabuck River
The Farmington Land Trust Inc. was awarded $15,000 for a handicapped fishing pier stabilization project which involves construction of a concrete cap over an existing stone and compacted stone dust fishing pier located in the Unionville section of the Farmington River to prevent significant annual erosion of stone entering the river and to provide improved handicapped accessible fishing opportunities for the public.