House Republican Press Release

February 11, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

CAFERO’S FIVE MILE RIVER FLOOD MANAGEMENT PLAN MOVES FORWARD IN HARTFORD

HARTFORD – Efforts to obtain $200,000 to better protect residents along the Five Mile River watershed in Norwalk, New Canaan and Darien have advanced as House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., has submitted legislation to secure funding for a management plan from the state of Connecticut.

“We have all been working closely with the Department of Environmental Protection and the administration to make sure all local and state concerns are in sync with property owners,’’ Cafero said. The proposed $200,000 grant to the City of Norwalk would be used to map the hydrology of the sensitive watershed and identify the best ways to address the persistent flooding in the area.

A series of meetings and on-site visits has taken place over the last few months involving state and local officials as well as homeowners and local conservation groups. Cafero said everyone is concerned by the flooding. “We need a watershed management plan and clearer sense of the hydrology in the area before the flooding problems can be curbed,’’ Cafero said.

He promised to work with all the agencies in Hartford and the Rell administration to secure the grant. According to the proposed legislation his office has drafted, a report to the legislature on the hydrology must be submitted by Jan. 1, 2009.

“I appreciate all the work that has gotten us to this point. We have a short legislative session this year but the Five Mile River flooding problem is a top priority,’’ Cafero said.