Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and state Representative Al Paolillo, Jr. (D-New Haven) today announced that the State Bond Commission is set to approve $8 million in funding for flood control and shoreline rehabilitation at East Shore Park and Long Wharf in New Haven. The improvements will increase the resiliency of these areas through improved storm water management and will include the design and construction of new innovative living shorelines.
“A living shoreline will better protect East Shore Park and Long Wharf from flooding and erosion while demonstrating how nature can be incorporated into a more resilient shoreline,” said Senator Looney. “Investing in this type of green infrastructure is a smart strategy to combat the persistent flooding New Haven has experienced.”
“This vital funding we have worked to secure will go a long way towards flood prevention and protecting our shoreline. This will address two critical issues for the East Shore Park and Long Wharf area for residents, businesses and visitors.” said Rep. Paolillo. “I am also glad to see that the project will use the latest green, environmentally friendly technology that will benefit our natural ecosystem.”
“The $8 million investment for costal resilience at East Shore Park and Long Warf is also critical to our shoreline,” said Representative Pat Dillon (D-New Haven).
According to The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), which was formed in 2014 to better help the state study and adjust to the rising sea level and other environmental issues at the local level, living shorelines are nature-based erosion control techniques. Living shorelines are not a new concept, though they are new to Connecticut and the Northeast. As much of the State’s shoreline is armored with hardened structures, there is a growing interest in preserving the natural elements of the shore while also providing protection from erosion.
This 2017 presentation from the City of New Haven outlines some of the project details: https://circa.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1618/2016/01/Designing-for-the-Future-City-of-New-Haven.pdf