1. Notice of Scoping for the Ox Brook Flood Control Master Plan
Project Title: Ox Brook Flood Control Master Plan and Environmental Impact Evaluation
Addresses of possible locations: Various locations along Ox Brook in the City of Bridgeport, extending from Elton Rogers Park at the north end to Lincoln Boulevard at the south end of the Project (See Figures 1 and 2 below).
Municipality where proposed action might be located: Bridgeport
Project Description: The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is funding the implementation of Phase 1 of the Ox Brook Flood Control Master Plan, a six-phase project. Phase 1 of the Project has progressed through permitting level design with permit applications submitted, while the remaining Phases (Phases 2-6) are at the preliminary design phase. Note that the overall Project is anticipated to take decades to complete and that funding has only been identified for Phase 1 at this time. The Project is being proposed to address a long history of flooding along the corridor, resulting in roadway flooding and repeated damages to properties along Ox Brook. The Project is located generally along Ox Brook in the City of Bridgeport, CT, roughly extending from Elton Rogers Park at the north (upstream) end (off Kaechele Place) to Lincoln Boulevard at the south (downstream) end (between Lincoln Ave. and Garfield Ave.).
The six phases of the Project are:
• Phase 1: Construction of a storage impoundment within Elton Rogers Park, via rehabilitation of the existing dam and construction of two dikes within the park property, to provide storage and reduce the peak flow discharged to Ox Brook.
• Phase 2: Three main components: (1) construction of a detention pond for storage within Svihra Park with a 18-inch outlet pipe to Island Brook, (2) construction of 3,850 linear feet of 9-ft x 5-ft box culvert in Wayne Street, Bronx Avenue, and Hunting Street, to divert Ox Brook flows to the new detention area, and (3) construction of a 12-ft x 5-ft box culvert to reroute a segment of Ox Brook from a point approximately 100 feet south of Rocton Avenue along Amsterdam Avenue, through several backyards, down Tremont Avenue to Wayne Street to Quince Street. From Quince Street, a 60-inch diameter pipe will discharge flow back to the existing Ox Brook channel. The remainder of the flow would be discharged to the 9-ft x 5-ft box culvert at Wayne Street. The existing Ox Brook channel in the affected reach would remain in place to convey local runoff.
• Phase 3: Channel and crossing improvements from Lincoln Boulevard upstream to Quince Street. Open channel segments would be improved to either a trapezoidal or rectangular cross-sections within this reach. Five street crossings would be improved with box culverts.
• Phase 4: Channel and crossing improvements from Rocton Avenue to Burnsford Avenue. Open channel segments will be improved to either a trapezoidal or rectangular cross-sections within this reach. The culvert beneath Burnsford Avenue would be replaced. Three additional crossings would be improved with larger diameter culverts.
• Phase 5: Channel and crossing upgrades from Burnsford Avenue upstream to Lourmel Street. The existing open channel segment between Burnsford Avenue and Stoehr Place would be improved to a trapezoidal cross-section. Between Lourmel Street and Stoehr Place, the existing brook is piped and improved sections will be installed, ranging in size from 54-inches to 84-inches in diameter.
• Phase 6: Construction of the Island Brook diversion to the Elton Rogers Park storage area. This will consist of approximately 650 LF of 10-ft x 3-ft box culvert in Old Town Road. This phase would also include the construction of an 18-inch pipe discharging flow from the dam to Ox Brook at Lourmel Street.
CT DEEP will be preparing an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) which will incorporate comments from the scoping meeting and evaluate the No Action alternative, the Master Plan alternative, subalternates within the Master Plan, and other Flood Protection Measures.
Project Maps: Click here for maps for this project for general locations of the project area and phases: Figure 1: Locus Map; Figure 2: Project Phasing Plan
Additional mapping can be viewed at Ox Brook Scoping, and please contact Fred Riese at 860-424-4110 to arrange to view in-person at CT DEEP at 79 Elm Street.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Thursday, November 4, 2021
There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this proposed action:
DATE: Monday, October 18, 2021
TIME: 7:00pm EST
PLACE: Virtual/ Zoom
NOTES: The meeting will be held virtually using Zoom and can be accessed using the following link and passcode:
Meeting ID: 927 2412 2339 Passcode: 958744
Individuals with limited internet access can listen tot he meeting by calling 646 876 9923 and entering the Meeting ID/ Participant Code when prompted.
https://gza.zoom.us/j/92724122339
Written comments and/ or questions about the meeting or project should be sent to the following (Please use "Ox Brook" in the subject line for emails):
Name: Fred Riese
Agency: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Address: 79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106
Phone: 860-424-4110
Fax: 860-424-4053
E-Mail: Frederick.Riese@ct.gov
What Happens Next: CT DEEP will prepare an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). The EIE will be available for public comment in late fall/winter of 2021/2022. A Post-Scoping Notice will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.