1. Notice of Scoping for Fairchild Wheeler Flood Control Project
Address of possible location: 2390 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield
Municipality where proposed action might be located: Fairfield
Project Description: The Town of Fairfield is planning a flood control project at the Fairchild Wheeler Country Club, owned by the City of Bridgeport and located in Fairfield, Connecticut. To address persistent flooding in the Rooster River watershed, 30 acres of the 312-acre golf course have been identified to provide flood water detention during severe weather events. The project will construct two berms and concrete weirs on the golf course to increase flood storage capacity. Once constructed, the proposed berms would be 300 linear feet, 9.5 ft high, 75’ wide, and 500 linear feet, 6 ft. high and 70 ft. wide. In 2022 the Town submitted a Dam Safety Permit application to the DEEP’s Dam Safety Division, a 401 Water Quality Certification Application to DEEP’s Land and Water Resources Division, and an Individual Permit application under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to the United States Army Corps of Engineers. DEEP issued a 401 Water Quality Certification/Non-Consumptive Water Diversion Permit for the project on January 9, 2024. The USACE issued a public notice for the project on March 5, 2024. All other authorizations are pending. Permits are required for direct wetland impacts due to berm construction and potential indirect, temporary impact to wetlands during flooding events. The town of Fairfield may utilize Urban Act grants to fund portions of the project. Full site plans are available for review at the Town of Fairfield Engineering Department or online at www.fairfieldct.org/engineering.
Project Map: Click here to view a map of the project area.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Thursday, October 17, 2024.
There will be a public scoping meeting for this proposed action:
DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
TIME: 6:00 pm
PLACE: Virtual-Web Link: https://tofit.my.webex.com/join/community
Meeting Number: 126 944 3035
Notes: Participants must REGISTER IN ADVANCE at the email provided here: RoosterRiver@fairfieldct.org
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting including an option to join by phone.
Additional information about the project can be viewed in person at Fairfield Town Hall, Engineering Department, 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield CT.
Written comments and/or questions about the public scoping meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, should be directed to:
Name: Charles Lee
Agency: Dam Safety Division, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Address: 79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106
E-Mail: Charles.Lee@CT.Gov
Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency:
Name: Charles Lee
Agency: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Address: 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: Charles.Lee@CT.Gov
What Happens Next: The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will make a determination whether or not to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.