South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, Hamden (DS-202508873 & WQC-202606130)
Consolidated Permit Notice to Approve a Dam Safety and 401 Water Quality Certification and Intent to Waive Public Hearing
Applicant(s): South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority
Application No: DS-202508873 & WQC-202606130
City/Town: Hamden
Dam Name & DEEP ID No: Lake Whitney Dam, ID # 6203, Hazard Class C “High”
The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) hereby gives notice that a tentative determination has been reached to approve the following applications submitted under Section 22a-403 of the Connecticut General Statutes (“CGS”) for a permit and under Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended, for a Water Quality Certificate. The Commissioner also intends to waive the requirement for public hearing pursuant to CGS Section 22a-403 provided that a hearing may be held if the Commissioner determines that the public interest will best be served thereby, or shall hold a hearing upon receipt of a petition as more thoroughly described below.
Application No.: DS-202508873 & WQC-202606130
Applicant’s Name and Address: South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT 06511
Contact Name/Phone No/Email: Larry Marcik, LMarcik@rwater.com, 203-401-6709, and Cody Savoy, CSavoy@rwater.com, 203-401-2729
Type of Permit: New Permit, Dam Safety and 401 Water Quality Certification
Project Description: Repair/Modify an existing dam
Project Location: 945 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06517
Water(s):Mill River
COMMISSIONER’S FINDINGS/REGULATORY CONDITIONS
The proposed activities include the following: raising and extending the non-overflow section of the dam, constructing a concrete mass on the upstream side of the dam, increasing the spillway capacity, grouting the existing masonry portion of the dam, constructing a grout curtain at the existing masonry, installing scour protection to the downstream channel and existing masonry, and replacing two inlet structures. To facilitate the repairs, Lake Whitney will be drawn down by 25 feet for 18-24 months.
There will be a permanent impact of 64,814 square feet (sf) and a temporary impact of 20,652 sf for a total of approximately 85,466 sf of impact to Lake Whitney and the Mill River. There will be a secondary impact of 893,472 sf from the drawdown.
The application has been evaluated for compliance with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Federal Clean Water Act and the Water Quality Standards of the State of Connecticut adopted pursuant to Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Sections 22a-426-1 to 22a-426-9.
INFORMATION REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT
These applications have been assigned DS-202508873 and WQC-202606130; please use these numbers when corresponding with DEEP regarding this application. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the application from the above contact or by sending a request for an electronic copy to DEEP at DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov. All interested parties are invited to express their views on the tentative determination concerning this application. Questions and comments regarding these applications may be submitted via electronic mail to DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov no later than thirty (30) days from the publication date of this notice.
PETITIONS FOR HEARING
Petitions for a hearing shall be submitted within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this public notice and should include the application number(s) noted above and identify a contact person to receive notifications. Petitions may also identify a person who is authorized to engage in discussions regarding the application and, if a resolution is reached, withdraw the petition. Petitions shall comply with applicable laws, including Public Act 25-84, which took effect upon passage in June 2025. Upon receipt of a petition, the Commissioner shall take action as required by relevant laws.
Petitions shall be filed with the Office of Adjudications electronically through the E-Filing Service, https://deep-adjudications-cms-efile.ct.gov/. All initial and subsequent filings must be submitted through this system. Under special exception, petitions will be accepted by mail or hand-delivered. Those mailed or delivered should go to the DEEP Office of Adjudications, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. If the signed original petition is only in an electronic format, the petition must be submitted with a statement signed by the petitioner that the petition exists only in that form. Original petitions must also be mailed or delivered to the Office of Adjudications within 30 days of electronic submittal.
Information to assist with the E-Filing System, including how to set up a profile and submit filings, is available here: https://deep-adjudications-publicportal.ct.gov.
If a hearing occurs, members of the public can “subscribe” through the Public Portal to receive e-mail notifications of all docket activity. Interested members of the public will also be able to submit their public comment for the hearing the docket webpage.
All petitions must be received within the period noted above. If a hearing is held, timely notice of such hearing will be published in a newspaper of general circulation and posted on the DEEP website at https://portal.ct.gov/deep/. Any docket activity can be viewed through the Adjudications Public Portal at: https://deep-adjudications-publicportal.ct.gov
Published in The New Haven Register on August 17, 2026.
ADA PUBLICATION STATEMENT
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov if you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, or require some other accommodation. If you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, you may submit your complaint to DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at (860) 418-5910 or via email at deep.accommodations@ct.gov. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event.