DeLauro Announces Recovery Funding to Tackle Long Beach West Cottages

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. -3) announced $909,000 for the Barrier Beach Restoration on Long Beach West through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding will allow for the demolition and clean-up of the 41 abandoned cottages on Long Beach West. Plans to remove the cottages also involve demolition and restoration of the site that will provide an important natural place for the community to enjoy while also providing critical wildlife habitat. This is an important step in the town of Stratford's work to sell the property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to become part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.

Progress on the Barrier Beach Restoration project is the result of a strong private-public partnership that includes the support of the Town of Stratford; the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Coastal Program; the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; the Trust for Public Land; and Audubon Connecticut.

"At long last we will finally be able to not only demolish and clean-up the cottages on Long Beach West, but we will also be able to begin to restore this habitat. With no access for fire fighters and other first responders, these cottages have been a threat to public safety and a liability for Stratford," said DeLauro. "It is my hope, that by taking these important steps we will also move closer to selling the property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the agency to manage and I will continue to work with the city, the residents and the Fish and Wildlife Service to make this happen."

"We are grateful to Congresswoman DeLauro for her continued fight for the people of the Town of Stratford and her on-going commitment to the environment. This project represents an important preservation and restoration of a coastal barrier beach that constitutes twenty percent of all barrier beaches in Connecticut," said Mayor Jim Miron.

"Today's good news is that stimulus funds are being provided to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program for the removal of abandoned cottages on Long Beach West. These funds, in addition to those that the state and other partners are making available, will allow us to take down these cottages, restore valuable public access to a beautiful stretch of Long Island Sound shoreline and to restore a barrier beach habitat for a variety of threatened and endangered species. This project is a great example of how local, state and federal government agencies, along with non-profit partners, can work together to protect our natural coastal areas and improve both public safety and our quality of life," Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell said.

"This funding under the President's Recovery Act would enable the removal of dilapidated cabins and restoration of natural conditions on Long Beach West. In addition to providing an economic boost to local communities, this project supports the Fish and Wildlife Service's ongoing efforts to conserve fish and wildlife resources and quality outdoor experiences for future generations." said Sharon Marino, Project Leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Program

The Barrier Beach Restoration project on Long Beach West represents a priority need identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its capital planning process or existing plans. The agency worked through a merit-based process to identify and prioritize projects before finalizing the project list by ensuring the investments met the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department's highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.

For a full list of the Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Act projects and plans, go to the Fish and Wildlife Service's Recovery web site at recovery.doi.gov/fws/. Additional information about other Department of the Interior Recovery Act issues can be found at the Department's Recovery Web Site at recovery.doi.gov/.