DeLauro Applauds Interior Department Grant for Pond Lily Dam Removal

Joined by Senators Blumenthal, Murphy in Applauding Funding For Hurricane Sandy Recovery

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today applauded the Department of Interior's announcement they are awarding $661,500 for removal of the Pond Lily Dam. The dam has caused regular flooding in Woodbridge's Village District for decades, causing safety problems and property damage.

"This dam has been a serious safety concern for Woodbridge Village District residents and business owners for decades. Removal of the dam will be good for Woodbridge's economy, with an estimated economic benefit of $1.3 million. It has been a long time coming. The project will not only provide flood relief, but help efforts to restore the West River's habitat to a more natural environment and promote recreational use of the Pond Lily Nature Preserve."

The Department of Interior also announced Connecticut will share $22,815,950 in funding for Hurricane Sandy recovery and research to mitigate damage from future storms. Connecticut's grants are part of $162 million in funds going to states up and down the East Coast. A full list of the projects can be found here.

"Hurricane Sandy was a devastating storm for Atlantic Coast towns, including those in Connecticut," DeLauro said. "A year later people are still rebuilding their lives and these funds will help enormously in that process. But we can never be prepared enough. The projects funded by the grants will be critical to ensuring we can deal with catastrophic storms in the future."

"These projects will go a long way in ensuring that Connecticut is prepared for what has become the new normal – catastrophic superstorms such as Hurricane Sandy that ravage communities and coastlines," Senator Richard Blumenthal said. "This critical investment in infrastructure will save lives and money – protecting vulnerable homes and livelihoods along the shore. When it comes to superstorms, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

"Connecticut's shoreline has borne the brunt of storm after storm, disrupting lives and businesses and costing millions to recover," said Senator Chris Murphy. "Beaches, marshes, wetlands, and other natural coastal areas act as a critical buffer between dangerous storm surges and the people and structures on land, and restoring and strengthening these areas will help our state be ready to weather future storms."