New Canaan conservationists seek more environmentally sensitive way to fix dam
NEW CANAAN — Several town residents, including First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, spoke out against Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection plans this week and asked for a different method of restoring a local dam.
DEEP is considering restoring the Grupes dam, owned by the Norwalk First Taxing District Water Company, as they consider it a “high hazard” and solicited public comments this week.
The plan calls for heightening the 1871 Grupes Dam, a structure that sits on the Silvermine River, by four feet and erecting a series of walls and berms equaling 1,500 feet. The dam, built on the reservoir, is bordered on the west by a limited number of residential properties and partially on east by Browne Wildlife, owned by the New Canaan Land Trust. This elicited response from both residents and town officials.
"The First Taxing District's Grupes Reservoir rebuild plan will cause environmental damage to the New Canaan Land Trust's immediately adjacent 10-acre Browne Wildlife Sanctuary," Moynihan said Wednesday. "The DEEP review and approval of the rebuild plan did not consider environmental damage to adjacent properties. The Town of New Canaan supports our Land Trust's demand that there be a full environmental review and plan to protect the Browne Preserve's habitat and wetlands from unnecessary damage."
Conservationists recently discussed the idea of “scoping,” in which sponsoring agencies are asking for comments from other agencies and from the public as to the scope of alternatives and environmental impacts that should be considered for further study. Presenters argued a safer structure could be created without environmental damage to the Browne Wildlife preserve, destroying 400 large
DEEP calls the Grupes Dam a “high hazard” while New Canaan conservationists say a safer structure could be created without damaging to the Browne Wildlife preserve.
trees and blocking wetlands drainage which could cause flooding of the property.
According to DEEP, the dam's hazardous status means that if the dam were to fail, it could result in "probable loss of life, major damage to habitable structures and residences, damage to critical utilities and infrastructure and great economic loss."
An application for permit was originally filed in November 2018 by the Norwalk First Taxing District Water Company. It states that “no permanent alterations of wetlands or watercourses are anticipated as a result of the dam safety improvement at the Grupes Reservoir Dam.”
Chris Shipper, of the New Canaan Conservation Commission, and Land Trust members Tom Cronin, Al Tibbits and John Winter raised their concerns to DEEP at a public hearing on Monday, speaking to the importance of Browne Wildlife Sanctuary and what it means to the community. They argued that the plans would disrupt the wetland's flow into the reservoir, thereby possible causing flooding of the Browne Wildlife property.
Cronin suggested a desire to work with the First Taxing District to help find a better alternative.
Laura Wildman, a dam engineer speaking on behalf of local conservationists, submitted a testimony backing up residents' concerns. “I believe they have therefore failed to propose a feasible and prudent alternative that, to the best of their abilities, limits the impacts to wetlands and watercourses,” she said.
Attorney Janet Brooks argued that the environmental scoping requirements for the Department of Public Health are broader than those needed for dam safety, and questioned whether these plans would pass under the Environmental Policy Act.
Louise Washer, of the Norwalk Watershed Association, told Hearst she wants “a safe restoration of the dam, with a project that's done in a way that is least harmful to the environment.” Washer said she has a video of the wetlands on Browne Wildlife Sanctuary flowing toward the reservoir, noting the importance of keeping the area and local environment intact.
“Our concerns are multiple - environmental impact of tree clearing, viewshed impairment and possible impoundment of a vernal pond and stream that would flood a significant segment of our popular Browne Wildlife Sanctuary,” Schipper said.
Grupe's dam is one of 65 registered dams in New Canaan and one of four given a 'C' rating, or high hazard. The other dams given a C include New Canaan Reservoir Dam, John D. Milne Lake Dam and Silvermine Dam.A safety inspection of Grupes Reservoir Dam is performed by a dam safety engineering consultant every two years.