Hartford Receives Major State Funds For Water Quality Project At School Site

HARTFORD, CT — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has awarded more than $7.8 million in grants to 18 municipalities and nonprofit organizations across the state to support projects aimed at improving water quality, strengthening ecosystem resilience and restoring fish passage.

Among the recipients is a Hartford-based project led by the North Central Conservation District.

The group received $224,960 for planning, engineering and design of green stormwater infrastructure in the Annie Fisher School neighborhood.

The project is intended to reduce runoff and improve local water quality through environmentally focused design.

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said the funding will support efforts across the state to improve the health of the Long Island Sound watershed.

“Almost all of Connecticut is within the Long Island Sound watershed. These innovative projects will protect and restore valuable coastal marsh habitat, remove impediments to migratory fish passage, and advance innovative green stormwater infrastructure – advancing our shared goal of protecting and improving the health of the Sound that provides ecosystem, recreation, and economic benefits to the citizens of Connecticut. We are grateful to our federal partners at EPA and NOAA for their support in making this impactful program possible,” Dykes said.

According to DEEP, the grants are part of the newly created Long Island Sound Ecosystems Grant Program and are aligned with the goals of the Long Island Sound Partnership Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.

The funding supports a mix of project stages, including planning, engineering, design and construction, and is intended to advance the state’s pipeline of environmental restoration work.

State officials said the program also leverages additional financial and in-kind contributions from other sources to expand the impact of the funding.

DEEP said more information about the individual projects will be made available on its Ecosystems Grant webpage. No timeline for project completion was provided.

For the full announcement and recipient list, click on this link.