DEEP to Resume Controversial Tree-Cutting Project in West Hartford

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced on Friday that maintenance work will begin again next week on the flood control system that flows through West Harford, Newington, and Hartford.

The DEEP had issued a two-week “stop work” order on the controversial project after receiving complaints from several residents.

“We stopped work on this project for two weeks to listen to the concerns of residents and to make any appropriate adjustments to our plans,” DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said in a statement. “It is now time to hit the ‘restart’ button on this project so that critical maintenance work can get done to protect property and public safety in these three communities. Our staff and our contractor are committed to accomplishing this work with an eye toward minimizing impacts on resources and neighborhoods.”

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The DEEP announced that crews will begin working at 7 a.m. on Monday.

The Hartford Courant reports that a subcontractor was fired last week after violating the stop-work order that was issued on Oct. 26.

Mayor Scott Slifka told the Courant that the town will send staff to oversee the work early Monday morning.

“I don’t have any confidence in the process at this point,” Slifka told the Courant. “We are going to exercise any legal and political rights we can.”

The $4.5 million maintenance project involves clearing tress and vegetation in and around the river channel, as well as removing sediment and obstructions from the floodway that could prevent the system from functioning as designed.

This type of work was last done in 1999-2000. The federal Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has informed DEEP that maintenance work must be performed to bring the channel system back to its original condition or the flood control system would be decertified.

There are significant financial consequences if the system is decertified, according to the DEEP.

Klee said that after talking with residents and local officials at public information sessions in West Hartford and Newington, as well as through phone calls and emails, that DEEP is taking several additional steps to address concerns that have been raised about the maintenance work.

These steps include:

• Jersey Barriers being placed at the end of Linbrook and Linnard Roads to prevent vehicle access to an area that has been cleared for work on the project
• Any tree in West Harford within the floodway that is designated for removal to allow for access to the water channel or the drying of dredged material has been marked. Residents are encouraged to contact town officials or DEEP with any questions or concerns about these trees.
• Testing has been done on sediments that will be removed from water channels for characterization and proper handling.
• A public information on the maintenance will be scheduled for Hartford residents
• Additional public outreach – on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis – will be conducted in coordination with the three towns involved.