Wilton Eyes a Deeper Merwin Meadows

These days it might be more aptly named Murky Meadows.

Wilton is pursuing a pricey but apparently necessary project this winter: the dredging of the Merwin Meadows pond. It is an expense and an undertaking the town has been discussing and putting off for years because of its costly nature. But town officials don't believe they can put it off anymore.

"Two years ago, we discussed the dredging of Merwin Meadows, as it was needed," said First Selectman Bill Brennan at the last Board of Selectmen's meeting. "Because of various budget constraints, we thought we really could slide- that the pond was not unsafe."

The violent storms that have battered Wilton since, most notably one in 2007 and then a series of smaller storms this year, have contributed to the pond's deterioration. But, curiously, they may also help to pay for a fix.

Brennan said that the town estimated the dredging cost at around $200,000 in 2007. It will likely be more expensive this time around but there is a catch- Wilton can apply for a FEMA reimbursement that will repay up to 75 percent of the project cost, a loophole created when the federal government started reimbursing area towns after they were decimated by storms in the spring of this year.

"The fact that we had an unfortunate event may prove to be a positive in this case," Brennan said.

Wilton Parks and Recreation Director Steve Pierce explained that the 2007 storm caused the Norwalk River to break through into the Merwin Meadows pond. As a result, a great deal of sand a silt from an adjacent property ended up in the body of water.

That silt, and subsequent erosion (both natural and storm-induced), have led to a shallower, murkier Merwin Meadows. The pond floor has been affected as well, going from sand that was easy to walk on to a sort of muck that grabs at one's feet and makes it difficult to see.

Pierce said the dredging will aim at restoring the pond's clarity, depth and original shape.

"By clearing the debris out of the pond, we can reshape it back into how we think it will be safesty for the community," he said.

Public Works Director Tom Thurkettle estimated the town will need to dredge about 400 to 450 cubic yards of the pond's floor. The debris will then be placed above the high water mark between the brook and the pond until it dries out, which is expected to take place over the course of the winter. Once the debris is dry, it will be removed.

Pearce said the town is hoping to clear all the necessary DEP and fisheries hurdles quickly and hopefully get the dredging done soon, as the time of year is ideal for conducting it.

"We hope to have everything done in the winter so everything can be restored by the summer of the following year," Pierce said.