Godfrey Brook Flood Project Finished In Milford

MILFORD, MA — A flood-control project along Godfrey Brook has been completed after months of work, town highway officials said Friday.

The Milford Highway Department said the Godfrey Brook Hazard Mitigation project was funded in part by a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant and included structural improvements meant to increase stormwater capacity, reduce downstream flooding risks during major rain events and protect nearby properties and public infrastructure.

Godfrey Brook has long been part of Milford’s local flood-mitigation planning. The town’s 2018 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan listed Godfrey Brook and O’Brien Brook channel restoration and culvert replacements as high-priority flood hazard projects, with FEMA and the town identified as potential funding sources.

The brook is part of the Charles River watershed, along with O’Brien and Hospital brooks, according to GZA GeoEnvironmental, which worked with Milford on Godfrey Brook restoration planning. GZA said the brook channels are typically lined with stone masonry walls built as a Works Progress Administration project in the 1930s, and that increased stormwater runoff has put stress on those walls, contributing to flooding during extreme rain events.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps state, local, tribal and territorial governments fund long-term projects meant to reduce future disaster losses, according to FEMA.

The Highway Department thanked residents for their patience and cooperation during the project.

See Also:

• Milford Town Hall Improvements Included In Senate Budget
• Milford Curbside Trash, Recycling Program Moving To Highway Department