Posted on June 13, 2018
Federal lawmakers on Wednesday approved a measure that directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to report on the repairs needed along Connecticut River levee systems in Hartford and East Hartford, U.S. Rep. John B. Larson announced Thursday.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2018, which includes a provision that tasks the Army’s engineer unit with conducting a feasibility report on the decades-old flood control system that could lead to federal funding.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said the local levee system is in “dire need of investment and upgrade..”
“Fixing our Connecticut River levees is critical to the safety and resiliency of our Capital City and the entire region – all the more urgent and important as climate change brings more frequent and more severe extreme weather events,” Bronin said.
Since 2006, East Hartford has spent more than $21 million on repairs, modifications and upgrades at its levees, according to East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc. She said the improvements are critical to keeping the community safe.
“The Hartford and East Hartford levees along the Connecticut River are one of our region’s most important assets, keeping our communities safe and protecting critical infrastructure from the threat of a flood disaster,” Larson said.
Source: Hartford Business
