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Stamford's Mill River Collaborative Gets $3.75 Million To Restore Habitat

STAMFORD, Conn. -- The Mill River Collaborative in Stamford has received a helping hand from the federal government: It was awarded nearly half of $8 million the state of Connecticut got to make communities more resilient to future storms.

The Rippowam River in Stamford, also known as the Mill River, flows over on to part of the Scalzi Riverwalk during a heavy rainstorm last month.

The Rippowam River in Stamford, also known as the Mill River, flows over on to part of the Scalzi Riverwalk during a heavy rainstorm last month.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern, File
The Mill River Collaborative is a partnership of civic, government, and business interests committed to creating and sustaining the Mill River Park & Greenway.

The Mill River Collaborative is a partnership of civic, government, and business interests committed to creating and sustaining the Mill River Park & Greenway.

 Photo Credit: Mill River Collaborative
Frank MacEachern

The Mill River project was awarded $3.75 million out of the $7.97 million the state received from the federal government.

“These grants will allow Connecticut to build upon substantial progress we have already made along our coastline and in other areas throughout the state that are prone to flooding. Projects funded will also help restore critical natural habitat in the state,” said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. “Today’s grant awards demonstrate the continued commitment of the Obama Administration to make communities more resilient in the face of future storms that we are going to experience.”

The money was received under the Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program. The funds are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

The $3.75 million will be used to increase the Mill River’s flood resiliency and re-create a habitat corridor in Stamford, the state said. The project will eradicate invasive species, replant native flora, and remove 15 properties from the 1 percent flood risk area.

The money awarded in the grant will be combined with matching funds of $6,813,425 to make for a total project budget of $10,563,425.

The other projects in Connecticut to receive funding include:

  • $2.8 million to remove a hazardous and unused fish barrier in Enfield. The project will restore 7.7 miles of fish runs, reunite brook trout populations, and reduce flood hazards.
  • $700,000 for 10 municipalities that run along the entire central coast of Connecticut. The municipalities will integrate green infrastructure principles, prioritize projects, and contribute to a Regional Coastal Resiliency Plan.
  • $720,000 to develop a flood and storm resiliency management plan for the Pawcatuck River Watershed and 11 communities in Connecticut and southern Rhode Island. Project will aid in the watershed's resiliency enhancement, restore habitat, and protect local communities from flooding.

“We are grateful to Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell and the department’s funding of projects designed to address the needs of Connecticut’s residents and businesses facing firsthand the effects of a changing climate,” added Malloy. “We know as a state, we are going to experience more frequent and more severe weather events and the time to prepare is now. Today’s grants will provide us with significant resources to aid in those preparations.”

The Mill River Collaborative is a partnership of civic, government, and business interests committed to creating and sustaining the Mill River Park & Greenway. It aims to build and maintain a vibrant, world-class green space for the Stamford community. the Mill River Collaborative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The collaborative provides for the upkeep and operation of the Mill River Park. For more information on the Mill River Collaborative, visit its website. 

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