GZA, partners to perform Yantic River flood risk and mitigation study in Connecticut

GZA has been retained by the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) under the Resilient Connecticut 2.0 Program to perform a comprehensive study of options to mitigate flooding on the Yantic River in Southeastern Connecticut.

Working with CIRCA, the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG), the City of Norwich, and the Towns of Bozrah and Franklin, GZA will serve as prime consultant on the initiative to advance community-driven and conceptual design climate adaptation projects between the Fitchville Pond Dam in Bozrah and Uncas Leap in Norwich. Severe weather and heavy rainfall in January 2024 led to flooding and a partial evacuation of the community downstream of the Fitchville Pond Dam. GZA’s partners on the project are Stantec and DREAM Collaborative.

The project will include creation of a Citizen and Technical Advisory Committee led by SCCOG and CIRCA, current and future conditions analysis, development of a suite of flood mitigation options and conceptual designs for priority areas, identification of potential funding sources, conducting benefit cost analysis required for federal grant eligibility, and preparing an implementation plan for the proposed adaptation strategies.

GZA President and CEO Patrick Sheehan said: “GZA and our partners look forward to working with stakeholders in Norwich, neighboring towns, and CIRCA and SCCOG to identify ways to improve resilience for residents and business owners along the Yantic River corridor and protect lives and property.’’