March 29, 2007

DEP to Hold Public Meeting on Hammonasset Beach Repairs

Project to Study Ways to Combat Beach Erosion at the Park

The Department of Environmental Protection today announced it will conduct a public informational meeting on efforts to rebuild the heavily eroded beach in the western portion of Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. The meeting will be held at Madison Memorial Town Hall on April 12 at 7:00 pm. Municipal officials, interested organizations, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

DEP is initiating a beach erosion study to identify the causes of the severe erosion problems along the western portion of the state park’s beach and to evaluate potential solutions to repair the beach. Among the alternatives to be studied are the placement of new sand from upland or offshore sources onto the beach, the placement of one or more groins to anchor and retain the sand, the use of structures such as seawalls, revetments or bulkheads to prevent further erosion, and the option of managed retreat – an option that relocates park infrastructure to accommodate further erosion of the beach.

The findings of the beach erosion study will be used to prepare an environmental impact evaluation (EIE) that should be completed in October or November of this year. The EIE will consider the effects of the preferred alternative and other possible solutions upon the natural systems of the park and on the park’s visitors. That document will be released for public review and comment.

At the April 12 public informational meeting, DEP and a consultant team will explain the problems that have occurred at the beach and will describe the alternatives to be considered in the erosion study. Public comments are welcome. Particularly useful to the study effort are comments on the public’s use of the park both in-season and off-season, the specific resources used by the public, and environmental issues and resources that should be considered in the study.

Questions about the meeting can be addressed to Tammy Talbot of DEP at
(860) 424-3199 or faxed to her at (860) 424-4070 or via e-mail at tammy.talbot@po.state.ct.us .