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Corps of Engineers proposes repair to east breakwater of the Stonington Harbor Federal Navigation Project in Stonington

Published Feb. 29, 2012

CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is proposing to perform repairs to the east breakwater of the Stonington Harbor Federal Navigation Project in Stonington, Conn.

 

The Corps estimates that approximately 3,000 tons of new stone will be needed to restore the damaged sections of the east breakwater to its authorized dimensions.

 

“Several sections of the breakwater incurred significant damage during Tropical Storm Irene, resulting in a loss of protection to the harbor,” said Project Manager Mike Walsh, of the Corps’ New England District, Programs/Project Management Division. “The proposed work will restore damaged sections of the breakwater to authorized dimensions.”

 

The work involves repairing damaged areas of the breakwater by placing additional stone and/or retrieval and re-use of displaced stones which have been dislodged from the structure.

 

“Work is anticipated to take approximately two to four months to complete and is currently scheduled to start in the fall of 2012,” Walsh said. The last repair to the east breakwater was in 1958 when approximately 4,000 tons of stone were placed on the structure to bring it to its authorized dimensions. The Town of Stonington is the local sponsor for the proposed project.

 

The breakwater was originally constructed between December 1880 and November 1894. The east breakwater is a 2,900-foot-long rubble mound structure comprised of a 2,300-foot-long main section with a crest height of 9.0 feet above Mean Low Water (MLW), a crest width of 12 feet, a seaward slope of 1 on 2, and a harbor side slope of 1 on 1; and a 600-foot-long low crest section over Bartlett’s Reef with a crest elevation at Mean High Water (2.75 feet MLW), a crest width of 8 feet, a seaward slope of 1 on 2, and a harbor side slope of 1 on 1.

 

The Corps estimates it will cost approximately $500,000 to $1,000,000 to repair the east breakwater. The project will be entirely funded by the federal government.

 

The public notice for this proposed work, with more detailed information, is available for review on the Corps website at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil. Select “navigation” under public notices or go directly to the link at: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/navigation/pubnot2.asp.

 

It is the Corps’ preliminary determination that no threatened or endangered species are residents of the project area. The Corps is consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the proposed activity will not significantly affect any species or critical habitat designated as endangered or threatened. 

An Environmental Assessment for the proposed work has been prepared and is available for review. It is the Corps’ preliminary determination that the proposed project may have a temporary adverse effect on Essential Fish Habitat. The Corps is consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service to assure that all impacts will be minimized to the maximum extent practicable.

 

The proposed work is being coordinated with the following Federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; National Marine Fisheries Service; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound Programs; the Connecticut Historical Commission; the Town of Stonington; the Warden of Stonington; the Stonington Harbormaster; and the Stonington Town Engineer.

 

Public comments on this proposed work should be forwarded no later than March 29, 2012 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Programs/Project Management Division (ATTN: Mr. Mike Walsh), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751 or by email to nae-pn-nav@usace.army.mil.


Contact
Tim Dugan
978-318-8264
cenae.pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 2012-018