Dear Editor:
Will flood control boil down to ‘not in my backyard’? The Heights Road – Baker Project is the first project to get underway and to meet resistance although it’s well into the permit process. September 10th at 7pm the State DEP will hold a public hearing at the Town Hall auditorium.
Save Darien’s Wetlands (SDW) supports this project. We’re not happy with all aspects of the plan, but believe it achieves flood control with the balanced approach SDW advocates: wetlands health in an urbanized environment. The project includes tree removal with REPLACEMENT, followed by plant MANAGEMENT.
Other plans have been explored and dismissed due to greater environmental impact, prohibitive costs, and the lack of availability of land for water detention.
It’s time to bring Darien’s flood mitigation into this century rather than stuck in past inaction while continued development depletes permeable surface and puts more stress on overburdened drainage. The EPC’s purpose is to protect the public from flooding dangers. This project meets this mandate in an environmentally responsible manner.
Vanessa Wood, president
Save Darien’s Wetlands
http://www.savedarienswetlands.org
