The Land Trust of West Haven supports the City’s grant fund request to replace the deteriorated bulkhead in West Haven along the West River.  According to the Water Resources and Development Act, the City of West Haven seeks $1.3 million.

Over the years, this bulkhead has sustained considerable storm damage and begun to rapidly deteriorate. The site, better known as West River Crossing, is at the entrance to West Haven and not far from the downtown area. It is a key shoreline parcel in a Municipal Development Plan that was approved by the State of Connecticut in 2007. Replacing the bulkhead is critical to the City’s ability to stop further erosion and control pollution through an ongoing brownfield remediation effort.  Ultimately, this renovation will allow for redevelopment of this valuable area.

The Water Resources and Development Act is a bill to provide consideration and development of projects for improvement to rivers and harbors throughout the United States.

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Letter of support below:

16 July 2010

John M. Picard, Mayor

City of West Haven

355 Main Street

West Haven, CT 06516

Re:  Grant Application for the West River Bulkhead Replacement

Dear Mayor Picard,

This letter states the Land Trust of West Haven’s full endorsement of the City of West Haven’s application for public grant funds to replace a deteriorated timber bulkhead located along planned municipal redevelopment property, on the West River’s estuary into New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.

As a Land Trust we recognize the benefits of planned municipal development in improving quality of life with its personal and municipal economic benefits, and consequent improvement thereby of the health of the City’s environment and natural habitats.

The new sturdy steel bulkhead will stabilize the bordering property for its best waterfront economic use, and will stop the leaching of pollutants into the West River and Long Island Sound, for the health of both waterways.

We ask that this letter of endorsement accompany your requests for state or federal grant program funds to replace the bulkhead.

The project recommends itself. The Land Trust of West Haven recognizes this and associates itself with this municipal work, requesting that the grant applications receive favorable approval.

Sincerely,

Gabriel Alvandian

President, Land Trust West Haven, Inc.