Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Pond-Brook-Watershed-flood

Full Text:

Flood Hazard Study Sought For Pond Brook Watershed

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The town is seeking to have the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

conduct a flood hazard study of the Pond Brook watershed to gauge the

potential for flood damage in Hawleyville, an area which is under heavy

residential development pressure.

In a recent letter to Jeffrey Bean, regional director for FEMA in Boston,

First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal writes, "The town of Newtown is concerned

that Pond Brook is the only large watershed in Newtown that has never been

studied. This watershed is under extreme development pressures and without a

full study (the town) will find it difficult to properly implement the

(town's) Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance."

FEMAS's flood insurance rate maps for the town were prepared in 1979.

During the past several years, many development applications have been

submitted, underscoring local residential growth pressure, the first selectman

writes.

The flood maps which were prepared for the town 20 years ago have proved very

useful, but the Pond Brook watershed flooding hazards were not analyzed, the

first selectman adds.

"This watershed is, we believe, the second largest in town, draining into the

Housatonic River. With the growth, there is a real possibility that some of

the construction may have occurred within the '100-year year' flood lines, but

there is no way to confirm it," he adds. A 100-year flood is the most

extensive flooding that can be expected during a hypothetical 100-year period.

"If a full (flood hazard) study is not conducted soon, development will put

many new homes and other structures at risk of being permitted in or near the

flood plain because of lack of information. We are requesting that a full

watershed analysis be performed as soon as possible," the first selectman

writes.

Conservation Official C. Stephen Driver explained that increased development

in the Pond Brook watershed in Hawleyville means an increased amount of

pavement. Increased pavement will increase storm water runoff, resulting in

high water flows in lower sections of the watershed, he said. Pond Brook

empties into the Housatonic River near Hanover Road.

Newtown Hunt

Citing environmental concerns, Conservation Commission members in April

rejected a wetlands construction permit requested for Newtown Hunt, a 26-lot

residential subdivision proposed by Toll Brothers, Inc, for 114 acres off

Hawleyville Road and Farrell Road in Hawleyville.

Commission members stated one reason they rejected the application involves

the need to clarify the extent of the Pond Brook flood plain in the area.

Conservation Commission members then asked the state Department of

Environmental Protection (DEP) to delineate the flood plain at the development

site. Mr Driver said he expects to receive DEP information on the extent of

the flood plain soon. Toll Brothers is expected to submit a revised

application for Newtown Hunt to the town based on that flood plain

information.

The location of the Pond Brook flood plain boundary has implications for the

future development density of Hawleyville. The lower the elevation at which

the flood plain boundary is set, the greater the amount of possible future

development. Thus, establishing the extent of the Pond Brook flood plain will

create an elevational baseline for future development in Hawleyville.

Federal flood mapping delineates areas considered to be prone to flooding. The

mapping is used to establish flood insurance rates.