Town of Fairfield

Office of the First Selectwoman

Brenda L. Kupchick

Contact: Emmeline Harrigan                                                                   February 10, 2022                                                                                                                                                          
203.256.3050
eharrigan@fairfieldct.org
     

Fairfield Publishes Floodplain Management Plan Review as Part of its Continued Participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System Program

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick announced today that an updated review of Fairfield’s Floodplain Management Plan is available for public review on the Town’s Plan and Zoning Department webpage under the Forms and Documents tab. Fairfield’s flood reduction action items are located within MetroCOG’s multi-town Hazard Mitigation Plan, adopted in 2019, which is available at https://rebrand.ly/metrocog-floodprotection.

Town staff from multiple departments as well as the Town’s Flood Erosion Control Board collaborated on the review effort of action items which include prevention, property protection, floodplain management regulations, structural and natural systems protection, education and awareness, and emergency management initiatives to help reduce Fairfield’s future flood risk, protect lives, and reduce property damage.  Town Plan and Zoning staff presented the update to the Board of Selectman at their February 7, 2022 meeting.

The Town has made progress on the following action items as part of the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan including:

• The Riverside Drive tide gate system is completing design in order to be ready for construction in 2023.
• The Town’s Waste Water Treatment Facility protection berm and bulkhead project is nearing completion.
• ARPA funds have been targeting to increase Fairfield’s resiliency including beach protection and off-shore wave reduction studies, implementation of some of the Downtown Green Infrastructure projects, and water detention projects in the Rooster River corridor.
• Fairfield is collaborating with the CT Institute of Resiliency and Adaptation (CIRCA) to study reducing flooding under railroad underpasses.

The Town has installed tide gage markings in the marina and beach area with 24-hour remote monitoring in order to better Emergency Management preparation.

The Town of Fairfield participates in FEMA’s voluntary Community Rating System (CRS) which awards a rating to communities that go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood plain management requirements.  Fairfield’s floodplain management efforts result in a 10 percent discount for its 2,053 policyholders or approximately $337,661 in annual savings. Fairfield is only one of thirteen communities in the State that currently participates in the program.