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Clifton Street Boat Launch

The City of New Haven has received a grant from the State of Connecticut to repair the boat launch at the end of Clifton Street at the Quinnipiac River. The boat launch, first constructed in the late 1990s, has suffered damage due to sea level rise and storm surge events. The proposed project will repair the platform and replace the existing concrete launch with an ADA compliant wooden boardwalk and gangway out to a new universally accessible floating boat launch. The new boat launch will extend to Mean Low Water (approximately 78 feet from shore) into the Quinnipiac River. In addition, the project will regrade a section of the shoreline adjacent to the launch for those that prefer and are able to place their boats directly into the water. The project plan drawing below summarizes the proposed improvements.  In addition, permit drawings of the pier and floating launch and landside improvements can be found below.

• Clifton St Boat Launch CONCEPT DESIGN
• Clifton St Boat Launch Permit Drawings

The proposed project will mitigate inland flooding throughout Downtown and Long Wharf by adding additional storm sewer capacity underneath the Rail Yard. A 10-foot diameter drainage pipe would run from Union Avenue to a new outfall with tide gates in the New Haven Harbor. Coastal erosion along Long Wharf shoreline would also be addressed with the creation of an approximately 3,400 linear foot living shoreline.  Phase I of the project would involve completing design and permitting and additional geotechnical investigations. Phase II of the project would be the construction of the drainage improvements and living shoreline. The new drainage pipe would be microtunneled 30-40 feet below ground to pass under critical infrastructure and minimize disturbances.

The Draft Environmental Assessment is posted below and available for public comment. A hard copy can be viewed at the Engineering Department, 200 Orange St, Room 503. Comments can be emailed to eric.kuns@fema.dhs.gov and karen.vale@fema.dhs.gov, or mailed to Eric Kuns: FEMA R1, 220 Binney St., Cambridge, MA 02142. If no substantive comments are received, the EA will become final and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be signed. Substantive comments will be addressed as appropriate in the final Environmental Assessment and in the FONSI.

Please review the following documents: PN_EA_NewHaven & BRIC-EMB-2021

 Description