New Haven, CT

New Haven Bioswales

The City of New Haven has installed 286 right-of-way bioswales throughout the city as part of a multifaceted approach to reducing flooding in the downtown area. Right-of-way bioswales are engineered planted areas that are located on sidewalks. They are designed to capture and infiltrate stormwater into the ground that would otherwise directly enter a storm drain. These bioswales were installed as the result of various partnerships and funding opportunities related to flood prevention, localized drainage solutions, combined sewer overflow mitigation, research, and traffic calming projects.

Project Lead

City of New Haven, Dept of Engineering

Project Partners

Urban Resources Initiative, EMERGE Inc., Save the Sound, Yale School of the Environment, and Quinnipiac University, among others.

Impact Information:
Monitoring performed by Yale School of the Environment researchers (led by Prof. Gaboury Benoit) have demonstrated that the bioswales have captured 70-75% of stormwater runoff in two locations. These results indicate that the bioswales are highly effective in diverting stormwater and thus, preventing pollution.

Period of Completion: 2014-2020

Funding Sources: Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (Flooding); Clean Water Fund (CSO mitigation); Capital (Localized drainage); National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (Pilot/Education); Other

Contact Info:

Dawn Henning
dhenning@newhavenct.gov
475-434-1643