THE RESTORATION OF ALLYN BROOK IN DURHAM, CT

Paul Capotosto & Roger Wolfe

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division

Wetlands Habitat and Mosquito Management (WHAMM) Program

Franklin Wildlife Management Area

391 Route 32

North Franklin, CT 06254

Paul.Capotosto@ct.gov

ABSTRACT

The Allyn Brook in Durham, CT was filled in by sediment from a broken dam in a northeaster storm in spring of 2008. Because of the very wet soil conditions and the floodplain area, in 2011, the Town of Durham called the CT DEEP WHAMM Program to review the site and it was determine that our crew using specialized low ground pressure equipment could restore the 3200 linear feet of Allyn Brook. Several years went by without any work and the brook overflowed the banks of the brook and divided into two parts, one flowed north through the White’s Farm cornfield to Route 68, the other flowed south through the Durham’s Fairgrounds parking area. The Natural Resources Conservation Service had prepared a review and proposed plans of the site with additional fisheries information. Of course there is always the paperwork end of this project; an engineer was hired by the Town of Durham to get the necessary permits. The CT DEEP had to write a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town for payment to the state. The work began in mid September and continued until completed. Grades were established and the WHAMM Program crew used a laser level to follow the grade. The WHAMM Program used a Fecon mower on a Bobcat Skidder and a Marsh Master II to mowing the grass land and shrub land areas where the restored stream would be. Then the WHAMM Program’s three low ground pressure Kobelco Excavators (modified by Norris Manufacturing of Ohio), the Bobcat skidder and ARGO were used. The WHAMM Program rented two Komatus Crawler Carriers CD60R-1A, 6.5 ton, 4.2 c/y to haul material to a predetermine spoil site. The Town of Durham provided trucks to haul the debris materials out of the floodplain. Once the work was completed, a conservation seed mix was used and raked in. The CT DEEP Fisheries Division will be involved with ideas and locations to install fish root wads and rock diversions for fish habitat. The project was completed and photo stations and monitoring will continue into the future.