Bennington wins $150k grant to help with post-Irene restoration

BENNINGTON – The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has awarded a $150,000 ecosystem restoration grant to the town of Bennington to assist in efforts to restore the Roaring Branch from damage that occurred during Tropical Storm Irene.
Town officials have hired contractors to restore the flood plains accessed by the Roaring Branch between Park Street and the bridge known locally as the “Brooklyn Bridge.” The work is expected to mitigate potential flood damage in the future by providing somewhere for water to go and preventing the water from leaving the river’s banks.
Bennington has spent more than $3 million on river work since Irene.
The grant the town received is typically awarded to a municipality, nonprofit organization or citizens group which is working to improve stream stability, protect against flood hazards, improve and protect habitats or similar purposes.
The work is expected to be finished in January.