Drone View of What Stands Between Us and Billions in Flood Destruction
The Thomaston Dam is a construct of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers situated in the towns of Thomaston, Harwinton, Litchfield and Plymouth, Connecticut. It's a part of a network of flood control dams and projects in the Naugatuck Valley Basin. The Thomaston Dam cost taxpayers a total of $14 million to build back in1960.
A few years ago, Army Corps of Engineers’ project manager, Vincent Gualteri, commented to Flood.republican-American.com:
This dam has prevented $836 million in property damage. It cost $14 million to build. I’d say that’s a pretty good return...[the destruction prevented by it] is far and above any other Corps dam in New England.
Since he made those statements, the return is even greater, as property values have risen and new construction abounds in the region.
One of the worst natural disasters in Connecticut history occurred in August of 1955. Hurricanes Diane and Connie delivered massive downpours with extensive flooding, and was the prompt for these flood control systems to be set into place.
The drone video of the dam is truly impressive, and helps give some perspective as to its massive scale:
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