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Hamden engineers propose upsized culvert, wetlands and bioswales to reduce East Brook flooding
Summary
Howard Stein Hudson engineers and Hamden staff toured Glendale Road and Laughing Brook Sanctuary to propose upsizing a key culvert on East Brook, adding bioswales and restoring a wetland pond to increase flood storage; funding and long‑term maintenance plans have not yet been determined.
Steven Tyler, associate principal at Howard Stein Hudson, and colleagues led a site visit in Hamden outlining proposed flood‑resilience work along East Brook, including an upsized culvert under Glendale Road, new bioswales and wetland restoration at Laughing Brook Sanctuary.
The recommendations are part of an MVP grant planning process meant to move the town from short‑term repairs toward longer‑term resiliency. "What I'll look forward to is seeing the construction funded and ultimately seeing the bridge built," Tyler said.
Chris Lyman, who said he has worked with the town of Hamden and the HSH team on culvert and bridge inspections, described the Glendale Road culvert as undersized and damaged. He cited channel geometry and sediment issues and proposed engineering changes: "We propose to upsize this culvert to 11 feet and then also add 2 feet to the existing height of the existing culvert to allow for more water to pass underneath this and drastically improve the flow of water through the culvert during high storm events." Lyman added that the existing channel has a bank‑full width of 17.8 feet while the Glendale channel is roughly 9.5 feet wide, which pinches flows into the structure.
Presenters also flagged downstream debris and beaver dams as factors that impede flow and concentrate sediment. One site speaker noted past washouts and said a 2019 storm caused overwash at a low spot on the road. They also raised a possible future solar development upstream as a contributor to increased runoff.
At Laughing Brook Sanctuary, team members described Smiling Pool — a pond created in the 1970s by Mass Audubon — as a candidate for returning to a more natural wetland to increase flood storage. "This to me is an opportunity for increasing flood storage capacity," a presenter said, noting flashboards at the outlet that currently back up water by about "5 or 6 feet." The consultants proposed redirecting several catch basin flows into a sediment forebay and a retention area so more runoff is treated and released to East Brook at lower velocities.
Designers warned that high groundwater at the Laughing Brook site may limit infiltration. The team said they aim for retained water to be gone within 24–48 hours after a storm to avoid standing water concerns. They recommended early maintenance tasks such as seasonal weeding and monitoring for invasive species, and they discussed partnering with Laughing Brook Sanctuary and local garden groups to support upkeep.
Taylor O'Neil, community engagement specialist at Howard Stein Hudson, said the project maintains a public website with reports, maps and designs intended for town staff and residents to consult: "It was reports, it was maps, presentations, designs, everything was there and we wanted to make it, you know, accessible to the people of Hampton." (Transcript spelling: the site and project repeatedly reference the town of Hamden and the "MVP" planning process.)
No formal funding decisions or votes were recorded during the site visit; the consultants and town staff framed the visit as a planning step that would support future grant or construction funding requests. The team emphasized that final construction and long‑term maintenance arrangements — including responsibilities where green infrastructure sits near private property — remain to be resolved.
