Fairfield officials are working to address the problematic Rooster River that runs through parts of town.

The Rooster River swells during heavy rainstorms, which in recent years has caused extensive flooding in some Fairfield and Bridgeport neighborhoods.

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick says the town recently designated $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to Rooster River remediation.

Kupchick says there's plans to install detention ponds at five locations, including near Villa Avenue. "We did purchase a property on Villa Avenue with some of those funds,” Kupchick said. “And we're going to put a detention pond in there as well."

But Kupchick says that can't be done until the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection approves the plan.

"Our engineering department met with them yesterday to go over the details to see if they had any questions," Kupchick said.

In the meantime, Fairfield and Bridgeport public works crews recently teamed up to clear some debris from the river.

"I'm not sure that's enough to keep the water from overflowing the banks," Lynnbrook Road resident George Paci said.

Paci says his home flooded twice since 2018.

"We lost everything that was in our basement," Paci remembered. "Washer, dryer, furnace, hot water heater, electrical panel."

Paci says he's brought his concerns to the town, noting at least four families have moved out of the neighborhood.

He worries there will be more flooding this spring.

"I understand their frustration, we're trying the best we can," Kupchick said. "We have put the money towards this. We're committed to fixing the flooding. It's just that things take time. We have to go through the proper channels."