Connecticut the Likelihood of Shore Protection As Sea Level Rises
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CONNECTICUT Leslie Katz Genova Andrew Hickok Daniel Hudgens Casey Roberts The Likelihood of Shore Protection, Volume 2 February 2010. The following document can be cited as: Genova, L K, A. Hickok, D.E. Hudgens and C. Roberts 2010. “Connecticut.” In James G. Titus, Daniel L Trescott, and Daniel E. Hudgens (editors). The Likelihood of Shore Protection along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Volume 2: New England and the Southeast. Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official opinion of the Environmental Protection Agency. The primary referring page for this document is http://risingsea.net/ERL/CT.html Chapter 2: CONNECTICUT By Leslie Katz Genova Andrew Hickok Daniel Hudgens Casey Roberts 41 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ..........................................................................................................................................42 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................................44 PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY ..........................................................................................................................................45 CURRENT AND FUTURE TRENDS IN SEA LEVEL ........................................................................................................46 REPORT OUTLINE .....................................................................................................................................................46 METHODS.................................................................................................................................................................47 APPROACH ...............................................................................................................................................................47 CAVEATS AND UNCERTAINTIES................................................................................................................................49 STATE POLICIES RELEVANT TO SEA LEVEL RISE.....................................................................................51 CONNECTICUT COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACT ..........................................................................................................51 TIDAL WETLANDS ACT ............................................................................................................................................52 INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES ACT .......................................................................................................53 CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICIES PLAN FOR CONNECTICUT................................................................53 BEACH NOURISHMENT PRACTICES...........................................................................................................................55 STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO SEA LEVEL RISE...............................................................................................56 GENERALIZED CATEGORICAL MAPPING RULES .......................................................................................................56 CHANGE IN GENERAL STATEWIDE ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON STAKEHOLDER REVIEW [H2] .....................................63 Municipal and Private Open Space Areas...........................................................................................................63 Conservation and Development Data..................................................................................................................65 Review of Modified Methodology ........................................................................................................................66 OVERVIEW OF THE ANTICIPATED LIKELIHOOD OF SHORELINE PROTECTION BY LAND TYPE [H2]............................67 Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Lands ..................................................................................................67 Infrastructure.......................................................................................................................................................69 Agricultural Lands and Forests...........................................................................................................................70 Open Space..........................................................................................................................................................70 Other Public Lands..............................................................................................................................................71 Nontidal Wetlands ...............................................................................................................................................72 Tribal Lands ........................................................................................................................................................72 RESPONSES TO SEA LEVEL RISE BY REGION ..............................................................................................73 SOUTH WESTERN CONNECTICUT ...................................................................................................................75 REGIONAL POLICIES .................................................................................................................................................75 STAKEHOLDER REVIEW............................................................................................................................................76 Planners' General Comments ..............................................................................................................................76 Summary of Map Comments................................................................................................................................77 General Data Changes based on Stakeholder Review Comments.......................................................................79 Planning Judgments ............................................................................................................................................80 GREATER BRIDGEPORT......................................................................................................................................82 REGIONAL POLICIES .................................................................................................................................................82 STAKEHOLDER REVIEW............................................................................................................................................83 Summary of Map Comments................................................................................................................................83 Planning Judgments ............................................................................................................................................85 VALLEY REGION ...................................................................................................................................................86 42 REGIONAL POLICIES .................................................................................................................................................86 STAKEHOLDER REVIEW............................................................................................................................................86 Planner's General Comments ..............................................................................................................................87 Summary of Map Comments................................................................................................................................87 Planning Judgments ............................................................................................................................................87 SOUTH CENTRAL REGION..................................................................................................................................88 REGIONAL POLICIES .................................................................................................................................................88 STAKEHOLDER REVIEW............................................................................................................................................89 Summary of Map Comments................................................................................................................................89 Summary of Changes Based On Modified Statewide Assumptions......................................................................90 Planning Judgments ............................................................................................................................................91 CONNECTICUT RIVER ESTUARY .....................................................................................................................92 REGIONAL POLICIES .................................................................................................................................................92 STAKEHOLDER REVIEW............................................................................................................................................93 Planners' General Comments ..............................................................................................................................93