Land Cover, Protected Open Space and Public Access

in the Lower Thames River Basin (TRB)

Land Cover, Protected Open Space and Public Access

Office of Long Island Sound Programs

Connecticut Coastal Management Program

• DEP-OLISP oversees CCMA (1980)/CZMA

• Regulate activities below HTL or in TWs

• Ensure consistency of State/Federal actions

• Restore degraded coastal habitats

• Assistance / oversight municipal implementation

Connecticut’s Coastal Area

CT Land Cover 2002Percent Developed by Town

Coastal Towns

Source: UCONN-CLEAR

Percent Increase in Developed Land by Town:

1985 – 2002

Developed

Undeveloped

Statewide -coastal towns

38.4%

61.6%

53%

47%

TRB towns - coastal area

23.2%

76.8%

State

Statewide – coastal area

49%

51%

Coastal Land Cover 2002

Source: UCONN-CLEAR

TRB Land Cover (2002)

Land Cover Change

Timing and Rate of TRB Coastal Area Development

Sq. Miles %Developed before 1985 11.28 49%Developed 1985-1990 0.42 2%Developed 1990-1995 0.21 1%Developed 1995-2002 0.51 2%Total Developed 12.42 54%Total Undeveloped 10.58 46%Total (non-water) Coastal Area 23.00 100%

Source: UCONN-Clear (2004)

Undeveloped Land in TRB as Protected Open Space

Protected Open Space is:Land or an interest in land acquired for the

permanent protection or support of: • natural features of the state's landscape • essential habitat for endangered or threatened species• non facility-based outdoor recreation • forestry and fishery activities • other wildlife or natural resource conservation

activities.  Does not include: athletic fields cemeteries schools

53%

47%

TRB towns - coastal area

Developed

Undeveloped

Thames River Shoreline Milesby Type of Shoreline

Protected Open Space in TRB

Protected Thames River Shoreline Miles by Shoreline TypeProtected Open Space Shoreline:Miles and Percent by Shoreline TypeTotal Protected = 9.7 milesTotal TRB Shoreline = 70 milesPercent Protected = 14%

Protected Thames River Shoreline Milesby Owner Type

Protected Thames River Coastal Areaby Owner Type

Protected Open Space Area:Acres & Percent by Owner TypeTotal Protected Area = 694 acresTotal Coastal Area = 7,500 acres

Percent Protected = 9%

Public Access to CT/TRB Shoreline

•Connecticut Shoreline:

- 287 sites

- 1 site /1.6 miles of shoreline (460 miles)

•TRB Shoreline:

- 24 sites

- 1 site / 2.9 miles of shoreline (70 miles)

CT Coastal Access Guide

How Accessible is the CT/TRB Shoreline?

So What?TRB towns not as developed as Western LIS but rate of

development is greater

54% TRB towns coastal area undeveloped < 1985 - subject to few/no CCMP review stds.

46% TRB towns coastal area undeveloped – could be protected or developed according to CCMP standards

At 2% annual rate of development coastal area completely developed in 24 years

Much of the Thames main stem developed but opportunities to protect coastal land remain along coves/tribs.

Redevelopment provide the best opportunities to increase access

Only 14% of TRB shoreline and 9% TRB coastal area protected

TRB shoreline is proportionally less accessible than CT shoreline