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