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in the Lower Thames River Basin (TRB)
Land Cover, Protected Open Space and Public Access
Office of Long Island Sound Programs
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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
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Connecticut’s Coastal Area
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CT Land Cover 2002Percent Developed by Town
Coastal Towns
Source: UCONN-CLEAR
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Percent Increase in Developed Land by Town:
1985 – 2002
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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
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Source: UCONN-CLEAR
TRB Land Cover (2002)
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Land Cover Change
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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)
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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
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Thames River Shoreline Milesby Type of Shoreline
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Protected Open Space in TRB
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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%
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Protected Thames River Shoreline Milesby Owner Type
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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%
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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?
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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