Land Cover, Protected Open Space and Public Access
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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
description
Land Cover, Protected Open Space and Public Access. in the Lower Thames River Basin (TRB). 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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of 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
