CIRCA partners, the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, met with the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration(NOAA) staff this May to outline a recently awarded 2-year grant: “Enhancing Coastal Resilience in Connecticut.”
Funded through the Sandy Supplemental monies distributed by the federal government (from the FY 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act for Coastal Resilience Networks), this grant aims to increase coastal resilience in the state.
There are six main objectives of the grant:
- Map shoreline change over time.
- Map existing coastal protection types for two pilot 4-mile stretches of coastline.
- Create a map of coastal wave height statistics and sea level during storms
- Create a decision support tool to be utilized with the CT ECO map viewer system.
- Identify candidate sites for living shoreline (for beaches, marshes, dunes and bluff) projects in consultation with interested coastal municipalities.
- Develop and conduct Climate Adaptation Academy programs for municipal staff and engineers; work with target communities at risk from erosion and/or candidates for living shoreline projects; and conduct national outreach efforts to disseminate findings from grant outcomes and research efforts.
For example, a digital map of CT’s shoreline erosion and accretion over time has been created. This mapping practice show shoreline trends in the state and is also serving to help grant recipients identify potential living shoreline pilot areas. Several potential sites have already been identified.
Additionally, on May 3rd the first Climate Adaptation Academy was held on UConn’s Avery Point campus. The successful event brought in many interested people to learn about climate adaptation in Connecticut.
Stay tuned for news on grant progress developments!