States / Connecticut
Connecticut
Coastal Management
The focus is on managing coastal areas to increase resilience, with an emphasis on balancing environmental, economic, and human wellbeing. Mandated by the Coastal Zone Management Act, the two federal programs designed for this task are the National Coastal Zone Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Programs are administered, on the federal side, by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, in partnership with the coastal states.
State Programs
Coastal Zone Management
Connecticut Coastal Management Program. Administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and under the statutory umbrella of Connecticut’s Coastal Management Act (1980), this program ensures balanced growth along the coast; restores coastal habitat; improves public access; protects water-dependent uses, public trust waters, and submerged lands; promotes harbor management; and facilitates research. The program also regulates work in tidal, coastal, and navigable waters and wetlands.
National Estuarine Research Reserves
Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve. Designated in 2022 and protecting 52,160 acres, this reserve is located in Southeastern Connecticut, with uplands in Lyme and Old Lyme along the lower Connecticut River, as well as in Groton. The reserve protects a large area of Long Island Sound (including parts of Fishers Island Sound), portions of the lower Thames River, and portions of the lower Connecticut River. The site provides a home for a host of species, including many that are threatened or endangered. (See handout)
Impact Stories
Stories that showcase the recent work of this state’s coastal management efforts.
- Developing Flood Resilience through Salt Marsh Restoration and Green Infrastructure
- Coastal Resilience and Wildlife Habitat Restoration at Hammock River Marsh
- Improving our Coasts with High-Resolution Land Cover Data
- Northeast States Collaborate on Ocean Mapping Priorities, Garnering National Attention
- Wade into Estuary Recreation at a Research Reserve
- Blue Plan Maximizes Coastal Coordination, Minimizes Conflict
- NOAA Research Reserve Receives Enthusiastic Welcome in Connecticut
Additional Resources
*Fast Fact Sources:
People: American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates
Beaches and Estuaries: Shoreline Mileage of the United States
Employment and Economy:
Marine Economy for the Coastal U.S. States
Marine Economy for the U.S. Territories