Providing information, education and assistance to land use decision makers, in support of balancing growth and natural resource protection.

New and Upcoming

New Story Map

Aerial image of the Connecticut coastline showing beaches and forested area.

Connections to Long Island Sound

Exploring the land and people in the Long Island Sound Watershed. The Story Map, created in collaboration with the Long Island Sound Partnership, characterizes the land and people in the watershed, and shares the stories of nine people and their connection to the land and water.

It is as a finalist in the 2025 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition! Check it out and vote for the community choice award (look for Connections to Long Island Sound)!

VIEW STORY MAP

CT ECO Advanced Viewer

Screenshot of the CT ECO Advanced Viewer tool showing the map of Connecticut and town boundaries.

Advanced Viewer on CT ECO

The CT ECO website provides maps and geographic data for CT. Map Viewers are a popular way to view and interact with the information and the Advanced Viewer v2 is now available.

ADVANCED VIEWER

What’s Legally Required?

Cover design of the What's Legally Required?: A guide to the legal rules for making local land use decisions in the State of Connecticut.Mike Zizka has collaborated with UConn CLEAR on the printing of his latest (8th) edition of What's Legally Required?: A Guide to the Legal Rules for Making Local Land Use Decisions in the State of Connecticut. This 273 page book is the definitive reference guide for land use planners and commissioners in the State of Connecticut. Mike Zizka donates all proceeds from the sale to CLEAR programs. 

Order Book

Participation & Impacts Survey

Extension educator presenting to an outdoor audience.

We need you! – The CLEAR 2025 Impact Survey

Did you use or participate in CLEAR trainings, webinars, workshops, websites, maps, tools, apps, or data in 2025? If so, we would greatly appreciate you taking a few minutes to share your feedback and what you may have gained/learned.

Your input helps us improve our programming but, more importantly, helps us argue for continued financial support! Can you help us out?

Complete the 2025 CLEAR Impact Survey

Land Use Academy

Extension educator presenting to an audience.

Land Use Commissioner Training

The Land Use Academy (LUA) provides practical education for critical local land use decision makers, focusing on the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to serve effectively on a local land use commission through our webinars and workshops. 

Rain Garden Certificate Course

Two people putting a plant into the ground during a rain garden installation.

This course designed to provide guidance on how to properly site, size, install, and maintain rain gardens. There are 7 modules to be viewed at your own pace, with practice quizzes on the material for each module and a final course exam.

REGISTER for Course

Upcoming CLEAR Webinars

New Land Cover (Part 2): Land Cover Change and Trends in the Long Island Sound Watershed

Posted on by

Thursday, March 19, 2026  – 1 PM Presenters: Dave Dickson, Emily Wilson, and Qian “Rachel” Lei-Parent, UConn CLEAR Part 2 of the series on UConn CLEAR’s updated land cover tracking project. Using data from the Annual NLCD (National Land Cover Database), CLEAR has made land cover data for the entire Long Island Sound watershed available […]

Upcoming Events

Participants looking at a map in a CLEAR training event.
  • Mar
    19
    New Land Cover (Part 2): Land Cover Change and Trends in the Long Island Sound Watershed
    1:00 PM

    Webinar: Join Dave Dickson, Emily Wilson, and Qian “Rachel” Lei-Parent for Part 2 of CLEAR’s updated land cover tracking project. This webinar will highlight what the data tells us about how our landscape has changed from 1985 –2023 in the whole watershed and explore land cover trends within the 300ft riparian zone along our waterways.

  • Apr
    18
    Basic Training for Land Use Commissioners
    Middlesex Extension Center
    9:00 AM

    Basic Training for Land Use Commissioners is being offered on Saturday, April 18th. Participants can attend in person (at Middlesex Extension Center) or virtually. Recommended by the CT Office of Policy and Management (OPM), this training will meet 3 hours of commissioner training requirements.

    ***Registration Required: s.uconn.edu/lua_41826

  • May
    16
    Map Reading and Mapping Resources for Land Use Commissioners
    Middlesex County Extension Center
    9:00 AM

    Map Reading Training for Land Use Commissioners is being offered on Saturday, May 16th. Participants can attend in person at the Middlesex County Extension Center to learn more about reading a site plan map and accessing mapping data on CT ECO. This training is eligible for 3 hours of training toward the mandated training requirements.

    ***REGISTRATION REQUIRED: S.uconn.edu/maps_51626

Featured Projects

rain water running down and off to the side of the road

CT MS4 Guide

CT NEMO is providing tools, training and other support to communities facing new stormwater rules under the MS4 general permit.

Aerial image of a shoreline neighborhood surrounded by marsh.

CLEAR Story Map Gallery

Story Maps combine interactive maps with photos, videos, graphics and more. From bears to breakwaters, we’ve got something for you here. Check it out!

an abstract visual of multiple map styles combined

Imagery on CT ECO

Check out the statewide 2023 high resolution aerial imagery, with 2026 planned for the spring, on CT ECO website!

shoreline with storm damage to homes, many collapsed

Adapt CT

A CLEAR partnership with Connecticut Sea Grant providing outreach, tools and learning opportunities focused on climate adaptation in Connecticut communities.

Featured Story Maps

Program Areas

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Water

Land use is a major determinant of both water quality and water quantity. CLEAR has several projects and programs focusing on the impact of urbanization on water resources.

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Land & Climate

Land use is the bottom line! At CLEAR we have research, tools and outreach programs to help people make more informed land use decisions that protect their natural resources and make them more resilient to a changing climate.

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Mapping

CLEAR's mapping expertise is focused on remote sensing analysis, development of online geospatial land use tools, and training for professionals and others in the use of various types of geospatial technology.

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STEM

Connecting Connecticut high school students, adult volunteers and teachers with conservation efforts at the community level.

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Food

CLEAR’s food-related programs are focused on local/regional food system tactics that center the potential of small food producers to transform our ability to access healthy, fresh, local food.