This blog is a reposting of a blog published by Georgia Basso and Samantha Brooke, USFWS Coastal habitat are critical to both environmental and human well-being. The importance of the Long Island Sound is reflected in its Congressional designation as an “Estuary of National Significance” in 1987. Photo credit: J. Murray When intense storms hammer […]
CLEARscapes – Winter 2018 Edition
In This Issue New State Imagery NRCA New Impervious Layer MS4 Program CLEAR Website (View Newsletter as pdf)
NEW Connecticut Statewide Impervious Surface Map Layers
With funding from CT DEEP, CLEAR has acquired and made available on CT ECO a new statewide, high-resolution, impervious cover data layer. While acquired to support new stormwater regulations, the layer can be used for other purposes as well. What is it? Statewide, 1 foot resolution raster (pixel) data where each pixel is one of […]
Another winter approaches…here comes the salt
This is not my first blog about salt- in 2013 I detailed the problems we are facing in the Northeast with rising salt levels in our fresh waters in this blog. I have continued the monitoring in Eagleville Brook that I described in the past blog, and now four years later, I have the ability […]
Invest in map layers, make them accessible and work together – a cost saving combination
Mapping layers acquired by CLEAR through the MS4 project + making them available on the CT ECO website = big benefits for users including a surprise savings of at least a half million dollars for the state. Whoa. Read the full story written by Tyler Kleykamp, Chief Data Officer at the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management where he explains the series […]
The Myth of the Lazy Teen
A friend of mine recently told me that they thought all teenagers were lazy. Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought this before. Anyone? Bueller? Don’t worry, it’s okay if you have. I won’t tell anyone. I personally think teens get a bad rap. High schools often start in the seven o’clock hour, course loads […]
CT MS4 Mapping Details, Clarifications, and Tools
October 24, 2017 Presented By Dave Dickson & Cary Chadwick, UConn CLEAR CT’s new MS4 permit includes several mapping related requirements. From mapping your stormwater system to determining where to focus your efforts, geospatial technologies will certainly be helpful in meeting your permit obligations. This webinar will (1) highlight the parts of the permit where […]
Ocean Data for Connecticut
I recently learned about two impressive resources for ocean-based geographic information. One is the Northeast Ocean Data Portal and the other is the New York Geographic Information Gateway. Both are well-developed websites that include a comprehensive data viewer, ancillary information and stories about how ocean information has been used with multiple benefits. The Northeast Ocean […]
The Emerald Ash Borer Beetle on the UConn Campus
CLEAR’s Tom Worthley recently discussed the Emerald Ash Borer beetle and its impacts on the UConn Campus with UConn Today. Read the full article on the UConn Today website, link below. Big Changes in Store for UConn’s Trees and Yours
Can You Hear Me Now? Smartphone Maps (that work!) Off the Beaten Path
It’s summer. Family vacation time. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting for this all year. We had planned to take the family west for two weeks in the mountains. Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Off the beaten path. Round up the kids, pack up the camping […]
My 2017 Climate Corps Summer Internship by Nikki Pirtel
The shoreline community of Westbrook, Connecticut, situated halfway between New Haven and New London, is home to approximately 7,000 residents while supporting seasonal tourists with numerous beaches and shopping stores in the town’s outlet. It is also the municipality I was assigned to research and create a vulnerability assessment for during my time at the […]
Butts on the Beach
Butts on the Beach This past weekend, while stuck in traffic for 20 minutes, I noticed four different people throw 6 cigarette butts out the widow and onto the highway. That, and the fact that I am lazy, moved me to re-post something I wrote several years ago. Recently a columnist in a local Southeastern […]
That Sound You Hear is the Hatching of Conservation Projects!
Last week saw the successful launch of the Conservation Training Partnership program, the goal of which is to develop and carry out local conservation projects around the state powered by teams of high school students and community volunteers. The CTP is an outgrowth of the Natural Resources Conservation Academy, the week-long program for high school […]
CT DEEP’s New Strategy for Addressing Nitrogen Pollution
June 28, 2017 Presented By Kelly Streich, CT DEEP This webinar is part II of a two-part webinar focused on nitrogen pollution in Long Island Sound. This session will highlight CT DEEP’s secondary generation strategy for addressing the sources of nitrogen pollution. The webinar will cover progress made to date in addressing Nitrogen as well […]
Nitrogen Pollution in Long Island Sound Embayments – From Where?
June 14, 2017 Presented By Jamie Vaudrey, UConn Marine Sciences This webinar will highlight the folks of UConn Professor Dr. Jamie Vaudrey’s research into the sources of nitrogen pollution in Long Island Sound embayments. The results of her study are very useful in determining the greatest contributors of nitrogen to each of the coastal embayments […]
Meet the New CT ECO – Home to CT’s Natural Resource Maps
June 1, 2017 Presented By Emily Wilson, Geospatial Educator, UConn CLEAR Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online or CT ECO is the state’s home to natural resource based geospatial data. The website has been revamped with a new look and new viewers to make the data easier to find and use for everyone from the casual user […]
What is a CFS anyway?
Certified Forestry Surveyor? Calculated Fournier Series? A recent conversation (most likely over a beer, but that doesn’t really factor in here…) with my neighbor provided fodder for this post. We were mapping out our route for opening day of fishing season, and I commented that the Fenton was running over 150 cfs, so it might […]
You’ve Got the Whole Atlas in Your Hand
The NEMO program’s National Low Impact Development (LID) Map is an interactive resource for finding examples of LID like green roofs, pervious pavements, and bioretention areas. These approaches to stormwater management help prevent flooding and water pollution by encourage infiltration into the ground instead of runoff. First launched in 2008, the site now has 1,400 […]
Climate Adaptation Legal Questions and Answers
May 2, 2017 Presented By Juliana Barrett, Associate Extension Educator, UConn CLEAR & Bruce Hyde, Land Use Academy Director, UConn CLEAR This webinar will provide answers to a number of the questions raised at Legal Issues in the Age of Climate Adaptation, a conference held by UConn CLEAR and and Connecticut Sea Grant’s Climate Adaptation […]
Urban Forestry Work of UConn Natural Resources Conservation Academy Student Recognized By City of Hartford
Now in its sixth year, UConn’s Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA) has worked with over 115 teens throughout Connecticut on 10-month individual conservation projects that have directly benefited their local community and environment. NRCA students present their conservation work to over 300 environmental professionals at the Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources, and graduate from the […]