Natural Resources

Category Description & Vulnerability Overview

Description

Natural resources are, generally, the ecosystems and ecosystem services in the air, water, land, and biota. Connecticut has a large range of natural resources due to its hydrography, location along the Atlantic Ocean, and several mountain ranges. This range of resources is also influenced by the unique microclimates present throughout the state. Key habitats noted in the 2015 Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan include: upland forest, upland woodland and shrub, upland herbaceous, forested inland wetland, shrub inland wetland, herbaceous inland wetlands, tidal wetland, freshwater aquatic, estuarine aquatic, and unique natural or man-made habitats (agricultural lands, vernal pools, utility corridors, etc.). Although the Connecticut Climate Preparedness Plan discusses coastal habitat and the impacts of sea level rise, it is not discussed in this toolkit as the Northwest Hills is an inland region.

Vulnerability Overview

Enhanced habitat for kudzu, chestnut blight, gypsy moth, etc.
Cold water streams, tidal marsh, open water marine, beaches/dunes, freshwater wetlands, offshore islands, major rivers, and forested swamps are most at risk habitat types.
Fragmented biological corridors limit migration of aquatic and terrestrial species.
Increased temperatures reduce habitat for coldwater species like brook trout, brown trout, and slimy sculpin.
Droughts and intense storm events increase mortality for birds and amphibians.
Changes to growing seasons will impact avian migration.
Precipitation timing and amount will affect wetlands and vernal pools.
19 invasives will have moderate to large increase in abundance.
Forest composition will change to more southerly oak-hickory forest mix.
Larger species may benefit from climate change while smaller less mobile species struggle.

Potential Partners & Funding Streams

Please send any suggested partners, grants, or resources to info [at] joannaw1.sg-host.com.

Potential Funding Streams

Wildlife Conservation Society’s Climate Adaptation Fund
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
US DOI
UConn CIRCA
US DOT
FEMA
NOAA
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
Kresge Environment Program
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
CT DEEP
CT DPH
Ford Foundation
National Environmental Education Foundation

General Tools

EPA EnviroAtlas

USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2014

USDA New England and Northern New York Vulnerability Assessment Gallery

Adaptation Workbook from Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS)The Adaptation Workbook is a structured process to consider the potential effects of climate change and design land management and conservation actions that can help prepare for changing conditions. Develop custom adaptation plan for a property or site.

Center for Progressive Reform “From Surviving to Thriving”

“Embracing Change: Adapting Conservation Approaches to Address a Changing Climate”

Climate Change Adaptation Manual (2014) by Natural England and RSPB From England but very useful adaptation strategies for cultural/rural heritage traits.

The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States, U.S. Climate Change Science Program

Inventory & Monitoring, National Park Service

Northeast Temperate Network, Inventory & Monitoring, NPS

Conservation in a Changing Climate A Land Trust Alliance project, this website offers reports and guides for land conservation practitioners.

USA National Phenology Network

Climate Wizard, Nature Conservancy

Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting adaptation principles into practice

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan (2014)

Case Study Housatonic Valley Association Culvert Assessment

Case Study South Kingstown Land Trust Climate Change Pilot Project

Connecticut River Flow Viewer This map tool displays the return interval of flow rates for points along CT river networks. A google map interface is used to display locations where flow rate data exists. Users can zoom to a location of interest and click on a specific point to view a graph displaying flow rates over different return intervals. These graphs show the upper and lower boundary for return intervals of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 years at specific river locations. To view the data, click on a point of interest to activate a graph of river flow rates for different storm events.

3rd National Climate Assessment Figure 3.11

Actions

The section is divided into the following major categories:

Resource Management
Municipal & Regional Activities

*The CT Climate Preparedness Plan divides this section into the various habitats. Since this toolkit is for municipalities, the habitat actions have been combined. Land trusts and conservation organizations may wish to see some actions by habitat and can review the state plan.

A tabular version of the actions is also available.

Resource Management

1Nr Identify, prioritize, and acquire or ease riparian land and wetland properties adjacent to high priority coldwater resources. Prioritize restoration and management activities including; revegetation of stream banks/riparian zones and stocking of resilient strains and species. manage water withdrawals/diversions to maintain characteristic connectivity and hydrology.

Partners: local conservation groups, land use commissions, CT DEEP, Housatonic River Commission, HVA, CT DEEP
Tools: Coming soon

2Nr Create an Inventory of all road-stream crossing structures (i.e., bridges and culverts) in town and prioritize for replacement, based on conservation benefits, minimizing flood risk, and maintenance need. Re-establish connectivity and more natural flows along our rivers and streams by removing or modifying existing structural impediments, such as dams, and culverts. Re-establish connectivity and more natural flows along our rivers and streams by removing or modifying existing structural impediments, such as dams, and culverts. Modify upstream flood control and water management infrastructure and the operation thereof to allow for regular flooding of floodplain forests where feasible.

Comments/Descriptions: Cross link to Infrastructure Partners: HVA, Public Works, CT DOT, Housatonic River Commission
Tools: HVA Culvert Assessment Program
North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative Database search page
Documents required by FERC for hydropower facilities along regional rivers like Shoreline Management Plan, Critical Habitat Management Plan, Recreation Plan and Programmatic Agreements mentioned in Housatonic River Management Plan 2006.

3Nr Promote opportunities for warmwater gamefish in rivers where populations of temperature intolerant species decline.

Partners: CT DEEP, recreational organizations
Tools: Coming soon

4Nr Advance land use policy/regulations (riparian buffer zones, stormwater management BMPs and Low Impact Development) that reduce temperature impacts to coldwater streams and throughout watersheds

Partners: local land use commissions, Housatonic River Commission, land trusts, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut
Tools: Town of Morris LID Manual
green infrastructure

5Nr Identify and protect critical ground water source/recharge areas in your jurisdiction.

Partners: CT DEEP (especially Aquifer Protection Program)
Tools: Coming soon

6Nr Increase expertise at the municipal review level to ensure that infrastructure improvements (e.g., culverts) and development will not alter existing natural hydrology.

Partners: local land use commissions and departments
Tools:Coming soon

7Nr Examine watershed management practices and land acquisition strategies to reduce nutrient and pollutant loading (e.g., water quality conditions, manure management).

Comments/Descriptions: Cross reference with Agriculture and Infrastructure Partners: local land use commissions, Public Works, local conservation organizations
Tools: Coming Soon.

8Nr Promote comprehensive nutrient and runoff BMPs, regulations and policies (municipal and state) for lakes, pond, and impoundments to reduce eutrophication. Advance land use policy/regulations for vegetative shoreline buffers in developments adjoining lakes and ponds. Maintain vegetative buffers between local roads and waterbodies. Reduce nitrogen runoff through the use of alternative manure technologies (e.g., manure biodigester, composting).

Comments/Descriptions: Cross reference with Infrastructure - LID Partners: local land use commissions, Public Works, CT DOT, local farms
Tools: Town of Morris LID Manual
green infrastructure

9Nr Promote upland forest resilience by increasing the use of fire control techniques through controlled burns and selective regeneration projects (improves diversity in forest age and species composition). Include open patch habitat and closed canopy habitat within overall forest habitat.

Partners: CT DEEP, Public Works, land trusts, private land owners
Tools: Coming Soon.

10Nr Manage deer population densities to allow for sufficient forest regeneration.

Comments/Descriptions: Cross reference with Public Health and tick management
Partners: Hunting organizations, CT DEEP, land trusts
Tools: Coming Soon.

11Nr Promote best management plans and regulations among private landowners and foresters to increase sustainable management for resilient forests.

Partners: CT DEEP Public Works, land trusts, private land owners
Tools: NY Watershed Agricultural Council's Forestry Program information Forest Adaptation Resources: climate change tools and approaches for land managers, 2nd edition USDA: Forest Service Forestry Management course Forestry Management for land owners

12Nr Adopt conservation subdivisions and zoning reform to increase forest block size and reduce edge effects.

Partners: local land use commissions
Tools: Town of Morris LID Manual
green infrastructure

13 Nr Incorporate the impacts of extreme events into forest management practices. Promote increased understanding of such events among land owners and professional foresters.

Partners: CT DEEP, Public Works, land trusts, private land owners
Tools: Creating and Maintaining Resilient Forests in Vermont: Adapting Forests to Climate Change
Climate Change Response Framework, Northern Institute for Applied Climate Science

14Nr Greatly enhance land protection resources and incentives for private landowners to retain carbon sequestration value of forests.

Partners: CT DEEP, CT DRS, local land use commission
Tools: Coming soon

15Nr Promote principles of “smart growth” to also retain carbon sequestration values of forest and to better facilitate public transportation systems and energy transmission infrastructure, including wide scale distributed generation options for renewable energy.

Partners: local land use commission; NWCTD, local buses
Tools: Coming soon

16Nr Increase community preparedness for the potential of more frequent and intense wildland fires. Educate public on fire ignitors and accelerants. Teach homeowners about removal of fuel during high fire seasons.

Partners: EMDs, local emergency response
Tools: Firewise Communities Program

Municipal & Regional Activities

17Nr Consider climate change in local natural resource inventories and open space plans.

Partners: land use commissions
Tools: CT NRCS Conservation Technical Assistance
Plan Review Worksheet

18Nr Communicate with USGS to maintain stream gages to monitor peak flow, water volume, temperature, etc.

Comments/Descriptions: Also noted in "Connecticut Department of Transportation Climate Change and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Pilot Project, Recommendations" and WUCC Integrated Report; cross-reference with Infrastructure
Partners: CT DEEP, USGS, EMDs, local conservation organizations

19Nr Evaluate land acquisition for adaptation purposes (considering sea level rise, increase in frequency of severe storms, wildfire threat, loss of wildlife and fisheries habitat, etc.)

Partners: local land trusts, local land conservation organizations
Tools: Nature Conservancy Resilient Landscapes

20Nr Implement Green Grounds and Maintenance Program esp. reduction of use of nitrogen-based fertilizers and indiscriminate pesticides.

Comments/Descriptions: Cross reference with Sustainable CT Action 2.11.
Partners: Public Works, landscaping companies, golf courses, schools

21Nr Identify and protect critical ground water source/recharge areas in your jurisdiction.

Comments/Descriptions: Cross reference with infrastructure, public health, and cultural resources
Partners: Parks & Rec, Public Works, local conservation organizations
Tools: Coming soon

22Nr Promote habitat resilience by managing invasive species, in particular exotic insects including woolly adelgid, Asian longhorn beetle, emerald ash borer and gypsy moth. Plan for the impact of vectors like diseases and pests (e.g. avoid Ash trees in landscaping due to the Emerald Ash Borer). Develop invasive species management plan for municipal properties and encourage local nurseries to eliminate sale of invasive plants.

Comments/Descriptions: Cross reference with Sustainable CT Action 2.10 and POCD Goal 2.
Partners: Public Works, Parks & Rec, local conservation organizations, CT DEEP, land trusts, private property owners Tools: CT NRCS Conservation Technical Assistance
CT Regulations on Movement of Firewood

23Nr Link forest thinning projects to biomass reuse opportunities. This will support forest restoration/mitigation projects, which in turn will reduce the potential for catastrophic fires while providing economic benefits, such as alternative energy sources and workforce development.

Partners: CT DEEP, local land trusts, Public Works, schools, NWRWIB
Tools: Case Studies in Forest Health and Woody Biomass Utilization Webinar

24Nr Coordinate with local conservation groups to identify areas of cultural importance, priority conservation areas and environmentally sensitive habitats.

Partners: local land trusts, local land conservation organizations Tools: Land Trust Alliance Land and Climate Program
The Nature Conservancy Northeast Resilience Alliance

25Nr Conduct a Natural Resources Inventory.

Partners: Conservation Commissions Tools:CT NRCS Conservation Technical Assistance
Eco-Assets for Rural Municipalities
feature=youtu.be Town of Kent Natural Resources Inventory

26Nr Identify and construct a robust and resilient habitat corridor through the region. Consider use of purchase of development rights or conservation easements to protect climate vulnerable habitats. Coordinate with bordering towns and states on shared ecological challenges especially on invasive pests and shoring infrastructure.

Partners: HVA, The Nature Conservancy, EPA, Housatonic River Commission, CT DEEP, NHCOG, regional conservation organizations
Tools: Housatonic River Management Plan
Byers, E and K. Marchetti. 2005. The Conservation Easement Handbook. Trust for Public Land and Land Trust Alliance.
Western Governors’ Association, Trust for Public Land, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. 2001. Purchase of Development Rights.