CIRCA Research Projects · National Disaster Resilience Competition pilot project activities are...

CIRCA Research Projects:Coastal Flooding and Waves, Inland Flooding, Sea Level Rise, Critical

Infrastructure Resilience, Living Shorelines, and Policy and Planning

January 2019

Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation, University of Connecticut

2

AcknowledgementsThedevelopmentofthisreportwasfundedbyaProjectAgreementbetweentheConnecticutDepartment of Energy and Environmental Protection and the University of ConnecticutCooperative Projects for the project entitled, “Creation of the Connecticut Institute forResilienceandClimateAdaptation.”AboutCIRCACIRCAisamulti‐disciplinary,centerofexcellencethatbringstogetherexpertsinthenaturalsciences, engineering, economics, political science, finance, and law to provide practicalsolutionstoproblemsarisingasaresultofachangingclimate.TheInstitutehelpscoastaland inland floodplain communities in Connecticut and throughout the Northeast betteradapttochangesinclimateandalsomaketheirhuman‐builtinfrastructuremoreresilientwhileprotectingvaluableecosystems,andtheservicestheyoffertohumansociety(food,clean air and water, and energy). The Institute combines the world‐class researchcapabilities ofthe University of Connecticut and the progressive policies and practicalregulatory experience of theConnecticut Department of Energy and EnvironmentalProtection(CTDEEP)totranslatesoundscientificresearchtoactionsthatcanensuretheresilience and sustainability of both the built andnatural environments of the coast andwatershedsofConnecticut.Incollaborationwithlocal,regional,andnationalpartners,theInstitute’smulti‐disciplinaryresearch,outreach,andeducationprogramswillstriveto:

Improvescientificunderstandingofthechangingclimatesystemanditslocalandregionalimpactsoncoastalandinlandfloodplaincommunities;

Developanddeploynaturalscience,engineering,legal,financial,andpolicybestpracticesforclimateresilience;

UndertakeoroverseepilotprojectsdesignedtoimproveresilienceandsustainabilityofthenaturalandbuiltenvironmentalongConnecticut’scoastandinlandwaterways;

Createaclimate‐literatepublicthatunderstandsitsvulnerabilitiestoachangingclimateandwhichusesthatknowledgetomakescientificallyinformed,environmentallysounddecisions;

Fosterresilientandsustainablecommunities–particularlyalongtheConnecticutcoastlineandinlandwaterways–thatcanadapttotheimpactsandhazardsofclimatechange;and

Reducethelossoflifeandproperty,naturalsystemandecologicaldamage,andsocialdisruptionfromhigh‐impactevents.

3

PrefaceThisreportprovidesanupdateoncompletedandongoingprojectsthataresupportedbyCIRCAfundingorinvolvecollaborationswithCIRCA‐affiliatedfacultyandstaff.Completedprojects contain links to products, tools, and findings that can be used by Connecticutcommunitiesastheyplanforandadapttotheimpactsofclimatechangeandsevereweather.Some projects may have presentations or posters with information that can also bereferenced. Projects cover the CIRCA research and engagement focus areas of coastalfloodingandwaves, inland flooding, sea level rise, critical infrastructureresilience, livingshorelines,andpolicyandplanning.ForregularupdatesonCIRCAprojectspleaserefertotheCIRCAwebsite:circa.uconn.edu.

4

TableofContentsAdvancingHighResolutionCoastalForecastingandLivingShorelinesApproachesintheNortheast.....................................................................................................................................................................5

ConnecticutPhysicalClimateScienceAssessmentReport....................................................................6

DemonstratingaCoastalFloodRiskAnalysisFrameworkintheMysticRiver............................6

DevelopingLocation‐BasedCommunicationandPublicEngagementStrategiestoBuildResilientCoastalCommunities...........................................................................................................................7

DrinkingWaterVulnerabilityAssessmentandResiliencePlan..........................................................7

FinancingResilienceinConnecticut:CurrentPrograms,NationalModels,andNewOpportunities:FactSheet.....................................................................................................................................8

IncreasingResilienceandReducingRiskThroughSuccessfulApplicationofNatureBasedCoastalInfrastructurePracticesinNewEngland.......................................................................................9

JarvisCreekSeaLevelandFloodingVariability.......................................................................................10

MunicipalResiliencePlanningAssistanceforSeaLevelRise,CoastalFlooding,WastewaterTreatmentInfrastructure,andPolicy...........................................................................................................10

NOAACoastalResilienceNetworks:“EnhancingCoastalResilienceinConnecticut”.............12

RealEstateValues,TaxRevenues,andClimateChange‐InducedRetreatfromFloodZones.......................................................................................................................................................................................13

Real‐timeFloodPredictionandVulnerabilityAnalysisofConnecticut’sInlandRiverNetwork.....................................................................................................................................................................13

Restoredvs.NaturalLivingShorelines:ComparisonofEcosystemServices,ErosionControl,andHabitatUse......................................................................................................................................................14

RoadFloodinginCoastalConnecticut..........................................................................................................14

SAFRConnecticutConnectionsVulnerabilityAssessmentandResilienceConcept–NationalDisasterResilienceCompetition(NDRC)....................................................................................................15

ScopingofDredgeMaterialIslandsandWetlandsforGreenInfrastructureResiliencyProjectsAlongtheConnecticutShorelineinFairfieldandNewHavenCounties......................16

StratfordPointLivingShoreline:RestoringCoastalHabitatstoMaintainResiliencyandFunction.....................................................................................................................................................................17

MatchingFundsforResearchProjectssupportedbyUConnCIRCA……………………….18‐19PublicSupportforAdaptationtoSeaLevelRise.....................................................................................18

HowWillSeaLevelRise‐DrivenShiftsinWetlandVegetationAlterEcosystemServices?..19

ResilientCoastalCommunitiesunderWindandFloodHazards......................................................19

5

CompletedResearchProjects

AdvancingHighResolutionCoastalForecastingandLivingShorelinesApproachesintheNortheast

UConnCIRCA‘WhatWeDo’Areas:

CoastalFloodingandWaves SeaLevelRise CriticalInfrastructureResilience LivingShorelines PolicyandPlanning

UConnCIRCAfacultyarepartneringwithresearchersfromacrossNewEnglandtoadvancethe development and implementation of a comprehensive, regional coastal and riverineinundationobservationandmodelingsystem.Thisprojectwillresultinthecreationofareal‐timeinundationforecastsystemthatwillbehousedwiththeNortheastRegionalAssociationof Coastal andOceanObserving Systems (NERACOOS) and100‐year return interval (1%annualchance)onlinemaps.UConnCIRCA,working in conjunctionwith fiveNewEnglandstatesandseveral regionalorganizations,willcollaborativelyanalyzelivingshorelinesapplicationsinConnecticutandtheNortheastregion.NewEnglandhasavariedcoastlineandduallyvariedutilizationratesfor living shorelines projects. Under this cooperative effort, UConn CIRCAwill assist theregionasitdevelopsa‘state‐of‐the‐science’analysisoflivingshorelinesandcoastalgreeninfrastructure,identifybarriersandpotentialsolutionstoincreasethedeploymentoflivingshorelines,anddevelopanddisseminateeducationalmaterialsandworkshopsforthepublicregardinglivingshorelinesandcoastalgreeninfrastructure.FundingforthisprojectisprovidedbytheNOAARegionalCoastalResilienceGrantsundertheNOAAOfficeforCoastalManagement.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

JamesO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences RebeccaFrench,UConnCIRCA AlejandroCifuentes‐Lorenzen,PostdoctoralFellow,UConnMarineSciences ToddFake,ResearchAssociate,UConnMarineSciences

6

ConnecticutPhysicalClimateScienceAssessmentReport


PolicyandPlanningResearchersarereviewingthecurrentstateofscientificknowledgeofrecenttrendsandprojectionsoflocalclimate(temperatureandprecipitation),withapurposetoinformplanningandadaptationbythestate,municipalitiesandlocalgovernments,commercialenterprisesandNGOs.ThereviewisbeingconductedbyUniversityofConnecticutfacultywithexpertiseinclimaterelatedsciences.Inadditiontoreviewingexistingliterature,newanalysiswillbeconductedandnewdatawillbeproducedfocusingspecificallyonConnecticut.Thisreviewwillresultinawrittenreport,ConnecticutPhysicalClimateScienceAssessmentReport(CT‐PCSAR).ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

AnjiSeth,UConnDepartmentofGeography ScottStephenson,UConnDepartmentofGeography GuilingWang,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering ChristineKirchhoff,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering RichardAnyah,,UConnNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironment KellyLombardo,UConnMarineSciences

DemonstratingaCoastalFloodRiskAnalysisFrameworkintheMysticRiver

UConnresearchersareworkingtoestimatethefloodriskofareasalongtheMysticRiver.ThispilotprojectsimulatestheeffectoflargerainfalleventsontheMysticRivertoimproveflood vulnerability mapping. Specifically, this research will; 1) simulate the river andwatershedflowoverthelast38years;2)constructasynthetichydrographofinlandflowatgiven return periods as well as the combination of low/high tide and no surge/surgeconditionsontheMysticRiver;and3)maptheextentoffloodinundationaswellasdepth.Usingmunicipalreportsandphotosshowingfloodcontrolstructuresandwatermarksfrompreviousfloodevents,researcherswillcalibratethemodeltobettersimulatetheeffectoflargerainfalleventsontherivertoshowmoreaccurateinformationaboutfloodconditionsandvulnerability.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

EmmanouilAnagnostou,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering,UConnCIRCA XinyiShen,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering MariamKhanam,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering ScotDeledda,StoningtonEngineerandFloodplainManager RickNorris,GrotonPlanner

7

DevelopingLocation‐BasedCommunicationandPublicEngagementStrategiestoBuildResilientCoastalCommunities

This project assesses communication and engagement strategies from two ongoingresilienceprojectsindifferentlocationsontheConnecticutcoast.TheCityofBridgeport'sNational Disaster Resilience Competition pilot project activities are being assessed sincetheyhavearobustprocessofpublicoutreachandengagement.ThesecondsitefocusesoncoastalresiliencecommunicationstrategiesbeingusedinthetownofFairfield.GoalsofthisCIRCAfundedUConnresearchprojectinclude:

1. Evaluatecommunitystakeholderresponsetotheplannedresilienceprojectasthebasisfordevelopingandassessingrecommendedcommunicationandengagementstrategies.

2. Recommendtailoredcommunicationstrategiesaimedatmotivatingcommunitystakeholderstosupporttheplannedresilienceprojects.

3. Recommendtailoredengagementstrategiesaimedatempoweringcommunitystakeholders.

Deliverables of the project will include a set of tailored communication strategies forpromotingcommunitysupportforplannedprojectsviatargetedinteractiveinformationalandexperientiallearning.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

CarolynLin,UConnDepartmentofCommunication JamesO'Donnell,UConnDepartmentofMarineSciences,UConnCIRCA KatieLund,UConnCIRCA KimberlyBradley,UConnCIRCA BrianThompson,CTDEEP RebeccaFrench,CTDOH DavidMurphy,Milone&MacBroom

DrinkingWaterVulnerabilityAssessmentandResiliencePlan

TheConnecticutDepartmentofPublicHealth(DPH)andtheConnecticutInstituteforResilienceandClimateAdaptation(CIRCA)willworktogetherforthepurposeofpreparingaDrinkingWaterVulnerabilityAssessmentandResiliencePlantoassess,identify,andaddressvulnerabilitiesforcommunitywatersystemsinFairfield,NewHaven,NewLondon,andMiddlesexcounties.ThePlanwillutilizespatialdata,floodrisk,climateinformation,

8

surveysandinterviewswithwaterutilitiestoensurepreparednessandresiliencyofcommunitywatersystemsbefore,during,andafterfuturestormsandhazards,includingtheimpactsofclimatechangeanddrought.Theprojectconsistsoffouroveralltasks:

VulnerabilityassessmentofConnecticutcommunitywatersystemsinthefourcountiesimpactedbySuperStormSandytoidentifyoptionsandalternativestomitigatethevulnerabilitiesidentifiedandtoimproveresiliencyandtocompiletheassessmentintoacomprehensivePublicWaterSystemsresiliencyplan.

Reviewcurrentpractices,procedures,andrequirementsforemergencyresponseatDPHanddevelopanemergencyresponseplan,incollaborationwiththeDepartment.

UseavailableGISdatalayersandinformationfromlocalhealthdirectorstoassessthevulnerabilityofprivatewellsandrecommendactionstoimproveresiliency.

Prepareahigh‐levelcomprehensiveimplementationplanthataddressesidentifiedcommunitywatersystems’vulnerabilitiesandprovidesoptionsandalternativestoimproveresiliency.

Researchers,StaffandContractorsSupportedonProject

JamesO’Donnell,UConnCIRCAandDepartmentofMarineSciences ChristineKirchhoff,UConnDepartmentofCivilandEnvironmentalEngineering RebeccaFrench,UConnCIRCA GuilingWang,UConnDepartmentofCivilandEnvironmentalEngineering AmyBurnicki,UConnDepartmentofCivilandEnvironmentalEngineering DavidMurphy,Milone&MacBroom

FinancingResilienceinConnecticut:CurrentPrograms,NationalModels,andNewOpportunities:FactSheet


PolicyandPlanningCIRCA developed a fact sheet that reviews existing resilience financing programs inConnecticut,aswellasmodelprogramsthatcanbeappliedintheState.ItaimstoeducateConnecticut’s municipalities, regulators, policymakers, and legislators on the need tocollaborate on developing financing methods for resiliency, including innovative public‐privatepartnershipmodels,andadaptionofexistingpublicandprivatefinancemodelsforresiliency.Theseactionswillproactivelyaddressfloodinsuranceaffordabilityandpromotevoluntary climate adaptation measures to reduce and avoid future losses (to life,property/casualty, property tax, critical infrastructure and business continuity). Mostimportantly,Connecticutneedsthesefinancingmethodsinplacepriortothenextnatural

9

disaster when motivation to rebuild resiliently is high. Developing effective financingmethods for resiliency now will benefit vulnerable residents, natural ecosystems,businesses,andgovernment(local,state,andfederal). Investments in theshort‐termwillcreate taxpayer savings for disaster recovery costs and lead to more affordable floodinsuranceoverthelong‐term.Factsheet:http://web9.uits.uconn.edu/circa/library/Final_ResilienceFinanceFactSheet.pdfThe fact sheet contains reviewsof ShoreUpConnecticut,MicrogridsProgramandGreenBank,CleanWaterRevolvingLoanFunds,Tax IncrementFinancingDistricts,ConnecticutGreen Bank C‐PACE and R‐PACE, New Jersey Energy Resilience Bank, Energy SavingsPerformanceContracts(ESPCs)andResilienceBonds.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

RebeccaFrench,UConnCIRCAsupported JessicaLeClair,UConnCIRCAsupported

Co‐Authors: WayneCobleigh,CPSMVicePresident,GZA YiShi,GraduateStudent,YaleSchoolofForestryandEnvironmentalStudies

IncreasingResilienceandReducingRiskThroughSuccessfulApplicationofNatureBasedCoastalInfrastructurePracticesinNewEngland

(anticipatedcompletiondate:September2020)UConnCIRCA‘WhatWeDo’Areas:

LivingShorelinesSincetheStateofConnecticuthasadoptedregulationstolimitfurtherexpansionofhardcoastalprotectionstructures(seawalls,revetmentsetc.)andtopromotetheuseof“livingshoreline”approaches,trackingtheeffectivenessofdemonstrationsitesisapriorityactivity.Asaconsequenceofitsgeologicalsettinganddevelopmenthistory,theharborsofConnecticutrequireperiodicmaintenancedredgingtoensuresafenavigation.TheStatehasalsocommittedtoexpandthereuseofdredgedsedimentsandthedevelopmentofdemonstrationprojectsthatalsoenhancecoastalprotectionisalsoapriority.Thisprojectwilladvancebothofthesecoastalresearchthemesthroughaseriesof6tasksthatincludeoutreachanddevelopmentofpolicyrecommendations.FundingforthisprojectisprovidedbytheNOAARegionalCoastalResilienceGrantsundertheNOAAOfficeforCoastalManagement.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

10

JenniferMattei,SacredHeartUniversityDepartmentofBiology(ProjectLead) JamesO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences,UConnCIRCA

JarvisCreekSeaLevelandFloodingVariability


CoastalFloodingandWavesUConnCIRCAperformedanassessmentoftheeffectsofengineeredtidalflowconstrictionsonthevariabilityofthesealevelinsaltmarshesandthefrequencyoffloodinginupstreamareas,focusedonJarvisCreek(Branford).

TheTownofBranford,CT,andtheBranfordLandTrusthavereportedthathighwaterlevelsatJarvisCreekMarsh,CT,haveledtofloodingonLeetesIslandRoad(RT146)andatafieldadjacenttothemarsh.ExchangeofwaterbetweenLongIslandSoundandthemarshcomplexiscurrentlyinfluencedbyatidegateandabermatthesouthernendofmarshandarailwaybridgethatcrossesthemiddleofthemarsh.ThebermhadbeenmodifiedbytheLandTrustwithfundsfromagrantfromtheConnecticutDepartmentofEnergyandEnvironmentalProtectionaspartofamarshrestorationprogramandtoimprovepublicaccess.ThisreportdescribesobservationandthedevelopmentofamathematicalmodelthatquantitativelyassessestheinfluenceofthetidegateandthebermontheexchangewithLongIslandSoundandthefrequencyofflooding.

ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject: JamesO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences,UConnCIRCA MichaelWhitney,UConnMarineSciences KayHoward‐Strobel,UConnMarineSciences ChristinaMenniti,GraduateStudent,UConnMarineSciences

MunicipalResiliencePlanningAssistanceforSeaLevelRise,CoastalFlooding,WastewaterTreatmentInfrastructure,andPolicy


CoastalFloodingandWaves InlandFlooding SeaLevelRise CriticalInfrastructure PolicyandPlanning

WithagrantfromtheConnecticutDEEP,UConnCIRCAwilldeveloptools(methodologies

11

anddata)formunicipalitiesincountiesaffectedbySuperstormSandyfortheassessmentofvulnerability of infrastructure (including waste water treatment plants, pump stations,roads,andpublicsafetyassets),toinundationbyriverflowandstormsurge,now,andinthenext25to50years,whenitislikelythatsealevelswillbehigherandprecipitationstatisticsdifferent;andprovidepolicyandfinancingoptionsforresilienceprojectsforConnecticut’smunicipalities.Additionally,theuseoftheseproductswillbepilotedincommunities.UConnCIRCAwillproducethefollowingproductsasaresultofthisproject:

SealevelriseprojectionsforLongIslandSound Modelsandmapsofthecombinedimpactsofriverinefloodingandstormsurge Modelsandmapsofinlandfloodingundercurrentfutureclimates

20%,10%,5%,2%,and1%annualchancefloodinundationfromstorms Evaluationofextremefutureclimatestormscenarios(categoryIIhurricane)

againstthecurrent1%(100‐year)and0.2%(500‐year)floodinundationlevels

Vulnerabilityassessmentprocessforwastewatertreatmentplants Policyandfinancingoptionsforresilienceprojectsthatmaybeeffectivein

ConnecticutbasedonasurveyofmunicipalneedsResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

JamesO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences,UConnCIRCA ManosAnagnostou,Civil&EnvironmentalEngineering,UConnCIRCA ChristineKirchhoff,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering AmyBurnicki,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering JoeMacDougald,LawSchool,UConnCIRCA,CenterforEnergyandEnvironmental

Law JulianaBarrett,Extension,CTSeaGrant,UConnCLEAR BruceHyde,Extension,UConnCLEAR KatieLund,UConnCIRCA SageHardesty,GraduateStudent,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering XinyiShen,PostdoctoralFellow,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering PeterWatson,GraduateStudent,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering ClaireSzymanski,GraduateStudent,EducationPsychology AlejandroCifuentes‐Lorenzen,PostdoctoralFellow,UConnMarineSciences GrantMcCardell,PostdoctoralFellow,UConnMarineSciences BerdakhUtemuratov,PhDCandidate,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering RebeccaAFrench,UConnCIRCA KayHoward‐Strobel,ResearchAssociate,UConnMarineSciences

12

NOAACoastalResilienceNetworks:“EnhancingCoastalResilienceinConnecticut”


CoastalFloodingandWaves LivingShorelines

TheCRESTProject,“EnhancingCoastalResilienceinConnecticut,”wasfundedbyatwo‐yeargrantfromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)totheUniversityofConnecticut.AteamofresearchandextensionfacultyandstafffromthedepartmentsofCivil and Environmental Engineering, Extension and UConnMarine Sciences, alongwithConnecticutSeaGrant,theCenterforLandUseEducationandResearchandtheConnecticutDepartmentofEnergyandEnvironmentalProjection’sOfficeofLongIslandSoundProgramsworkedonthefollowingobjectives.

• Anassessmentofexistingpatternsofcoastalerosion;• Identificationofshorelinecharacterandcoastalprotectionapproachesin‐place;• Determinationofstormwavecharacteristicsattheshorelinetoprovideinformation

neededtocreatedesignguidelinesforassessmentofprotectionalternativesundercurrentandlikelyfutureclimatestates;

• Reviewofavailabledesignguidelinesforthedeploymentof“livingshoreline”shoreprotectionstrategiesandthedevelopmentofaresearchagendatoenhanceunderstandingoftheeffectivenessoftheapproachinConnecticut;

• DevelopmentofanonlineMapViewer;• Incorporationoftheknowledgedevelopedintheprojectinbothcoast‐wideandin‐

depthcommunity‐leveleducationalprograms,targetedatlocallanduseofficials.The website developed forthe project contains a map viewer(http://circa.uconn.edu/crest/maps/)forsitesuitabilityforlivingshorelines,adescriptionof thewave researchmodel and findings (http://circa.uconn.edu/crest/wave‐research/),andtheresultsofawavemodel(http://circa.uconn.edu/crest/points/)atfivelocationsinLongIslandSound.ResearchersSupportedonProject:

JamesO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences,UConnCIRCA ManosAnagnostou,CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering,UConnCIRCA SylvainDeGuise,Pathobiology&VeterinaryScience,CTSeaGrant BrianThompson,CTDEEPOfficeofLongIslandSoundPrograms ChetArnold,UConnCLEAR EmilyWilson,UConnCLEAR JoelStocker,Extension,UConnCLEAR JulianaBarrett,Extension,CTSeaGrant,UConnCLEAR BruceHyde,Extension,UConnCLEAR

13

JenniferO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences AlejandroCifuentes‐Lorenzen,PostdoctoralFellow,UConnMarineSciences JasonZylberman,GraduateStudent,Dept.ofNaturalResourcesandthe

Environment

RealEstateValues,TaxRevenues,andClimateChange‐InducedRetreatfromFloodZones


PolicyandPlanningWhatisthecostofpreserving,maintaining,orrestoringcoast‐front(vulnerable)properties?Casualobservationsuggeststhesequestionscausemanycommunitiestohesitatewhenfacingtheexpensiverealitiesofchangingfloodingandstormfrequency.Thisproposaloutlinesanapproachtoascertainthevalueofoceanfrontstatusforhomeslocatednearthecoast.Thisresearchisanimportant,necessarybutnotsufficient,firststepinalargersuiteofresearchaskingthemostpertinentquestionof:Cantherebe“taxinstrumentfinancing”ofaportionofthecostofretreatfromthecoastalmargin?AfinalreportwillincludecasestudiesforasampleofConnecticutcommunitiesillustratingaselectedrangeofcoastalconfigurationsandconditionsforsitesinwhichtheretreat‐relocateoptionmightbeaviableandcost‐effectivealternativeforcommunitiestoconsiderforadaptingtoincreasedcoastalflooding.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

StephenSwallow,UConnAgriculturalandResourceEconomicsandCenterforEnvironmentalSciencesandEngineering

CharlesTowe,UConnAgriculturalandResourceEconomicsandCenterforEnvironmentalSciencesandEngineering

Real‐timeFloodPredictionandVulnerabilityAnalysisofConnecticut’sInlandRiverNetwork


InlandFlooding CriticalInfrastructure

UConnCIRCA researchers aredeveloping an integrativehydrologic and flood inundationmodelingsystemforConnecticut’sinlandrivernetwork,andusingthesystemforconductingfloodvulnerabilityanalysesstatewidetoidentifycriticalareas/infrastructures(e.g.bridges,

14

road network, power stations, waste water treatment facilities) and issues related tofloodinganderosionfromextremeprecipitation(1%annualchancestorms)incurrentandend‐of‐centuryclimate.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

ManosAnagnostou,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering,UConnCIRCA XinyiShen,PostdoctoralFellow,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering YagmurDerin,GraduateStudent,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering JasonParent,UConnNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironment

Restoredvs.NaturalLivingShorelines:ComparisonofEcosystemServices,ErosionControl,andHabitatUse


LivingShorelinesTidalwetlandsprovideawealthofecosystemservices,includingerosioncontrol,stormprotection,sequestrationofcarbonandothernutrientsandhabitatvitaltovariouslifestagesofcommerciallyandecologicallyimportantfishandwildlife.Restorationoftidalwetlandsaddstooureconomyandincreasescoastalresilience.Thekeyquestionis:“DolivingshorelinesprovidesimilarecosystemservicestonaturallyestablishedestuarinehabitatsinConnecticut?”ArecentlyestablishedlivingshorelineinStratford,CTprovidesauniqueopportunitytocomparetheecosystemservicesoftwonewlyplantedsaltmarshestonearbyestablishedmarshesinthesameestuaryoftheHousatonicRiver.Indicatorsofecosystemservicesforthisprojectwillincludemeasuresofsedimentdeposition,carbonsequestrationratesandfishandbirddiversity.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

JamieVaudrey,UConnMarineSciences JenniferMattei,SacredHeartUniversity

RoadFloodinginCoastalConnecticut


CriticalInfrastructureResilience CoastalFloodingandWaves

ThecoastlineofConnecticutischaracterizedbynumerousinletswheretheriversandstreamscarryingrunofffromlandtowardstheoceanandthesalinetidalwatersofLong

15

IslandSoundintrudeintothechannels.Saltmarsheshaveformedinmanyoftheseinletsandhavebecomecriticalhabitatfornumerousspeciesofinsects,birdsandfish.Routesbetweencoastalsettlementshavegenerallyskirtedthenorthernboundariesofthesemarshesandmanybridgesandculvertshavebeenconstructedtoallowthewaterandroadwaystoco‐exist.Risingsealevels,andsomemarshrestorationprojects,havemadesegmentsofroadwaysmorevulnerabletoflooding.Thisprojectwillassessthemostcosteffectiveandappropriateadaptationstrategytoreducethefrequencyoffloodingtoanacceptablelevel,requiringtheanalysisoftheflowofwaterthroughtheinlets.AdemonstrationprojectwillbeconductedtoprovideestimatesofthefrequencyoffloodingattwositesonRT146inGuilfordandtwositesinBranford.Themodeltobeemployedwillrequiretheanalysisofobservations,LIDARsurfaceelevations,GPSsurveysandwaterlevelobservations.Theendgoalistohavethemodelanddataprovide:

a) currentfloodingfrequencystatistics;b) futurefloodingfrequencystatistics;andc) theeffectivenessofroadelevationoptionsonreducingthefloodingfrequency.

ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

JamesO’Donnell,UConnCIRCAandDepartmentofMarineSciences MichaelWhitney,UConnDepartmentofMarineSciences

SAFRConnecticutConnectionsVulnerabilityAssessmentandResilienceConcept–NationalDisasterResilienceCompetition(NDRC)


PolicyandPlanningCIRCA led the research, outreach, and collaborative efforts of several state agencies todeveloparegionalvulnerabilityassessmentandconceptualframingofcoastalresiliencefortheNDRC,abillion‐dollar competitionsponsoredby theU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment.Theconceptofconnectingadaptedcoastalcommunities,throughsaferesiliencecorridors,toresilienttransit‐orienteddevelopmentalongMetro‐NorthadvancedtheStatetothecurrentdesignphaseofthecompetition.InJanuary2016,Connecticutwasannouncedasthewinnerof$54.3milliontoimplementapilotprojectinBridgeportbasedontheconceptandfundstodeveloparegionalConnecticutConnectionsCoastalResiliencePlanforNewHavenandFairfieldCounties.Thevulnerabilityassessmentthatincludesmapsoffloodriskandsocialvulnerabilityandthe conceptual resilience framework for the Connecticut coast are included here:http://web9.uits.uconn.edu/circa/ndrc/pubs/FinalSAFRConnecticutConnectionsJune22.p

16

df.FundingtodeveloptheproposalwasprovidedbyagrantfromtheConnecticutDEEP.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

RebeccaFrench,UConnCIRCA JessicaLeClair,UConnCIRCA PegVanPatten,CTSeaGrant KaraBonsack,UConnCLEAR KevinJoy,UConnNEUnderwaterResearch,Technology,&EducationCenter ToddFake,UConnMarineSciences RalphLewis,UConnMarineSciences KatherineHagemann,UConnCIRCA BethGreenleaf,UConnCIRCA AlexFelson,YaleUEDLab

ScopingofDredgeMaterialIslandsandWetlandsforGreenInfrastructureResiliencyProjectsAlongtheConnecticutShorelineinFairfieldandNewHavenCounties


CriticalInfrastructure LivingShorelines PolicyandPlanning

TheshorelinesofFairfieldandNewHavenCountieswereamongthemostheavilyimpactedbySuperstormSandy.IfConnecticuthadmoremarshlandalongitscoast,itispossiblethatsomeofthoseimpactscouldhavebeenavoided;studiesshowthatwetlandhabitatsactasnaturalbuffersagainstwavesandpowerfulstormsurges.WithfundsfromtheConnecticutDepartmentofHousingCDBG‐DRSandyRecoveryProgram,thisprojectaimstodeterminethefeasibilityoftheprocessofutilizingdredgematerialstoconstructartificialmarshesandislandstodecreaseerosionandimprovedrainage.Creatingmarshesalongshorelinesmayincreaseanarea’sresiliencetosealevelriseandseverestorms,andhasadualbenefitofproviding public access to natural amenities and maintaining or increasing ecosystemservices.Thisprojectwillresultinafeasibilityassessment,designparameters,aregulatoryframework,andanevaluationoftheimpactofthecreationofwetlandsonthehealthandsafetyofvulnerablepopulations.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

JenniferO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences JamieVaudrey,UConnMarineSciences CraigTobias,UConnMarineSciences RebeccaFrench,UConnCIRCA

17

CarolynLin,UConnCommunications PaulaSchenck,UConnHealth

StratfordPointLivingShoreline:RestoringCoastalHabitatstoMaintainResiliencyandFunction


LivingShorelines SeaLevelRise

PrimaryFunding:U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersConnecticutIn‐LieuFeeProgramLedbyresearchersatSacredHeartUniversity,thisprojectexpandsanexistinglivingshorelineprojectatStratfordPoint,FairfieldCounty,Connecticut.On‐goingcoastalrestorationeffortsandresearchatthesiteconsistofanartificialreef,smoothcordgrass(Spartinaalterniflora)marsh,highmarsh,coastalduneanduplandwoody/grasslandmosaics.Intotal,theprojectwillprovideanadditional750feetofcoastalerosioncontrol,4.5acresofintertidalhabitat,1.5acresofcoastaldunehabitatand25acresofwoodland/meadowmix.Subsequentmonitoringwillprovideadditionalunderstandingregardingthepotentialeffectivenessoflivingshorelinesasameanstoincreasecoastalresilienceandwillinformfuturedesigns/guidelinesforConnecticutandcoastalcommunitiesinNewEngland.ResearchersSupportedonProject:

JenniferMattei,SacredHeartUniversityDepartmentofBiology

18

MatchingFundsforResearchProjectsSupportedbyUConnCIRCA

UConnCIRCAprovidesmatchingfundstoprojectsthatadvancethegoalsandmissionof

UConnCIRCAandthataresupportedbyaprimarysponsor.

PublicSupportforAdaptationtoSeaLevelRise

(anticipatedcompletiondate:January2019)UConnCIRCA‘WhatWeDo’Areas:

PolicyandPlanning

PrimaryFunding:ConnecticutSeaGrant

Thisprojectisintendedtoprovideinsightaboutthepublicvalueofgainsandlossesinbothnaturalandbuiltassetsmaintainedinthefaceofadynamic,changingcoastalenvironment.Theprojectwilldevelopandimplementasurvey,drawingonestablishedtoolsofenvironmentaleconomicstogatherknowledgeaboutfactorsaffectingthewillingnessofConnecticutcoastalresidentstosupportincentivesorprogramsthatleadcoastallandownersanddecisionmakerstoalterplansforclimateadaptationtobetterreflectthevalueofpublictrustresourcesthatmaybelostasaresultofanarrowfocusondefenseofbuiltassets.

Aspreadsheet‐basedtoolwillbecreatedthatdecision‐makingadvisorscouldusetoevaluatetherelativevalueofclimateadaptationscenariosinthecontextoflandownersinapositiontoproposeadaptationactionsusingconventionalcoastalarmoringorgreen(er)options.Theprojectwillalsocontribute:

Knowledgeregardinghowcoastalstakeholdersidentifytherelativevalueofcriticalcoastalhabitatsinthecontextoftheirdesiretosustainservicesofdevelopedland‐useswhileprotectingecosystemassetsaffectinghumanwell‐being;

Quantitativeandqualitativeevaluationofpublicprioritiesforrationaluseofcoastalandmarinespace;

Economicandsocialscience‐basedinformationtoaidcommunitiesdevelopingplansforcoastalresiliencetobebetterabletoidentifypolicyorincentivealternativesthatbalancehuman‐builtandnaturalassets;

Foundationsforpolicydecisionsthatbetteraligneconomicincentiveswithsuchpublicpriorities.

Beneficiarieswillincludepolicyandlegislativeofficials(throughouroutreachinvolvement),residentsofcoastalcommunitiesneedingtounderstandtheprioritiesof

19

theirneighbors,andconservationorganizationsattemptingtosustainecosystemservices.

ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject: StephenSwallow,AgriculturalandResourceEconomicsandCenterfor

EnvironmentalSciencesandEngineering(ProjectLead) ChristopherElphick,EcologyandEvolutionaryBiology JamesO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences EricSchultz,EcologyandEvolutionaryBiology JenniferO’Donnell,UConnMarineSciences JulianaBarrett,CTSeaGrant,Extension

HowWillSeaLevelRise‐DrivenShiftsinWetlandVegetationAlterEcosystemServices?


LivingShorelines SeaLevelRise CoastalFloodingandWaves

Primary Funding: Long Island Sound Study – CT Sea GrantThisprojectexamineshowsealevelrise(SLR)‐inducedshiftsinvegetationwillmediateecosystemserviceprovisionbyLIScoastalwetlands.Specifically,theprojectwill:1)quantifythedeliveryofecosystemservicesassociatedwithdominanttidalwetlandplantspeciesoftheLIS;2)examineimpactsofSLRandinteractions;3)forecasthowshiftsindominanttidalwetlandspecieswillalterecosystemserviceprovisionofLIScoastalwetlands;4)promoteunderstandingofthecomplexinteractionsamongSLR,coastalwetlands,andecosystemservicesamongdiverseaudiencesintheLISregion.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

BethLawrence,UConnNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironment(ProjectLead) ChristopherElphick,UConnEcologyandEvolutionaryBiology AshleyHelton,UConnNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironment

ResilientCoastalCommunitiesunderWindandFloodHazards


20

CoastalFloodingandWaves PolicyandPlanning

PrimaryFunding:ConnecticutSeaGrant

Thisprojectseekstoimprovetheresiliencyofcoastalcommunitiesbybetterunderstandingthetrade‐offsinsinglefamilyresidential(SFR)buildingdesignthatispreferredforreductionoffloodhazardexposure(viaelevation)but,simultaneously,increasingexposuretowind‐relatedhazards.BecausefloodingcausedsomuchdamageduringSandy,theadaptiveresponsehasbeentochangezoningregulationsandbuildingcodestorequire,incertainlocations,elevationofsingle‐familyhomesabovenewhigherfloodlevels.Forexample,inFairfieldwherefloodingdamagedthousandsofhomes,48single‐familyresidencesarenowelevatedwithadditionalSFRelevationsalreadyintheplanningstages.Whileelevatinghomesminimizesfloodrisk,thesenewlyelevatedhomesmaynowbeatgreaterriskfromexposuretodamagingwinds.

ComplicatingwindhazardexposuresinConnecticutandotherNewEnglandregionsareSFRbuildingdesignswhichtendtobemultiplestorieshigh(e.g.,typicalcolonial)withsteeplyslopingroofs.Thesetypicaldesignelementsexacerbatethepotentialriskfromwinddamagebecausebuildingheightandroofslopeincreasewindloads.And,whileexistingSFRhomesmustbeelevated,nowindretrofitdesignelementsarerequiredtobeinstalledduringtheelevationprocess.Thequestioncoastalcommunities’mustconsideris,doSFRelevationrequirementswithoutconsiderationofadditionalwindloadexposuremaketheircommunitymore(orless)resilient?Thisprojectaimstohelpcoastalcommunitiesanswerthisquestionbyexploringthetradeoffsbetweenfloodandwindrisks.Toevaluatethesetrade‐offs,damageassessmentmethodologiesforcoastalcommunitiesunderwindandfloodhazardswillbebuiltandappliedtoreal‐worldresidentialbuildingsinFairfieldandMilford.Deliverablesinclude:1)geographicalinformationsystems(GIS)basedcommunityresiliencymapsforwindandfloodhazards;2)mapsshowingpotentialreductionsinseparateandmulti‐hazardvulnerabilities;3)designparametersfornewandretrofitSFR,suchasrecommendedelevationheightoflowrisebuildingstoavoidfloodhazard,buildingtypeorrooftypeandslope,etc.;and4)educationalmaterialsonwind/floodhazardandrecommendationstoimprovecoastalcommunityresiliency.ResearchersandStaffSupportedonProject:

WeiZhang,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering(ProjectLead) ChristineKirchhoff,UConnCivil&EnvironmentalEngineering JulianaBarrett,CTSeaGrant,Extension

CIRCA Research Projects · National Disaster Resilience Competition pilot project activities are...

Documents

Transcript of CIRCA Research Projects · National Disaster Resilience Competition pilot project activities are...