Resilient Connecticut Planning Phases | Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) Resilient CT

Resilient Connecticut Planning Framework - Phase I

During Phase I of the project, the CIRCA team engaged a broad range of stakeholders on the development of a Resilient Connecticut Planning Framework. This Framework will guide the plans, projects, and research activities initiated during Phases II and III and will build on the range of ongoing climate adaptation activities occurring in the state. The Framework will connect science-based risk assessment with innovative design strategies and apply them to practical planning practices. The RCPF will introduce a variety of applied tools and methodologies intended to influence Connecticut's resilience planning moving forward, focusing on five themes.

Phase II commenced in mid-2020 and concluded in December 2021. The central component of Phase II is a regional risk and vulnerability assessment for all 51 municipalities in New Haven and Fairfield Counties coupled with identification of “zones of shared risk” in the 33 municipalities of New Haven and Fairfield Counties that have potential for Transit Oriented Development. The analysis and draft products were informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, which is described in the Phase II Engagement Report.

As part of Phase II's regional vulnerability assessment, 63 Resilience Opportunity Areas (ROARs) were identified and mapped to illustrate the intersection of climate induced flooding and heat risks with vulnerable populations and key regional assets. Assets include affordable housing, transportation assets, critical infrastructure, and valuable ecological systems along with other assets that impact the long-term resilience and potential of the region.

Visit the Story Map page to learn more specifically about the top 20 ROARs identified in the two counties. These 20 ROARs were chosen based on the vulnerability assessments as well as ongoing engagement with stakeholders to incorporate municipal and regional goals.

A final report is also available summarizing Phase II work and the process for identifying and refining these ROARs, which will be further explored in Phase III of the project. Other results of Phase II are captured on a page of Climate Change Vulnerability Index or "CCVI" products page with links to map viewers, ESRI Story Maps, workshops, webinars, and fact sheets.

If download of the compiled Phase II report is too big, here are the individual files:
Report Narrative
Appendix A_Engagement Report
Appendix B: Planning Review
Appendix C: 20 ROAR Portfolio
Appendix D: Hazard Mitigation Plan Actions

Phase III of Resilient Connecticut will develop location specific projects that build on Phase II Resilience Opportunity Areas (ROARS) with detailed analysis for implementation. Consultant teams are developing scientifically informed adaptation strategies and scoping the engineering and infrastructure components to 30% conceptual design for the seven projects below. For each project, feasibility and implementation strategies will be evaluated including historic and environmental permitting considerations, as well as a cost estimates, funding pathways, and coordination and alignment with Federal and State climate resilience programs.

	Ansonia: The resilient Ansonia project focuses on adapting to current and future climate induced flooding impacts in the downtown area and mitigating extreme heat impacts for residents. Ansonia Project Description Descripción del Proyecto Ansonia Ansonia Resilience Opportunity Map Portfolio Ansonia Meetings and Documents
	Branford: This project will address flooding from the Branford River, which occurs when the river (a tidally-influenced estuary) overtops its banks and water flows through an underpass serving a one-way street off Indian Neck Road at the railroad grade. Branford Project Description Descripción del Proyecto Branford Branford Resilience Opportunity Map Portfolio Branford Meetings and Documents
	Danbury: In addition to critical roadways and egress routes impacted by flooding, this project will assess future conditions and adaptation alternatives to mitigate flood and heat risks for critical facilities along Main Street, existing affordable housing complexes such as Danbury Commons, and private properties and future development. Danbury Project Description Descripción del Proyecto Danbury Danbury Resilience Opportunity Map Portfolio Danbury Meetings and Documents
	Fair Haven: This project focuses on developing adaptation strategies to mitigate current and future climate induced flooding impacts to community assets and transportation corridors, as well as developing strategies to help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat for vulnerable community residents. Fair Haven Project Description Descripción del Proyecto Fair Haven Fair Haven Resilience Opportunity Map Portfolio Fair Haven Meetings and Documents
	Fairfield: This project focuses on adapting to current and future climate induced flooding impacts to downtown Fairfield transportation routes where flood risk from storm surge and tidal flooding, extreme precipitation, and riverine flooding occurring simultaneously would present significant public safety challenges to residents, hinder the use of transit, and impair numerous small businesses. Fairfield Project Description Descripción del Proyecto Fairfield Fairfield Resilience Oppportunity Area Map Portfolio Fairfield Meetings and Documents
	South Norwalk: This project focuses on mitigating the impacts of current and future climate induced flooding that impede access to lifelines and evauation routes from key neighborhoods and community assets as well as to help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat for the community. South Norwalk Project Description Descripción del Proyecto South Norwalk South Norwalk Resilience Opportunity Area Map Portfolio South Norwalk Meetings and Documents
	Stratford South End: This planning effort will: 1) focus on detailed review of the proposed South End and Employment Growth District's flood mitigation strategies from Stratford’s community resilience plan; 2) provide an assessment of ongoing implementation challenges; and 3) recommend updated or alternative strategies that can be developed as implementable projects to maximize the town’s resilience goals. Stratford South End Project Description Descripción del Proyecto Stratford Stratford South End Resilience Opportunity Area Map Portfolio Stratford South End Meetings and Documents