A Salt Marsh Advancement Zone Assessment of Branford, Connecticut
This report evaluates salt marsh advancement zones in Branford, Connecticut, using The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Resilience Program. It supports decision-making by mapping sea-level rise and flooding impacts, highlighting natural infrastructure benefits, and guiding planning to reduce hazard risks and strengthen long-term community resilience.
Subject Tags
- Climate resilience
- Climate adaptation
- Conservation Planning
Introduction
This report presents a salt marsh advancement zone assessment for Branford, Connecticut, developed through The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Resilience Program, established in 2006. It provides decision-makers with locally relevant tools to examine sea-level rise and storm surge scenarios, analyze ecological, social, and economic impacts, and identify strategies to reduce risk. The report emphasizes the importance of natural infrastructure, including wetlands, forests, dunes, and floodplains, in protecting communities from flooding and climate change. It highlights how these systems deliver critical benefits such as wave attenuation, water storage, erosion control, and improved water quality. Focusing on the upslope migration of salt marsh due to rising sea levels, the assessment identifies priority areas for conservation and planning. It supports community-based approaches to maintain and restore natural resources, inform land use policies, and improve long-term resilience and sustainability across coastal Connecticut.
Suggested Citation
Ryan, A. and A. W. Whelchel. 2014. A Salt Marsh Advancement Zone Assessment of Branford, Connecticut. The Nature Conservancy, Coastal Resilience Program. Publication Series #1-E, New Haven, Connecticut.