A Salt Marsh Advancement Zone Assessment of Old Lyme, Connecticut
This report presents a salt marsh advancement assessment for Old Lyme Connecticut using The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience Program. It identifies areas where marsh migration may occur due to sea level rise and evaluates natural infrastructure to support risk reduction, land use planning, and community resilience.
Subject Tags
- Climate resilience
- Coastal
- Climate adaptation
Introduction
This report presents a salt marsh advancement assessment for Old Lyme Connecticut developed through The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience Program. Established in 2006, the program provides tools and locally relevant flooding scenarios to evaluate sea level rise and storm surge impacts. The study identifies where salt marsh habitats are likely to migrate inland, examines current land use, and highlights areas critical for long term conservation. It emphasizes the importance of natural infrastructure such as wetlands, floodplains, and forests in reducing risk, supporting biodiversity, and providing economic and social benefits. The findings support planners and communities in integrating climate adaptation, land use policy, and resilience strategies to protect natural resources and improve community resilience.
Citation
Ryan, A. and A. W. Whelchel. 2015. A Salt Marsh Advancement Zone Assessment of Old Lyme, Connecticut. The Nature Conservancy, Coastal Resilience Program. Publication Series #1-U, New Haven, Connecticut.