Indicator Type	Information	Status
Beach Access	9	6
Water Quality	9	5
Beach Erosion	5	-
Erosion Response	-	5
Beach Fill	5	-
Shoreline Structures	5	5
Beach Ecology	5	-
Surfing Areas	-	-
Website	6	-
Coastal Development	{{{19}}}	{{{20}}}
Sea Level Rise	{{{21}}}	{{{22}}}

Description

Connecticut has no "open ocean" coastline, since the coastline lies within the protected Long Island Sound. The state's coast supports diverse industries, including tourism, marine commerce, commercial fisheries and defense-related manufacturing.

Fact 1: 1,065 miles of shoreline affected by saline water. See beach access section of the report for details.
Fact 2: 88 miles (8%) of the total 1,065 miles of shoreline is sandy beach.
Fact 3: Coastal Population (2000): 2,219,037
Fact 4: 62% of the state's population lives within coastal counties^[1]

Contact Info for the Lead Coastal Zone Management Agency

Director - Brian Thompson
Office of Long Island Sound Programs
Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Phone: 860-424-3034

Coastal Zone Management Program

Connecticut's coastal management program addresses water quality issues, runoff pollution, habitat protection and restoration, public access to the coast, and the use of public lands and waters. The state manages its coastal resources by applying coastal policies to land uses, by overseeing activity in fishery habitats and coastal waters, and by working to ensure consistency between local, state, and federal actions. The state's coast supports diverse industries, including tourism, marine commerce, commercial fisheries and defense-related manufacturing.

NOAA's latest evaluation of Connecticut's Coastal Management Program can be found here.

Footnotes

↑ Bernd-Cohen, T. and M. Gordon. "State Coastal Program Effectiveness in Protecting Natural Beaches, Dunes, Bluffs, and Rock Shores." Coastal Management 27:187-217. 1999.

State of the Beach Report: Connecticut