Connecticut Land Conservation Conference

This workshop focuses on riparian (streamside) buffers, and is a collaboration between the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), the CT River Gateway Commission, and the Rivers Alliance of CT. After a brief review of the value and functions of riparian areas, we will describe the statewide status of riparian zones as indicated by analysis of high resolution land cover data, and assess the health of the state’s small watersheds as indicated by CLEAR’s new Local Watershed Assessment Tool. We will then switch gears to protection and regulation strategies, first reviewing recent analyses of zoning regulations, statewide. An in-depth case study of the Gateway Zone and its challenges and strategies regarding riparian zones will follow. Finally, we will give an update on statewide legislative initiatives focused on riparian protection. Ample time will be reserved for discussion. The workshop is suitable for a broad audience including land trusts, conservation commissions, and land use professionals, providing actionable insights for enhancing watershed health through regulation and community education.