4 Shore Coastal Resiliency Plan

The four coastal communities of Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, and Fenwick are working together to develop a regional Coastal Resiliency Plan and are committed to making this a community-based effort. A new website focused on this effort was just launched, and the public is invited and encouraged to visit www.4ShoreResiliency.com to learn more about the project, submit feedback, stay informed about upcoming events, and use an interactive map to identify community assets and show how flooding and erosion have impacted the local community.

Located along the northern coastline of the Long Island Sound and near the mouth of the Connecticut River, the Towns of Clinton, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook and the Borough of Fenwick are highly vulnerable to the risks associated with climate change. These four communities recognized the need for a resiliency plan to guide future planning and decision-making in the face of rising sea levels and more frequent and intense coastal storms. The municipalities decided to take a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional approach, and in 2022, they applied for and were subsequently awarded a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Long Island Sound Futures Fund for the development of a regional coastal resiliency plan.

A local Executive Committee comprised of representatives from Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, and Fenwick has been formed to guide and oversee the development of the regional Resiliency Plan, and a team of consultants (Colliers Engineering & Design and Anchor QEA) were recently hired to draft the Plan and provide technical expertise throughout the planning process. When complete, the Four Shore Coastal Resiliency Plan will include a comprehensive assessment of risks associated with sea level rise and future storm events, a shared vision for the future, and recommended strategies and projects to ensure the long-term sustainability and well-being of the local community and the surrounding region.

The multi-jurisdictional approach to this project will enable the communities to traverse barriers through collaborative exchanges between participants/stakeholders and identify solutions that may have a broader benefit to the communities than smaller-scale projects pursued by individual property owners. The proposed resilience and adaptation solutions will be developed in direct response to local conditions and community needs, with the goal of being transferable amongst the participating communities and potentially other communities in the region and state.

One of the first steps in the planning process is to collaboratively identify community assets and local coastal issues (e.g., flooding, erosion) with the municipalities and the public to understand what may be at risk due to climate change and rising sea levels. There are several opportunities for the public to provide input, and we invite residents and stakeholders to:

Attend one or more of the following pop-up events to meet the project team, learn about the project, help identify assets important to your community, and share your insights on coastal issues. Please stop by at your convenience during the following timeframes:

• August 19th at the Westbrook Town Beach on Seaside Avenue from 9AM – 1PM - Completed
• August 26th at the Clinton Summerfest at 54 E. Main Street, Clinton from 4PM-8PM (rain date August 27th)
• September 30th at the Arts + Crafts Festival at 302 Main Street, Old Saybrook from 12PM-4PM

Attend one of the following community workshops to listen to a presentation about the project and participate in a group activity to identify community assets, local flooding and erosion issues, and opportunities to prepare for and reduce the risk of future flooding.

• In-person workshop on September 13th from 6:30PM-8PM at the Westbrook Town Hall Multi-Purpose Room, 866 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook
• Virtual workshop on September 26th from 6:30PM-8PM (Zoom link to be posted on project website)
• In-person workshop on October 10th from 6:30PM-8PM in Old Saybrook (Old Saybrook Middle School)

As the planning process continues, additional opportunities for public participation will be announced and posted at www.4ShoreResiliency.com

For more information about this project, please contact:
Marilyn Ozols, Land Use Administrator in the Borough of Fenwick, at zeo@fenwicknews.com
Peter Gillespie, Westbrook Town Planner, at pgillespie@westbrookct.us
Abby Piersall, Clinton Town Planner, at apiersall@clintonct.org
Chris Costa, Old Saybrook Town Planner, at chris.costa@oldsaybrookct.gov