Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

CT Section 309 Coastal Management Assessment

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Land and Water Resources Division (LWRD) is soliciting comments on the draft Assessment and Strategies for enhancing the State’s coastal management program during the 2026-2030 Enhancement Cycle.  

The Assessment and Strategies relate to nine coastal zone enhancement objectives specified in Section 309 of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1996: the protection of coastal wetlands; addressing coastal hazards; increasing opportunities for public access; reducing marine debris; assessing, considering and controlling cumulative and secondary impacts of coastal growth and development; special area management planning; planning for the use of ocean resources; facilitating the siting of energy and government facilities; and facilitating the siting of aquaculture facilities. 

The proposed Strategies are intended to enhance the State’s ability to address the highest-priority objectives within the constraints of available federal funding and project eligibility under Section 309. Written comments on the draft should be sent to: Mary-beth Hart, Supervising Environmental Analyst, Planning Section, Land and Water Resources Division, CT DEEP, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127, or by email at marybeth.hart@ct.gov

Draft Assessment and Strategies 2026-2030 Enhancement Cycle 

 

DEEP’s Land and Water Resources Division (LWRD) is pleased to announce that NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management has approved our Assessment and Strategies for enhancing the State's coastal management program during the 2021-2025 Enhancement Cycle.

Final 309 Program Assessment and Strategies Report for the 2021 to 2025 Enhancement Cycle

The Assessment and Strategies relate to nine coastal zone enhancement objectives specified in Section 309 of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1996: 

  • the protection of coastal wetlands;
  • addressing coastal hazards;
  • increasing opportunities for public access;
  • reducing marine debris;
  • assessing, considering and controlling cumulative and secondary impacts of coastal growth and development;
  • special area management planning;
  • planning for the use of ocean resources;
  • facilitating the siting of energy and government facilities; and
  • facilitating the siting of aquaculture facilities.
 
The proposed Strategies are intended to enhance the State’s ability to address the highest-priority objectives within the constraints of available federal funding and project eligibility under Section 309.

Further information on the federal Section 309 Enhancement program is available at: http://coast.noaa.gov/czm/enhancement/.




Content last updated December 19, 2025