MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 3:30 P.m.
Pasbeshauke Pavilion at Saybrook Point Park
155 College Street Extension, Old Saybrook
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman L. Ritzhaupt called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Larry Ritzhaupt
Janice Holland
Michael Momparler
Robert Yust
Jerry Brophy
Tom Gezo
Doug McCracken
Land Use Department Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
Steven Mongillo, Water Pollution Control Authority
Robbie Marshall, Water Pollution Control Authority
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
Three members of the public were present.
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee’s Regular Meeting of August 14, 2014 as presented.; MADE by D. McCracken; SECONDED by M. Momparler; VOTED IN FAVOR: L. Ritzhaupt, J. Brophy, J. Holland, T. Gezo, R. Yust, D. McCracken, M. Momparler; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 7-0-0.
- Correspondence & Announcements
- Timeline
IV. GUEST PRESENTATION
A. James O’Donnell, Executive Director of CIRCA
Coastal Institute of Resilience & Climate Adaptation, UConn Avery Point
L. Ritzhaupt introduced J. O’Donnell and discussed his professional background. Attending the meeting with J. O’Donnell were Rebecca French who is Director of Community Engagement for CIRCA and Jessica Leclaire who works with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in the Office of Climate Change and Research.
J. O’Donnell talked about CIRCA and explained that it is a collaborative relationship between DEEP and UConn. He explained that the topic areas of CIRCA are environment, climate & coasts, energy and infrastructure and policy design and analysis.
He focused on sea level rise and communities. It is likely that there will be changes in the intensity of future rainfall events due to sea level rise. CIRCA helps towns develop better policies that will take seal level rise and climate change into account.
All coastal towns in CT are attempting to find the proper balance between protecting infrastructure, the economy and the environment while preparing for sea level rise and climate adaptation change.
CIRCA is working on mapping coastal wave statistics, and making sure structural solutions will work in the future based on computer model predictions. They’re focusing on understanding characteristics of the coastline including retreat rates. CIRCA is collecting data to assess the vulnerability of different infrastructures such as sewer treatment plants.
J. O’Donnell explained the effects of sea level rise that effect storm surge and flooding. Storm surges combine with the tides to cause flooding. He showed charts illustrating the sea level rise without the tides factored in and the heights of the storm surges. The vulnerability from east to west in Long Island Sound can vary greatly due to wind direction and the resultant storm surge. The eastern part of Long Island Sound is more vulnerable than the western part. This is based on data and observations. There is variability due to season with winter storms lasting longer over the water than summer storms.
J. O’Donnell emphasized that what will happen for sure is that there will be an increase in the frequency of flooding with more flooding in the Eastern Sound than the Western Sound due to the consequences of sea level rise on winter return intervals. The western part of Long Island Sound is more prepared for the bigger storm surges than the eastern part of Long Island Sound.
L. Ritzhaupt asked J. O’Donnell what the impact of sea level rise would be to Old Saybrook in 20 years and 50 years. He said Old Saybrook is very vulnerable to hurricanes. CIRCA will be writing a document to address this issue and to give more definite numbers.
V. STUDY & REPORT
- Study – Connecticut Resources
- Inventory – Where Are We?
- Analysis – Where Are We Going?
- Plan – How Do We Get There?
VI. OUTREACH & EDUCATION
- Building a Level of Familiarity in Old Saybrook
- Measuring Community Values in Old Saybrook
VII. MEETING SUMMARY
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 3:30 p.m., Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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