Presenter: 
Steven Trinkaus
PE, CPESC, CPSWQ,
Trinkaus Engineering, LLC                         
Southbury, Connecticut 06488

Title: Using environmental site design strategies to create a residential subdivision

An often overlook part of Low Impact Development is the application of Environmental Site Design (ESD) procedures in the design process. This workshop will discuss the design processes used to create a single family subdivision utilizing ESD strategies and then allow for participants to create concept plans for a residential subdivision for an actual site. ESD is a development strategy which turns conventional design upside down. In the current paradigm of land development, the zoning and road regulations are king. This philosophy results in massive changes to the landscape in order to conform to the regulations. ESD is a completely different philosophy. In ESD, environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands, vernal pools, watercourses, landmark trees, unusual ecological areas, and steep slopes are evaluated early in the design process. The soils on a site are evaluated for their infiltrative capacity. Highly infiltrative soils are protected from development. A base map is compiled to show all the above features. After an evaluation of the significance of these is done, a developable area is defined on the site. After a review of the applicable regulations, site walks are taken to assess the development potential for single family lots. The hydrologic conditions on the site are then evaluated. Can existing drainage patterns and flow paths be maintained? How will storm water be handled? Can the pre-development hydrology be achieved for post-development conditions? After participants have created their plans, they will be discussed along with the actual design for the site.

Presenter:       
James Hurd

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment,

Center for Land Use

Education and Research, University of Connecticut

NRE, 1376 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT 06269

Co-Authors:
Emily Wilson and Chet Arnold

Department of Extension
Center for Land Use Education and Research

University of Connecticut

Title: Connecticut's Changing Landscape Version 2: A User's Guide

 The University of Connecticut's Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) has recently released the results of the next version of its Connecticut's Changing Landscape project, which now maps land cover changes for Connecticut over a 21-year period, from 1985 to 2006.

The project, which has become a much-used resource for many communities, organizations and researchers, uses satellite-based remote sensing data to characterize land cover at certain points in time, and land cover changes over time. Version 2 updates the study to 2006, with data for each of the five study years (1985, 1990, 1995, 2002 and 2006) and landscape change over the entire 21-year period.  Version 2 also includes previously unavailable information on agricultural fields, as well as other improvements that increase the overall accuracy of the data.  This workshop will include: (1) a description of the creation of Version 2 and the differences with Version 1; (2) an overview of the land cover and land cover change data, including a discussion of caveats and appropriate uses; (3) a guided tour of the newly revised CCL website; (4) a preview of upcoming CCL derivative models on forest fragmentation and urban growth, and (5) an interactive discussion with the audience on potential uses of CCL data for natural resource management and research.