Downtown Mystic Resiliency & Sustainability Plan

January 24, 2024

Downtown Mystic Resiliency & Sustainability Plan

Downtown Mystic is one of the quintessential historical and cultural resources of New England. Unfortunately, much of the Downtown Mystic area is low-lying and prone to flooding. The risk of flooding is likely to increase in the future due to impacts from the changing climate, including sea level rise.

In response to the current and potential future flooding risks, the Town of Groton is developing a Resiliency and Sustainability Plan for the Downtown Mystic area within Town limits. The area to be covered by the plan is shown above outlined in red. The Town hired GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. to help with plan development. GZA, with significant support from Town staff, will conduct a full vulnerability assessment of the study area. They will then develop and prioritize action items that will help decrease flood risk and protect natural and built resources, both of which will help support the local economy. Recommendations will also be developed to help Downtown Mystic homeowners and local business owners increase the resilience of their properties.

Recent Media Coverage

Plan hopes to limit flooding in downtown Mystic

by: Tina Detelj
Posted: Jan 8, 2024 / 05:15 PM EST
Updated: Jan 9, 2024 / 05:56 AM EST

MYSTIC, Conn. (WTNH) — Heavy rains and high winds are expected to cause flooding early Wednesday morning in downtown Mystic.

View Channel 8 Story

Mystic works on solutions to deal with flooding

by: Luke Hajdasz
Updated: Jan. 8, 2024 at 7:00 PM EST

View Channel 3 story

CIRCA Mentioned in UConn Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s 2023 Year End Review

December 21, 2023

Dear Colleague:

I’m delighted to share with you our year in review, UConn Research 2023.

You, our OVPR professionals, are behind each of the stories highlighted here. Each one of you, whether you work in preaward or postaward, compliance or animal care, communications, research development, technology commercialization, or any other area of our operations, contributes to making the achievements outlined in this report possible. You are essential to our success. Without you, none of these achievements would be possible.

Thank you for making the UConn Research enterprise strong.

Pamir

Pamir Alpay
Vice President for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UConn | UConn Health

Resilient Connecticut Summit December 1, 2023

August 16, 2023

Save the Date

2023 CIRCA Summit: A Climate Resilience Roadmap for Connecticut

Resilient Connecticut Summit
Friday, December 1, 2023

UConn School of Law
Starr Reading Room
55 Elizabeth St, Hartford, CT 06105

Details and agenda to follow

Join the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation for a one day conference at UConn School of Law in Hartford on Dec. 1, 2023 to learn about the Resilient Connecticut program, updates on projects including the Environmental Justice Mapping Tool and the Resilience Roadmap policy recommendations for Connecticut. The conference will feature panel discussions with state and nationally known experts in climate resilience focusing on topics including the interdisciplinary nature of climate challenges, need for economic and workforce development, and focus on equity in advancing climate solutions.

Funding for this project is provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Block Grant National Disaster Recovery Program, as administered by the State of Connecticut’s Department of Housing. The Summit is being planned in partnership with UConn School of Law CEEL.

Sustainable CT: Planning for Extreme Heat – How to Use CIRCA’s Climate Change Vulnerability Index Webinar

July 5, 2023

JULY 13, 2023 – 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) developed the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) to represent a community’s vulnerabilities to two of the most pressing climate change-driven threats in Connecticut – flooding and extreme heat events. The CCVI aggregates three categories (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) to calculate relative vulnerabilities across Connecticut. This webinar will focus on the extreme heat CCVI mapping tool and describe potential uses of the tool for local and regional planning, selection of climate adaptation and resilience projects that address extreme heat, and how zoning regulations provide a change to land use policy for heat adaptation.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.

CIRCA Hiring Postdoctoral Research Associate – Climatologist

June 12, 2023

Search #: 495935
Work type: Full-time
Location: Avery Point Campus
Categories: Postdoctoral Research Associates

JOB SUMMARY

The University of Connecticut (UConn) seeks applicants for the position of Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) at the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) to provide support for activities associated with the development of the Resilient Connecticut project. CIRCA is a multi‐disciplinary center that coordinates applied research and engagement programs to develop and advance practical solutions to problems caused by changing climate. The PDRA will conduct the analysis of data and model results required to understand the current and future threats of heat stress and precipitation changes in Connecticut. There will also be opportunities to collaborate on other projects supervised by the Assistant Director of Research. The results of the work will be communicated to the general public and State leadership in addition to the scientific community.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop, test, and simulate climate data downscaling prediction, and evaluation.
Quantify extreme storm-tide levels along the Long Island Sound with higher spatial resolution.
Quantify long term climatic trends and project changes in the storm tide extremes along the Connecticut shorelines taking into account the mean sea-level rise.
Critically analyze results and prepare reports and publications.
Prepare journal articles.
Participate in workshops and meetings for municipalities and regional councils of government on climate resilience and adaptation.
May participate in the planning, development, and implementation of grant proposals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Ph.D. in meteorology, climatology, marine science, physics, or a closely related field.
Experience with computing technology (e.g., Matlab, Python) and data management.
Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
Experience working in High Performance Computers.
Experience with real-time measuring instruments and satellite imagery.
Ability to perform statistical analyses.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to work effectively with a team of collaborators.
Ability to travel throughout the State of Connecticut and New England region, conduct fieldwork, and participate in occasional evening and weekend meetings.
Available to start work at Avery Point, Groton, CT within one month of the offer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

A record of peer-reviewed publications.
Background in physical oceanography, geodesy, and climate projections.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal. Salary and benefits are competitive and will be commensurate with experience. The successful candidate’s academic position would start as soon as possible at the Avery Point campus in Groton, CT.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #495935 to upload a CV, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on June 26, 2023.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.

Advertised: Jun 02 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Jun 26 2023 Eastern Daylight Time

NEW Conservation Commission Fact Sheet

May 30, 2023

Connecticut town commissions and boards can play a pivotal role in building climate change resilience into local decision making. Conservation Commissions have the authority to advise land use boards and can play a role in increasing climate resiliency by advocating for nature-based solutions for problems like flooding, excessive heat, erosion, shoreline stabilization or poor water quality. Learn more about the role and authority of Conservation Commissions and how natural resource conservation can help build climate resilience in CIRCA’s new Factsheet “Conservation Commissions and Natural Resource Resilience.”

Conservation Commission Fact Sheet

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CIRCA Hiring UConn Undergraduate Student Intern

May 24, 2023

Attention current UConn students!

Paid Internship – Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), located at the Avery Point campus of the University of Connecticut in Groton, CT is looking for a paid intern (Class IV – Advanced Level Position – 400UST) to work between 10-15 hours per week with the Institute’s staff.

JobX Job ID # 13955

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate student within the UConn system
Have the ability to travel to UConn Avery Point’s campus 2 days per week
Be flexible to travel within the state periodically
Good proficiency in Microsoft office tools
Strong writing and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Have a basic knowledge of ArcGIS or ArcPRO or the ability to learn
Field work experience or not having any restrictions to go to the field to work in various towns in Connecticut
Previous experience working in an office environment
Demonstrated coursework or experience in environmental science, policy, engineering or communications are a plus

Tasks include:

Research and review variety of the documents to prepare a synthesis report
Work with CIRCA staff on basic GIS projects
Prepare and organize CIRCA equipment inventory
Prepare equipment for field work and assist in deployments
Prepare webpages related to the CIRCA projects and data
Assist with administrative tasks
Other duties as assigned

Hourly wage is $17.40 per hour. The position will begin as soon as possible and end on August 31^st, 2023.

How to apply: Please send a one-page resume and the names and contact information for two references to Lauren Yaworsky at lauren.yaworsky@uconn.edu no later than June 2, 2023. Qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. Phone interviews will be scheduled in June.

Why work for CIRCA

CIRCA’s mission is to increase the resilience and sustainability of vulnerable communities along Connecticut’s coast and inland waterways to the growing impacts of climate change on the natural, built, and human environment.

The intern will have the opportunity to work with CIRCA’s Community Resilience Planners and the Assistant Director of Research. The intern will learn how climate adaptation science, engineering and policy are being applied in Connecticut.

Municipal Energy Resilience Webinar Series

May 1, 2023

Learn about municipal energy vulnerabilities, funding and incentive programs through the Inflation Reduction Act, CT state programs for microgrids and energy efficiency, solar and battery systems, fuel cells and more.

Hosted by Kirt Mayland, Energy Legal Fellow, UConn CIRCA

Join CIRCA in June for a two-part webinar series on Municipal Energy Resilience. How can towns take positive steps to increase energy resilience locally? Learn how the Inflation Reduction Act and state programs have incentives for communities to assist in funding renewable energy projects, and what criteria municipalities should consider when developing municipal projects.

On day one, our panel of experts will talk about assessing municipal energy resilience, programs available at the federal and state level for energy infrastructure, and steps towns can take.

Day two will involve municipal case studies and be an opportunity for discussion and questions.

2023 Policy Guide to Local Energy Resilience for Connecticut

June 7: Introduction to Municipal Energy Resilience Panel

June 14: Case Study, Round Table Discussion and Q & A

CIRCA Hiring for 3 Climate Research Jobs

February 14, 2023

Join CIRCA’s research team! Apply before March 26, 2023.

More info and apply here: s.uconn.edu/circajobs

497242 Research Associate 1 – Physical Oceanography, Coastal Engineering
The appointee will work in the research team supervised by the Assistant Director of Research, on projects that include the prediction of flooding in coastal areas, wave runup and coastal erosion, sea level change, and coastal subsidence, and the effectiveness of living shorelines. The RA will participate in the development, testing, and application of numerical models, and the design, execution, and data analysis of observation programs to evaluate models than the effectiveness of interventions.

495222 Postdoctoral Research Associate – Physical Oceanography, Coastal Engineering
The University of Connecticut (UConn) seeks applicants for the position of Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) to develop, test and apply numerical models of circulation in complicated coastal areas to determine levels and patterns of flood risk for activities associated with the development of Resilient Connecticut project.

495935 Postdoctoral Research Associate Climatologist
The PDRA will conduct the analysis of data and model results required to understand the current and future threats of heat stress and precipitation changes in Connecticut. There will also be opportunities to collaborate on other projects supervised by the Assistant Director of Research. The results of the work will be communicated to the general public and State leadership in addition to the scientific community.

CIRCA Receives Awards in 2022

January 6, 2023

2022 was an exciting year for several CIRCA projects. Most recently, our Institute’s Norwalk heat study made the CT Mirror’s “BEST OF 2022” stories for the article, How heat affects health: An overlooked outcome of climate change. Additionally, we were honored to receive two awards:

Each year the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association invites nominations for its annual Planning Awards to showcase outstanding projects, people and places. CIRCA received the “Best Statewide Planning Program Award” for our Resilient Connecticut project, a regional resilience planning and assessment project which is resulting in concept designs for adaptation projects in seven municipalities. Learn more about the award HERE.

© Photo by Mara Lavitt
December 8, 2022
The Connecticut Green Building Awards held at the Stony Creek Brewery, Branford, CT.

CIRCA was part of a multi-organization team as winner of the Connecticut Green Building Council’s 2022 Resilience Award of Honor for the Hepburn Family Preserve Living Shoreline project. Honored along with CIRCA for the shoreline resiliency project in the Borough of Fenwick were the Lynde Point Land Trust, SumCo Eco-Contracting, LLC, the Connecticut River Conservancy and GZA consultants. GZA designed the project and applied for the award on behalf of the team of clients, funders and the contractor. See a GZA press release to learn more about this award.