February 2026

The Resilience Roundup highlights announcements and events along with links to the previous month's state, regional, and national resilience news. 

Learn more about CIRCA at circa.uconn.edu

and the Resilient Connecticut Project at resilientconnecticut.uconn.edu

Thatchbed Island Erosion and Mitigation Options Study Project, Essex, CT

CIRCA has completed the Thatchbed Island Erosion & Restoration Study in Essex, CT. Using shoreline-change analysis, field measurements, and a high-resolution Delft3D model, CIRCA evaluated protective layouts that can reduce erosion and promote sediment accretion at the island’s southeast tail. Findings show that a continuous, low-crested, shore-parallel barrier—implemented as geotextile tubes—can lower bed shear and retain sediment, with success dependent on crest control and maintenance. To read more about the project, visit Thatchbed Island Erosion and Mitigation Options Study Project, Essex, CT | Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA).

CIRCA Researchers Publish a Paper on Climate Adaptation in Connecticut

CIRCA researchers have published a new article titled "Evaluation of high-resolution downscaled CMIP6 projections for adaptation to climate extremes in Connecticut." The paper highlights how climate information frequently lacks sufficient detail and accuracy to be actionable at local scales, posing a challenge to the prioritization of limited resources. Through this research, several downscaled CMIP6 projections were evaluated across the state of Connecticut to assess their suitability for local planning. Reliability was assessed via statistical comparison to observations from around the state for overlapping periods from 1980 to 2024. Read the complete article here: Evaluation of high-resolution downscaled CMIP6 projections for adaptation to climate extremes in Connecticut - ScienceDirect.

Recent CIRCA Staff Presentations

It has been a busy month at CIRCA with staff delivering presentations at several events.

• John Truscinski and Jim O’Donnell presented at the Moving Beyond Implications: Research Into Policy Conference on January 15th. 
• Jim O’Donnell presented at Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) on January 21^st
• John Truscinski and Mary Buchanan presented at the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference on January 27th.

Announcements

Connecticut's Climate Progress Draft Report is

Now Available for Public Comment

The state of Connecticut has set several climate-related goals. DEEP tracks progress toward meeting these goals and has published a number of reports on the progress made in reducing statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over specific years. 

Governor Lamont Acts To Protect Connecticut Farmland and Open Space From Rising Tax Assessments

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is taking immediate action to prevent dramatic increases in property tax assessments on Connecticut farmland, forestland, open space, and maritime heritage land that could force the conversion of these lands to more intensive uses. In a letter transmitted today to Office of Policy and Management (OPM) Interim Secretary Joshua Wojcik, the governor is directing OPM to reinstate the 2020 recommended land use values under PA 490, effective immediately. “Family farms are vital to Connecticut’s economy and are an essential part of our heritage,” Governor Lamont said. “Preserving Connecticut’s farmland and open spaces is critical to maintaining a reliable source of food and farm products, conserving our natural resources, and promoting the welfare and happiness of our residents. Our work to address concerns around rising land use values demonstrates our understanding of the challenges farmers face. Preserving these lands is about more than economics; it’s about sustaining a way of life that defines Connecticut, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the farming community to keep Connecticut agriculture strong.”

Grants

USDA: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants

 in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island

Application Deadline: Rolling

This program supports rural communities, nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island that need help preparing for or recovering from an emergency that threatens safe, reliable drinking water. Eligible areas are rural towns with populations of 10,000 or less, tribal lands in rural areas, or colonias with household incomes below the state’s non-metro median. Funding may be used for waterline repairs, new wells, treatment plants, or other improvements to restore or secure water supplies. Applications are accepted year-round through your local USDA Rural Development office or online.

U.S. DOT: Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage

Development (BUILD) Grant Program

Application Deadline: February 24, 2026

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. The eligibility requirements of BUILD allow project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs. 

Climate Smart Communities Initiative

Application Deadline: March 12, 2026

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 CSCI grant opportunity for US-based climate resilience projects. CSCI awards provide funding and technical assistance to advance community-based climate resilience in US communities or regions that are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The total grants budget is $1.5-2 million, and grants typically range from $75,000 to $115,000 based on the scope of work proposed in the application. CSCI anticipates awarding between 16-20 grants for the 2026 cycle.

Long Island Sound Partnership: Pre-Proposals 2027-28 Long Island Sound Research

Application Deadline: March 19, 2026

Connecticut Sea Grant (CTSG) and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) announce the Long Island Sound (LIS) Partnership extramural research program. The intent of this program is to fund research that will support the science-based management of Long Island Sound (LIS) and its resources, and support implementation of the LIS Partnership Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The LIS Partnership is a regional, community-based partnership to protect and restore LIS. Information about the Partnership can be found at lispartnership.org/. 

DECD: Brownfield Remediation and Development Funding

Application Deadline: March 25, 2026

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development (OBRD) announced multiple funding availability notices of the Brownfields Program. OBRD is a one-stop resource for brownfield redevelopment in Connecticut, providing financial and technical assistance to municipalities and economic development agencies as well as brownfield owners and potential developers.  The mission of OBRD is to return brownfield sites across the state to productive re-use, including mixed-use, residential, commercial, industrial, retail and open space uses.

Long Island Sound Partnership: Grant Writing Assistance and Planning Support Available in New Round of Funding

Application Deadline: Rolling

The Long Island Sound Partnership sustainable and resilient communities extension professionals have established two assistance programs–the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program and the Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program. As of October 1st, 2024 a third round of the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Support Program is available for municipalities and community organizations. The Program assists New York and Connecticut communities within the Long Island Sound coastal boundary to hire a grant writing consultant to develop successful sustainability and resilience-focused project grant proposals and increase capacity within municipalities and community organizations to navigate the funding landscape. Up to $9,950 in funding is available per application and match is not required! The Program is open on a rolling basis until all the available funding has been allocated.

WestportREADS: The Real Impact of Climate Change

on Connecticut Shores

February 12, 2026 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Speaker: James O’Donnell, UConn Professor of Marine Sciences &

Executive Director of CIRCA

Location: The Trefz Forum, The Westport Library 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880

In this year's WestportREADS selection, All the Water In the World by Eiren Caffall, much of Manhattan is under water due to melting glaciers. Before real life follows fiction, there are ways we can reduce the chances of warming trends. Expanding on this concept is Executive Director of CIRCA (the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation) James O'Donnell, who will be at the library to share facts about the effects of climate change on the water levels of the Connecticut shoreline and Long Island Sound.

LISCIF’s Connecticut State-Wide Learning Exchange

February 24, 2026 9:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) is excited to announce the first Connecticut State-Wide Learning Exchange. The theme for this Learning Exchange will focus on People of the Sound, focusing on needs, environmental impacts, and access for communities along the Long Island Sound estuary. We will collaborate with Tribal groups, organizations, institutions, and community members to identify resources and provide opportunities for capacity building. More information to come with a detailed agenda! This event is free and open to the public. Please register to indicate dietary, interpretation, and childcare needs.

US Geological Survey: Compound Flood Hazard Mapper Workshop - Western CT

February 27, 2026 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point | 1 Milford Point Rd, Milford, CT 06460

Join the Long Island Sound Partnership, Connecticut and New York Sea Grants, and the U.S. Geological Survey to learn about the new Compound Flood Hazard Assessment Mapper. During this two-hour, in-person workshop, you’ll hear about the hazards to your community of compound flooding and how to utilize this new online tool in everyday decision-making. The workshop will also include a walk-through of a scenario, with time to explore, ask questions, and provide feedback at the end. This session is geared towards municipal/COG staff, planners, engineers, local decision-makers, and other impacted stakeholders.

Blue Economy Educational Resources

February 28, 2026 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Project Oceanology - 1084 Shennecossett Road #1 Groton, CT 06340

Join the CT Blue Economy Coalition for a statewide workshop focused on strengthening marine and maritime education. This event brings together K–12 educators, school leaders, marine science organizations, and businesses committed to growing marine literacy and supporting Connecticut’s Blue Economy. The workshop features panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and opportunities to connect with providers of marine and maritime experiential learning. Participants will leave with practical tools, resources, and strategies to enhance instruction and support workforce development.

USGS Compound Flood Hazard Web Map

This Long Island Sound Partnership Compound Flood Hazard Web Map Application presents individual and combined flood hazard scores from rainfall, coastal storm surge, and shallow or emerging groundwater on a 900-meter by 900-meter grid over a study area that encompasses New York City, Long Island, and Long Island Sound Watersheds in Southeastern New York and Southern Connecticut. Additional maps displaying flood-influencing variables for the respective drivers and the extent of coastal area inundation and groundwater emergence flooding under current conditions and for different coastal water levels are also presented.​ This work was supported by funding from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 117-43).

Climate Change Response Framework: Forest Adaptation Workbook

Created by the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, the Adaptation Workbook enables natural resource professionals to consider the potential effects of climate change on forests and to then design actions that can help reduce risk and increase the ability to cope with changing conditions. It provides a flexible process that accommodates a wide variety of geographic locations, scales, ecosystems, land uses, management goals, and ownership types.

DAS Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Website Now Live

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Procurement Division supports sustainable purchasing through its Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program. The program helps state agencies, municipalities, political subdivisions, and nonprofits use the state’s buying power to choose products and services that are better for the environment. This page is designed to serve as a resource for municipalities and other organizations interested in developing their own EPP programs. It includes the State of Connecticut’s EPP policy, examples of municipal EPP plans, and helpful links to guide you as you get started.

In Bridgeport, Fuel Cell Developers Use Brownfields to Spur Growth

CT Mirror - January 27, 2026

The long-abandoned site of a former plastics manufacturer in downtown Bridgeport is now producing enough low-carbon electricity to power more than 3,000 homes, a conversion that officials say could be a model for other post-industrial brownfield sites in Connecticut. Earlier this month, Dispatch Energy — a New York-based developer of distributed energy projects — announced that a 4-megawatt fuel cell facility located within the Bunnell Block, a former brownfield site in the city’s East End, was up and running.

So long, Paris: US Officially Leaves Landmark Climate Pact

Politico - January 27, 2026

The United States is officially out of the Paris Agreement, making it the only country to quit the historic climate pact — twice. The move to leave the agreement, set in motion by President Donald Trump exactly one year ago, takes effect Tuesday. Trump announced the departure on Jan. 20, 2025, his first day in office, followed by a written statement one week later to the United Nations, which confirmed in writing that American participation in the agreement would end on Jan. 27, 2026.

The Resilience Roundup highlights CIRCA's presence in the news, provides links to recent local/state/national news articles related to resilience and adaptation, and announces upcoming events and seminars.

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation's (CIRCA) 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 and extreme weather on the natural, built, and human environment. The institute is located at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus and includes faculty from across the university. CIRCA is a partnership between UConn and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP).