Connecticut Historic Shoreline Wetlands:

1880s NOS T-Sheet Shoreline Features is a 1:10,000-scale, line feature-based layer that includes information depicting historic shoreline features and wetland boundaries for areas of coastal Connecticut during the 1880s. The layer depicts information found on topographic survey sheets (T-sheets) from the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), a predecessor to the National Ocean Service (NOS). The layer represents conditions at a particular point in time. The layer does not depict current conditions. The layer includes ground condition features such as approximate shoreline, shoreline, wetland shoreline, wetland upland boundaries, wetland interior boundaries, man-made shoreline, jetties/breakwaters/groins, and piers/ramps/docks. Semi-submerged marshes, referred to here as "low marshes," ocurring where it is possible to discern marsh-like features waterward of the shoreline are also included. Off shore and riverine islands and rocks may be included depending on the quality of their depiction on the t-sheet. It does not include any non shoreline-centric elements that may have been depicted on the t-sheets such as buildings, roads, bridges, etc., nor does it include other off-shore features like sandbars, mud flats, tidal flats, etc. Features are line locations that represent the approximate location of shoreline features and wetland boundaries. Shoreline, as depicted on the T-sheets that pre-date 1927, reference an approximation of Mean High Water (MHW). Although MHW is technically determined by averaging the height of the high water line, (HWL) the landward extent of the last high tide over a 19 year lunar cycle, USC&GS topographers appoximated MHW by familarizing themselves with the tidal conditions in a given area and noting the assorted physical characteristics of the beach. (For a more complete description of this and other shoreline indicators, the reader is directed to the following article: "Historical Shoreline Change: Error Analysis and Mapping Accuracy," Crowell, M., Leatherman, S., and Buckley, M. Journal of Coastal Research, Vol 7, No. 3, 1991, pp 839-852.) Attribute information is comprised of codes to identify individual features, encode shoreline feature type information, and cartographically represent (symbolize) shoreline features on a map. These codes were derived in part from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (CSC) Historic Digital Shoreline Capture project and modified by the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to address the inclusion of wetland areas. This data was compiled at 1:10,000 scale. This data is not updated. Purpose: 1880s NOS T-Sheet Shoreline Features is 1:10,000-scale data. It depicts the location of historic shoreline features and wetland boundaries for all of coastal Connecticut with the exception of the area of New Haven Harbor from the West River in West Haven to the New Haven/East Haven town boundary. The features also extend slightly beyond the Connecticut state lines into Rye, New York and Westerly, Rhode Island. Use this layer to display historic shoreline and wetlands. Since this data may be considered a crucial element in land use planning, determination of boundary extents, performing change studies for erosion and accretion examinations and other types of decision making this layer may also be used for analytic purposes. Use this layer with other 1:10,000-scale map data such as any other NOS T-sheet Shoreline or Wetland layers. Not intended for maps printed at map scales greater or more detailed than 1:10,000 scale (1 inch = 833.33 feet.)

1880s NOS T-Sheet Wetland Polygon Features is a 1:10,000-scale, polygon feature-based layer that includes information depicting historic wetlands for areas of coastal Connecticut during the 1880s. The layer depicts information found on topographic survey sheets (T-sheets) from the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), a predecessor to the National Ocean Service (NOS). The layer represents conditions at a particular point in time. The layer does not depict current conditions. The layer includes ground condition features such as wetland areas, interior wetland uplands, and interior wetand waterbodies. Semi-submerged marshes, referred to here as "low marshes," ocurring where it is possible to discern marsh-like features waterward of the shoreline are also included. Off shore and riverine islands and rocks may be included depending on the quality of their depiction on the t-sheet. It does not include any non wetland-centric elements that may have been depicted on the t-sheets such as buildings, roads, bridges, etc., nor does it include other off-shore features like mud flats, tidal flats, etc. Features are polygon locations that represent the approximate location of wetland areas and internal wetland features such as uplands or waterbodies. Shoreline, as depicted on the T-sheets that pre-date 1927, reference an approximation of Mean High Water (MHW). Although MHW is technically determined by averaging the height of the high water line, (HWL) the landward extent of the last high tide over a 19 year lunar cycle, USC&GS topographers appoximated MHW by familarizing themselves with the tidal conditions in a given area and noting the assorted physical characteristics of the beach. (For a more complete description of this and other shoreline indicators, the reader is directed to the following article: "Historical Shoreline Change: Error Analysis and Mapping Accuracy," Crowell, M., Leatherman, S., and Buckley, M. Journal of Coastal Research, Vol 7, No. 3, 1991, pp 839-852.) Attribute information is comprised of codes to identify individual features, encode wetland feature type information, and cartographically represent (symbolize) wetland features on a map. These codes were derived in part from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (CSC) Historic Digital Shoreline Capture project and modified by the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to address the inclusion of wetland areas. This data was compiled at 1:10,000 scale. This data is not updated. Purpose: 1880s NOS T-Sheet Wetland Polygon Features is 1:10,000-scale data. It depicts the location of historic wetland features for all of coastal Connecticut with the exception of the area of New Haven Harbor from the West River in West Haven to the New Haven/East haven town boundary. The features also extend slightly beyond the Connecticut state lines into Rye, New York and Westerly, Rhode Island. Use this layer to display historic wetlands. Since this data may be considered a crucial element in land use planning, determination of boundary extents, performing change studies for erosion and accretion examinations and other types of decision making this layer may also be used for analytic purposes. Use this layer with other 1:10,000-scale map data such as any other NOS T-sheet Shoreline or Wetland layers. Not intended for maps printed at map scales greater or more detailed than 1:10,000 scale (1 inch = 833.33 feet.)

See full Data Guide here. This layer includes polygon features that depict protected open space for towns of the Protected Open Space Mapping (POSM) project, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Land Acquisition and Management. Only parcels that meet the criteria of protected open space as defined in the POSM project are in this layer. Protected open space is defined as: (1) Land or interest in land acquired for the permanent protection of natural features of the state's landscape or essential habitat for endangered or threatened species; or (2) Land or an interest in land acquired to permanently support and sustain non-facility-based outdoor recreation, forestry and fishery activities, or other wildlife or natural resource conservation or preservation activities. Includes protected open space data for the towns of Andover, Ansonia, Ashford, Avon, Beacon Falls, Canaan, Clinton, Berlin, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Bridgewater, Bolton, Brookfield, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Canton, Chaplin, Cheshire, Colchester, Colebrook, Columbia, Cornwall, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, Derby, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Windsor, Eastford, Ellington, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Franklin, Glastonbury, Goshen, Granby, Griswold, Groton, Guilford, Haddam, Hampton, Hartford, Hebron, Kent, Killingworth, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Litchfield, Madison, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlebury, Middlefield, Middletown, Monroe, Montville, Morris, New Britain, New Canaan, New Fairfield, New Milford, New Hartford, Newington, Newtown, Norfolk, North, Norwich, Preston, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stonington, Oxford, Plainfield, Plainville, Pomfret, Portland, Prospect, Putnam, Redding, Rocky Hill, Roxbury, Salem, Salisbury, Scotland, Seymour, Sharon, Sherman, Simsbury, Somers, South Windsor, Southbury, Southington, Sprague, Sterling, Suffield, Thomaston, Thompson, Tolland, Torrington, Union, Vernon, Wallingford, Windham, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, West Hartford, Westbrook, Weston, Wethersfield, Willington, Wilton, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Wolcott, Woodbridge, Woodbury, and Woodstock. Additional towns are added to this list as they are completed. The layer is based on information from various sources collected and compiled during the period from March 2005 through the present. These sources include but are not limited to municipal Assessor's records (the Assessor's database, hard copy maps and deeds) and existing digital parcel data. The layer represents conditions as of the date of research at each city or town hall. The Protected Open Space layer includes the parcel shape (geometry), a project-specific parcel ID based on the Town and Town Assessor's lot numbering system, and system-defined (automatically generated) fields. The Protected Open Space layer has an accompanying table containing more detailed information about each feature (parcel). This table is called Protected Open Space Dat, and can be joined to Protected Open Space in ArcMap using the parcel ID (PAR_ID) field. Detailed information in the Protected Open Space Data attribute table includes the Assessor's Map, Block and Lot numbers (the Assessor's parcel identification numbering system), the official name of the parcel (such as the park or forest name if it has one), address and owner information, the deed volume and page numbers, survey information, open space type, the unique parcel ID number (Par_ID), comments collected by researchers during city/town hall visits, and acreage. This layer does not include parcels that do not meet the definition of open space as defined above. Features are stored as polygons that represent the best available locational information, and are "best fit" to the land base available for each.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's (CTDEP) Permanently Protected Open Space Phase Mapping Project Phase 1 (Protected Open Space Phase1) layer includes permanently protected open space parcels in towns in Phase 1 that meet the CTDEP's definition for this project, the Permanently Protected Open Space Mapping (CT POSM) Project. The CTDEP defines permanently protected open space as (1) Land or interest in land acquired for the permanent protection of natural features of the state's landscape or essential habitat for endangered or threatened species; or (2) Land or an interest in land acquired to permanently support and sustain non facility-based outdoor recreations, forestry and fishery activities, or other wildlife or natural resource conservation or preservation activities.

Towns in Phase 1 of the CT POSM project are situated along the CT coast and portions of the Thames River and are the following: Branford, Bridgeport, Chester, Clinton, Darien, Deep River, East Haven, East Lyme, Essex, Fairfield, Greenwich, Groton, Guilford, Hamden, Ledyard, Lyme, Madison, Milford, Montville, New Haven, New London, North Branford, North Haven, Norwalk, Norwich, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Orange, Preston, Shelton, Stamford, Stonington, Stratford, Waterford, West Haven, Westbrook, Westport.

For the purposes of the project a number of categories or classifications of open space have also been created. These include: Land Trust, Land Trust with buidlings, Private, Private with buildings, Utility Company, Utility Company with buildings, Federal, State, Municipal, Municipal with buildings, Conservation easement, and non-DEP State land. The layer is based on information from various sources collected and compiled during the period from August 2002 trhough October 2003. These sources include municipal Assessor's records (the Assessor's database, hard copy maps and deeds) and existing digital parcel data. The layer represents conditions on the date of research at each city or town hall.

The Protected Open Space Phase1 layer includes the parcel shape (geometry), a project-specific parcel ID based on the Town and Town's Assessor lot numbering system, and system-defined (automatically generated) fields. In addition, the Protected_Open_Space_Phase1 layer has an accompanying table containing more detailed information about each parcel's collection, standardization and storage. This table is called Protected Open Space Phase1 Data and can be joined to Protected Open Space Phase1 in ArcMap using the parcel ID (PAR_ID) field. Detailed information includes the Assessor's Map, Block and Lot numbers (the Assessor's parcel identification numbering system), the official name of the parcel (such as the park or forest name if it has one), address and owner information, the deed volume and page numbers, survey information, open space type, the project-specific parcel ID number (Par_ID), comments collected by researchers during city/town hall visits, acreage collected during site reconaissance and the data source. This layer does not include parcels that do not meet the definition of open space as defined above. Features are stored as polygon feature type that represent the best available locational information, i.e. "best fit" to the land base available for each.

Phase 1 of the Protected Open Space Mapping (POSM) Project was accomplished by a contractor using only a querying process to identify open space. The contractor obtained assessor's data from the various towns and created programs to cull open space parcels strictly by query processes. We have found many errors and omissions in the data, but at this point in the project we cannot revisit all the coastal towns. Therefore, this data is being sent with a disclaimer for accuracy. You are welcome to use it but not to publish it. Please note that we do not include any water company parcels despite them being listed as part of our criteria because we must first obtain written clarification and clearance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

We have since changed our data collection method for Phase 2 of this project. DEP staff now visit each town hall and thoroughly research the land records. The project is expected to be complete by 2010.

This EnviroAtlas dataset portrays the total number of historic places located within each Census Block Group (CBG). The historic places data were compiled from the National Register of Historic Places, which provides official federal lists of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant to American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data (https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/ORD/EnviroAtlas) or as an EnviroAtlas map service. Additional descriptive information about each attribute in this dataset can be found in its associated EnviroAtlas Fact Sheet (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlas-fact-sheets).

This EnviroAtlas dataset portrays the total number of historic places located within each Census Block Group (CBG). The historic places data were compiled from the National Register of Historic Places, which provides official federal lists of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant to American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://res1wwwd-o-tepad-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data (https://res1edgd-o-tepad-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/data/Public/ORD/EnviroAtlas) or as an EnviroAtlas map service. Additional descriptive information about each attribute in this dataset can be found in its associated EnviroAtlas Fact Sheet (https://res1wwwd-o-tepad-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/enviroatlas/enviroatlas-fact-sheets).

Eelgrass Beds Historic Set: Historic Eelgrass Points is a 1:24,000-scale, point feature-based layer that depicts the locations of historic eelgrass beds (Zostera marina) in Long Island Sound, the Connecticut River, the Quinnipiac River and other bays, harbors and waterbodies in Connecticut's coastal area. It also includes several points located along the north shore of Long Island. There are a total of 131 point features, the majority of which are located east of the Connecticut River. Point features in this layer are compiled from two major sources: 1) the polygon feature label points in the Historic Eelgrass Beds polygon layer representing sources with a mapping component; and 2) additional points that were based on historic literature review that had no mapping component. Source information including source description and collection date for each point is described in the layer's table data. Feature locations are inexact. Because of the variety of source maps and methods used for their automation, this coverage should be considered to have limited spatial accuracy and is appropriate for general uses only. Actual data collection ranged from 1873 through 1996. This layer was published in 1997 and is not updated. It does not represent current conditions. Historic Eelgrass Bed Polygons is a 1:24,000-scale, polygon feature-based layer that depicts the locations of historic eelgrass beds (Zostera marina) in Long Island Sound and the Niantic River, as well as in other bays, harbors and waterbodies in Connecticut's coastal area. It also includes several points located along the north shore of Long Island. There are a total of 52 polygon features, all of which (except the Long Island points), are located within or east of the Niantic River. This layer can be used with Historic Eelgrass Points. This layer does not represent current conditions. Rather, it depicts historic eelgrass bed locations that were observed and defined either cartographically or narratively over the course of many years and from various sources. The dates of each source's data collection are noted in the attribute table. Feature locations are inexact. Because of the variety of source maps and methods used for their automation, this information should be considered to have limited spatial accuracy and is appropriate for general uses only. The data was taken from maps of various scales and projections that were drawn between 1905 and 1996. These maps were reduced to approximately 1:24,000 scale and adjusted for best fit; eelgrass areas were redrafted onto USGS Topographic Quadrangle maps for digitizing. In order to create a single polygon coverage, areas were considered to represent a maximum extent of eelgrass beds. This layer was published in 1997 and is not updated.

Coastal Area & Boundary Polygon:

The Coastal Area layer is a 1:24,000-scale, polygon feature-based layer that includes the land and waters that lie within the Coastal Area as defined by Connecticut General Statute (C.G.S.) 22a-94(a). Activities and actions conducted within the coastal area by Federal and State Agencies (i.e., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), DEP regulatory programs, and state plans and actions) must be consistent with all of the applicable standards and criteria contained in the Connecticut Coastal Management Act (C.G.S. 22a-90 to 22a-113). A subset of the Coastal Area, the Coastal Boundary, represents an area within which activities regulated or conducted by coastal municipalities must be consistent with the Coastal Management Act. As defined in this section of the statutes, the Coastal Area includes the land and water within the area delineated by the following: the westerly, southerly and easterly limits of the state's jurisdiction in Long Island Sound; the towns of Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Shelton, Milford, Orange, West Haven, New Haven, Hamden, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Deep River, Chester, Essex, Old Saybrook, Lyme, Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford, New London, Montville, Norwich, Preston, Ledyard, Groton and Stonington. This layer includes a single polygon feature defined by the boundaries described above. Attribute information is comprised of an Av_Legend to denote the coastal area. Data is compiled at 1:24,000 scale. This data is not updated.

The Coastal Boundary layer is a 1:24,000-scale, polygon feature-based layer of the legal mylar-based maps adopted by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) (i.e., maps were adopted on a town by town basis) showing the extent of lands and coastal waters as defined by Connecticut General Statute (C.G.S.) 22a-93(5)) within Connecticut's coastal area (defined by C.G.S. 22a-94(c)). The coastal boundary is a hybrid of the original 1:24,000 version maps prepared by DEP consistent with C.G.S. 22a-94(d) (Coastal Area) and the revised boundary mapping undertaken by twenty-two coastal towns prepared pursuant to C.G.S. 22a-94(f). This layer therefore does not replace the legal maps and may not be used for legal determinations. The Coastal Boundary layer includes a single polygon feature that represents the coastal boundary. No other features are included in this layer. Data is compiled at 1:24,000 scale. Attribute information is comprised of an Av_Legend attribute and a CoastB_Flg attribute to denote the coastal boundary. Other attributes include automatically calculated Shape_Length and Shape_Area fields. This data is not updated. Any regulated activity conducted within the coastal boundary by a municipal agency (i.e., plans of development, zoning regulations, municipal coastal programs and coastal site plan review (i.e., site plans submitted to zoning commission, subdivision or resubdivision plans submitted to planning commission, application for special permit or exception to the zoning or planning commissions or zoning board of appeals, variance submitted to zoning board of appeals and a referral of a municipal project)) must be conducted in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Connecticut Coastal Management Act (CMA; C.G.S. 22a-90 to 22a-113). As the Coastal Boundary is a hybrid of the Coastal Area, all state and federal agency activities must be consistent with the requirements of the CMA. As defined in C.G.S. 22a-94(b) the coastal boundary is a "continuous line delineated on the landward side by the interior contour elevation of the one hundred year frequency coastal flood zone, as defined and determined by the National Flood Insurance Act, as amended (USC 42 Section 4101, P.L. 93-234), or a one thousand foot linear setback measured from the mean high water mark in coastal waters, or a one thousand foot linear setback measured from the inland boundary of tidal wetlands mapped under section 22a-20, whichever is farthest inland; and shall be delineated on the seaward side by the seaward extent of the jurisdiction of the state." The original boundary maps were created in 1979 on stable mylar overlay using the 1:24,000-scale US Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps (mylar film format). The source for tidal wetland maps were the legal 1:24,000 maps (mylar format) adopted by the Commissioner of DEP and transformed to 1:24,000 mylar-scale maps by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) using an accurate pantograph. OPM similarly converted FEMA's flood insurance maps (various scales) to a 1:24,000 mylar overlay. The inland extent of coastal waters was plotted on 1:24,000 USGS topographic maps following the procedures and sources described in The Boundary Between Saltwater and Freshwater in Connecticut, December 1978 prepared by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Coastal Area Management Program. The following twenty-two towns have adopted municipal coastal boundaries: Chester, Clinton, Darien, Deep River, East Haven, Essex, Fairfield, Greenwich, Groton, Guilford, Hamden, Ledyard, Madison, Milford, New Haven, New London, North Haven, Norwalk, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Stamford and Waterford. The coastal boundary maps for these towns may be at different scales than the original DEP draft maps and may contain minor adjustments to the boundary as permitted in C.G.S. 22a-94(f).

This map was used in an educational StoryMap created by US Fish and Wildlife Service and Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program in collaboration with students at William and Mary. Layer created by Mary Lawrence Young, William & Mary collaborator to USFWS. The map shows the historic (circa early 1900s) location that the wildflower Marsh Pink (Sabatia stellaris) grows within the state of Connecticut. The historic Marsh Pink populations spanned all along the southern coast of Connecticut. The point data from this feature layer was manually generated in ArcGIS Pro using longitude and latitude values of the towns provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The data is meant to be used in comparison to current Marsh Pink growing locations within Connecticut to display how depleted the population has become.Connecticut Township Points: Stratford (41.18, -73.13), Stamford (41.05, -73.54), Fairfield (41.15, -73.27), Bridgeport (41.19, -73.20), Madison (41.28, -72.60), Clinton (41.29, -72.53), Old Saybrook (41.30, -72.40), Old Lyme (41.32, -72.33), Groton (41.37, -72.07)For more information contact Anne Condon, anne_condon@fws.gov

Connecticut Historic Shoreline Wetlands: 1880s NOS T-Sheet Shoreline Features is a 1:10,000-scale, line feature-based layer that includes information depicting historic shoreline features and wetland boundaries for areas of coastal Connecticut during the 1880s. The layer depicts information found on topographic survey sheets (T-sheets) from the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), a predecessor to the National Ocean Service (NOS). The layer represents conditions at a particular point in time. The layer does not depict current conditions. The layer includes ground condition features such as approximate shoreline, shoreline, wetland shoreline, wetland upland boundaries, wetland interior boundaries, man-made shoreline, jetties/breakwaters/groins, and piers/ramps/docks. Semi-submerged marshes, referred to here as "low marshes," ocurring where it is possible to discern marsh-like features waterward of the shoreline are also included. Off shore and riverine islands and rocks may be included depending on the quality of their depiction on the t-sheet. It does not include any non shoreline-centric elements that may have been depicted on the t-sheets such as buildings, roads, bridges, etc., nor does it include other off-shore features like sandbars, mud flats, tidal flats, etc. Features are line locations that represent the approximate location of shoreline features and wetland boundaries. Shoreline, as depicted on the T-sheets that pre-date 1927, reference an approximation of Mean High Water (MHW). Although MHW is technically determined by averaging the height of the high water line, (HWL) the landward extent of the last high tide over a 19 year lunar cycle, USC&GS topographers appoximated MHW by familarizing themselves with the tidal conditions in a given area and noting the assorted physical characteristics of the beach. (For a more complete description of this and other shoreline indicators, the reader is directed to the following article: "Historical Shoreline Change: Error Analysis and Mapping Accuracy," Crowell, M., Leatherman, S., and Buckley, M. Journal of Coastal Research, Vol 7, No. 3, 1991, pp 839-852.) Attribute information is comprised of codes to identify individual features, encode shoreline feature type information, and cartographically represent (symbolize) shoreline features on a map. These codes were derived in part from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (CSC) Historic Digital Shoreline Capture project and modified by the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to address the inclusion of wetland areas. This data was compiled at 1:10,000 scale. This data is not updated. Purpose: 1880s NOS T-Sheet Shoreline Features is 1:10,000-scale data. It depicts the location of historic shoreline features and wetland boundaries for all of coastal Connecticut with the exception of the area of New Haven Harbor from the West River in West Haven to the New Haven/East Haven town boundary. The features also extend slightly beyond the Connecticut state lines into Rye, New York and Westerly, Rhode Island. Use this layer to display historic shoreline and wetlands. Since this data may be considered a crucial element in land use planning, determination of boundary extents, performing change studies for erosion and accretion examinations and other types of decision making this layer may also be used for analytic purposes. Use this layer with other 1:10,000-scale map data such as any other NOS T-sheet Shoreline or Wetland layers. Not intended for maps printed at map scales greater or more detailed than 1:10,000 scale (1 inch = 833.33 feet.) 1880s NOS T-Sheet Wetland Polygon Features is a 1:10,000-scale, polygon feature-based layer that includes information depicting historic wetlands for areas of coastal Connecticut during the 1880s. The layer depicts information found on topographic survey sheets (T-sheets) from the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), a predecessor to

Historic Eelgrass Bed Points is 1:24,000-scale data. It depicts the location of eelgrass beds that existed historically at dates specified in the attribute data. Use this layer with other 1:24,000-scale map data only, to provide a general indication of historic eelgrass distribution. This layer is not intended for maps printed at map scales greater or more detailed than 1:24,000 scale (1 inch = 2,000 feet.)

Eelgrass Beds Historic Set:

Historic Eelgrass Points is a 1:24,000-scale, point feature-based layer that depicts the locations of historic eelgrass beds (Zostera marina) in Long Island Sound, the Connecticut River, the Quinnipiac River and other bays, harbors and waterbodies in Connecticut's coastal area. It also includes several points located along the north shore of Long Island. There are a total of 131 point features, the majority of which are located east of the Connecticut River. Point features in this layer are compiled from two major sources: 1) the polygon feature label points in the Historic Eelgrass Beds polygon layer representing sources with a mapping component; and 2) additional points that were based on historic literature review that had no mapping component. Source information including source description and collection date for each point is described in the layer's table data. Feature locations are inexact. Because of the variety of source maps and methods used for their automation, this coverage should be considered to have limited spatial accuracy and is appropriate for general uses only. Actual data collection ranged from 1873 through 1996. This layer was published in 1997 and is not updated. It does not represent current conditions.

Historic Eelgrass Bed Polygons is a 1:24,000-scale, polygon feature-based layer that depicts the locations of historic eelgrass beds (Zostera marina) in Long Island Sound and the Niantic River, as well as in other bays, harbors and waterbodies in Connecticut's coastal area. It also includes several points located along the north shore of Long Island. There are a total of 52 polygon features, all of which (except the Long Island points), are located within or east of the Niantic River. This layer can be used with Historic Eelgrass Points. This layer does not represent current conditions. Rather, it depicts historic eelgrass bed locations that were observed and defined either cartographically or narratively over the course of many years and from various sources. The dates of each source's data collection are noted in the attribute table. Feature locations are inexact. Because of the variety of source maps and methods used for their automation, this information should be considered to have limited spatial accuracy and is appropriate for general uses only. The data was taken from maps of various scales and projections that were drawn between 1905 and 1996. These maps were reduced to approximately 1:24,000 scale and adjusted for best fit; eelgrass areas were redrafted onto USGS Topographic Quadrangle maps for digitizing. In order to create a single polygon coverage, areas were considered to represent a maximum extent of eelgrass beds. This layer was published in 1997 and is not updated.

Bedrock Geology Set is a 1:50,000-scale, polygon and line feature-based layer describing the solid material that underlies the soil or other unconsolidated material of the earth for Connecticut. Bedrock geologic formations are described as polygons in terms of formation name (incorporating geologic age), rock type, and tectonic terrane association. Tectonic forces are responsible for the present day geologic configuration of the continents. Resulting terranes are regionally fault bounded rocks of a similar tectonic history. Each terrane is named after its plate tectonics ancestry. Geologic lines include contacts, faults, and terrane boundaries. Terrane boundaries are named for the faults involved. The geologic contacts and faults are delineated and classified by type. Polygon feature attribute information is comprised of codes to identify individual bedrock geologic units, their formation name, description and size. Line feature attributes identify, name and describe bedrock contacts, faults and terrane boundaries between these bedrock geologic units. Data is compiled at 1:50,000 scale and is not updated. A complete description of the bedrock mapping units with mineralogical descriptions and a brief history of Connecticut geology are included in the Supplemental Information Section for reference.

Connecticut Bedrock Geology is a 1:50,000-scale, polygon and line feature-based layer describing the solid material that underlies the soil or other unconsolidated material of the earth for Connecticut. Bedrock geologic formations are described as polygons in terms of formation name (incorporating geologic age), rock type, and tectonic terrane association. Tectonic forces are responsible for the present day geologic configuration of the continents. Resulting terranes are regionally fault bounded rocks of a similar tectonic history. Each terrane is named after its plate tectonics ancestry. Geologic lines include contacts, faults, and terrane boundaries. Terrane boundaries are named for the faults involved. The geologic contacts and faults are delineated and classified by type. Polygon feature attribute information is comprised of codes to identify individual bedrock geologic units, their formation name, description and size. Line feature attributes identify, name and describe bedrock contacts, faults and terrane boundaries between these bedrock geologic units. Data is compiled at 1:50,000 scale and is not updated. A complete description of the bedrock mapping units with mineralogical descriptions and a brief history of Connecticut geology are included in the Supplemental Information Section for reference.