Geospatial characterization of salt marshes in Connecticut (ver. 2.0, April 2024)

This data release contains coastal wetland synthesis products for the state of Connecticut. Metrics for resiliency, including the unvegetated to vegetated ratio (UVVR), marsh elevation, tidal range, wave power, and exposure potential to environmental health stressors are calculated for smaller units delineated from a digital elevation model, providing the spatial variability of physical factors that influence wetland health. The U.S. Geological Survey has been expanding national assessment of coastal change hazards and forecast products to coastal wetlands with the intent of providing federal, state, and local managers with tools to estimate the vulnerability and ecosystem service potential of these wetlands. For this purpose, the response and resilience of coastal wetlands to physical factors need to be assessed in terms of the ensuing change to their vulnerability and ecosystem services. This project has been funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement DW-014-92531201-1 to N. Ganju.