Politics & Government

DEEP: Climate Change Could Drastically Change the 'Face' Of Connecticut

Report: Hammonasset Beach State Park could disappear, crops like maple syrup, apples and shellfish could be destroyed.

By Elissa Bass

A report issued Monday by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection quantifying the effect of climate change on Connecticut included some pretty dark predictions.

  • Sea level rise will leave Hammonasset Beach State Park, among Connecticut's most popular state parks, mostly inundated by sea water by the end of the century.
  • Maple syrup, dairy, warm weather produce, shellfish and apple and pear production will be affected by changes in temperature and the abundance of rain or lack of it, which could reduce production yields, lead to contamination of agricultural goods such as shellfish and the need for costly infrastructure to compensate for the damage.
  • Cold water streams could become warm, tidal marsh and offshore islands could be submerged and critical species that depend on the habitats could be lost. The damage caused by climate change would join other threats such as development and invasive species.

Climate change is "going to require some adaptation," Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky was quoted as saying.

"You can see what's happening," he told the Associated Press. "The intensity of storms is pretty significant. The damage has been equally significant."


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