DEEP Announces Release of Key Saltmarsh Dataset

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04/22/2025

DEEP Announces Release of Key Saltmarsh Dataset

Coinciding with Earth Day, Information Will Advance Coastal Marsh Restoration and Conservation

(HARTFORD) - Coinciding with Earth Day, and after more than two years of intensive work, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and its contractor, Vermont-based geospatial technology company Whiteout Solutions, have released a groundbreaking high-resolution dataset capturing over 12,000 acres of coastal saltmarsh and adjoining upland buffer in the state of Connecticut.

This release marks the culmination of a major effort that began in early 2023 to collect, process, and analyze detailed elevation and imagery data across more than 250 coastal marshes. Using helicopters and advanced sensor systems, the Saltmarsh Mapping Project (SMP) navigated Connecticut's densely populated coastline to document these sensitive and vital ecosystems with unprecedented resolution and accuracy.

A driver behind this initiative was the mounting concern for wildlife species like the saltmarsh sparrow, whose populations have declined by 75% since 1990 due to loss of its saltmarsh habitat and sea-level rise. The saltmarsh sparrow is the only bird species that breeds solely in the salt marshes of the Northeastern United States. Without intervention, the population is projected to go extinct by 2050. Data collected from the SMP will assist in designing better habitat restoration projects to protect this vulnerable species.

"Ecosystems in areas where land meets the sea are sensitive, dynamic, and diverse," said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. "They tell us stories about how the broader natural environment is changing, and how we are playing a role in driving that change. We are thrilled to share this achievement with the public on Earth Day, as the information provided by the Saltmarsh Mapping Project will inform restoration projects that benefit our saltmarsh ecosystems and make our coastline more resilient to climate change impacts."

The new dataset, available to the public via Whiteout Solutions' web-based geospatial application, geoSAP, includes:

• Topobathymetric LiDARdata, capable of capturing elevation points even below the water's surface.
• Multispectral and RGB imagerydetailing the complex structure of marshland vegetation and terrain.
• Landcover classification,derived from multiple overlapping datasets, of the seven most common saltmarsh plants to aid in habitat monitoring and restoration planning.

Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CT ECO), which currently houses much of the geospatial data for the state of Connecticut, will have links to geoSAP, and these data will allow users to more easily visualize, download, and share complex information.

"We are already seeing interest from local municipalities and engineering firms," said CT DEEP project manager and Wildlife Division biologist, Min Huang. "However, we also expect that researchers, educators, and our non-governmental conservation partners will use these data heavily when planning restoration projects."

To explore the dataset and learn more about the Connecticut Saltmarsh Mapping Project, visit https://ctdeep.geosap.io

TNC Bride Brook Estuary Project in Rocky Neck State Park:

If you're interested in learning more about a specific saltmarsh restoration project, the Nature Conservancy of Connecticut is holding a media availability/site tour on Thursday, 4/24, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Bride Brook Estuary in Rocky Neck State Park, where TNC is leading a $4 million project to help restore the 82 acres of salt marsh within the park. TNC and DEEP staff will be on hand for interviews. Please park in the parking area by the marsh.

The new Saltmarsh Mapping Project recently released by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will advance coastal marsh restoration and conservation efforts, ultimately benefitting the declining saltmarsh sparrow population and other wildlife that depend on saltmarsh habitats.

Saltmarsh Sparrow; photo credit Paul J. Fusco/DEEP Wildlife Division

Twitter: @CTDEEPNews Facebook: DEEP on Facebook

Contact

DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110

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