Blue Plan Map ViewerAreas with features of historical, cultural, education and research significance
Areas associated with lighthouses and other historic areas
Submerged and coastal archaeological areas
Discrete areas for research, education and monitoring
Areas of substantial recreation and/or "quality of life" value
High activity recreational boating areas
Mooring fields and anchorage areas
Marinas, yacht clubs and boat launches
Areas important for navigation, transportation, infrastructure and economic activity
Working waterfronts, ports and marine commercial areas
Designated navigational channels, fairways and basins
Security zones and other designated areas
Dredged material disposal areas (active and historic)
Cables, pipelines, and cable/pipeline areas
Coastal energy generating and transmission facilities
Areas important to fishing and aquaculture
Commercial aquaculture locations
SHUA Hot Spots
Historic Districts
A synthesis of several sources of historic districts at the local, state, and national levels for coastal areas in CT and NY
Lighthouses
The location of lighthouses in Long Island Sound.
Layer Names:
Historic Districts
Lighthouses
Wrecks
A synthesis of several sources of wreck information for Long Island Sound.
Layer Names:
Wrecks
Open Space and Public Land
A synthesis of several sources of open space and publicly accessible properties in CT and NY that can serve as vantage points for visual vistas of Long Island Sound.
Layer Names:
Open Space and Public Lands
Upland Archaeological Sites
Upland (land-based) archaeological sites from the CT Office of State Archaeology.
Underwater Archaeological Sites
Inventory of sub-tidal archaeological sites from the CT Office of State Archaeology.
Potential Submerged Holocene Sites
Potential locations of land-based settlement ca. 9000 BP prior to those shoreline areas being submerged as Long Island Sound filled in.
Layer Names:
Archaeological sites - Upland
Archaeological sites - LIS
Potential Submerged Holocene sites
Water Quality Sampling Sites
Locations that generally represent significant and long-standing locations of water quality monitoring in Long Island Sound.
Coastal Observation Sites
Representation of operating locations of buoys supporting the Long Island Sound Integrated Coastal Observation System (LISICOS), a subsystem of the Northeast Regional Association of Coastal and Ocean Observation Systems (NERACOOS.)
Layer Names:
LIS Water Quality Sampling Sites
LIS Coastal Observation Sites
Areas consistently used by organized clubs and associations for sailing races. Including but not limited to racing and training areas.
Sailing Routes
Areas consistently used by organized clubs and associations for sailing races.
Layer Names:
Sailing Race Areas
Sailing Race Routes
Recreational Boating Density
Approximate areas where the density of recreational boating is substantially higher than the overall mean for Long Island Sound.
Layer Names:
Recreational Boater Density
Mooring Fields
Formally designated or traditional mooring fields as designated or managed by NOAA, municipal Harbor Management, or other organizations
Anchorage Areas
Anchorage areas as they appear on the NOAA charts and are generally used by commercial vessels.
Layer Names:
Mooring Fields
Anchorage Areas
Marinas and Yacht Clubs
Locations of marinas and yacht clubs.
Boat Launches
Boat launches are state, municipal, local, or privately owned sites that provide boating access to coastal waters, lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Layer Names:
Marinas and Yacht Clubs
Boat Launches
Areas in Long Island Sound for waterfowl hunting, including sea duck habitat.
Layer Names:
Migratory Waterfowl Concentration Areas
The Recreational Diving Area layer depicts areas important for SCUBA and snorkeling provided by (1) The Northeast Coastal and Marine Recreational Use Characterization Study, (2) The Mid Atlantic Coastal and Ocean Recreation Study, and (3) a Blue Plan participatory mapping exercise with the LIS diving community.
Coastal Access Sites
Areas important for public access and use of Long Island Sound for recreational activities including but not limited to swimming, paddling, and wildlife watching.
Individual Ocean Uses
The Individual Ocean Uses layer depicts activity areas mapped by participants in the Northeast Coastal and Marine Recreational Use Characterization Study. This layer shows the component of the study which focused on individual coastal and ocean recreational uses such as beach going, surfing, board and paddle sports, wildlife viewing, sightseeing, and other activities.
Water Trails
A water trail is an officially designated water route, or blueway, that is maintained by an agency or association. Water trails are typically used recreationally by paddlers in non-motorized boats such as kayaks or canoes.
Migratory Waterfowl Concentration Area
Areas where migratory waterfowl are known to have previously concentrated or are currently concentrated.
Public Access Beaches
Areas identified as publicly accessible beaches.
Open Space and Public Lands
A synthesis of several sources of open space and publicly accessible properties that can serve as vantage points for visual vistas of Long Island Sound.
Working waterfronts, ports and marine commercial areas
Commercial facilities that are water dependent or service water dependent uses on Long Island Sound, including but not limited to onshore and offshore terminals and port facilities.
Layer Names:
Working Waterfronts
Fairways and Navigation Channels
Designated and maintained navigational channels as they appear on the NOAA-published charts.
Business and Commercial Dredging Areas
An approximate inventory of privately maintained navigational channels, fairways, and basins, excluding facilities for individual residential use.
Layer Names:
Fairways and Navigation Channels
Business and Commercial Dredging Areas
Anchorage Areas
Anchorage areas as they appear on the NOAA charts.
Layer Names:
Anchorage Areas
Restricted Areas
Security zones and other operational zones, as designated by the Coast Guard or other appropriate authority.
Layer Names:
Restricted Areas
Lightering Zones
Areas designated by the Coast Guard for ship-to-ship transfer (lightering), and other areas regularly used for such transfers.
Layer Names:
Lightering Zones
Vessel Transit Lanes
Areas of high traffic use by vessels with AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders including but not limited to ferries and commercial ships..
Layer Names:
Vessel Transit Lanes
Open Water Disposal Sites
Dredged material disposal sites as they appear on the NOAA charts, in the Long Island Sound Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP), or designated by EPA. Includes areas currently and historically used. Also includes confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cells.
Layer Names:
Open Water Disposal Sites
Underwater Cables
Approximate location of Submerged cables in Long Island Sound.
Cable and Pipeline Areas
Submerged cable and pipeline infrastructure areas.
Layer Names:
Underwater Cables
Cable And Pipeline Areas
Coastal Energy Facilities
Coastal energy generating and transmission facilities and associated infrastructure, including areas of Long Island Sound adjacent thereto.
Layer Names:
Coastal Energy Facilities
Recreational Fishing Areas
Locations of recreational fishing activity were compiled iteratively over time by CT DEEP Marine Fisheries Division Staff and through Blue Plan participatory mapping efforts that engaged the LIS angling community. No assurance of catching fish is implied.
Layer Names:
LIS Recreational Fishing Activity
Commercial Fishing Areas
Commercial fishing landing data from 2000-2010 as provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
CT Recreational Shellfish Beds
In Connecticut, shellfish are defined as oysters, clams, mussels and scallops; either shucked or in the shell, fresh or frozen, whole or in part. Undesignated Beds under town or state jurisdiction which are not currently designated as “Natural Bed” or leased, licensed or otherwise managed for commercial activity may be managed as “Recreational Beds” by the municipality, where water quality classification permits. These beds may or may not sustain natural shellfish populations.
CT Natural Shellfish Beds
In Connecticut, shellfish are defined as oysters, clams, mussels and scallops; either shucked or in the shell, fresh or frozen, whole or in part. Natural beds get their name from the fact that shellfish, especially oysters, naturally inhabited the area. Natural beds have specific regulations concerning their use. Use of the natural beds requires a Relay/Transplant License I or II and/or Seed Oyster Harvesting License. These beds cannot be leased or subdivided; they are to remain open to any properly licensed shellfisherman.
CT Aquaculture Operations
The approximate locations of "Certificate for Aquaculture Operation" permitted facilities/gear via the State of Connecticut Application for Joint Programmatic General Permit (PGP) for Aquaculture Department of the Army General Permit. Permitted projects have undergone review by the State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture Bureau of Aquaculture, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
CT Seaweed Licenses
Areas where the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Aquaculture issues non-transferable licenses for the planting and cultivating of seaweed.
CT Aquaculture Gear Areas
The approximate geographical location of "Certificate for Aquaculture Operation" permitted gear via the State of Connecticut Application for Joint Programmatic General Permit (PGP) for Aquaculture Department of the Army General Permit. Permitted projects have undergone review by the State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture Bureau of Aquaculture, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
CT State Shellfish Lease Beds
In Connecticut, shellfish are defined as oysters, clams, mussels and scallops; either shucked or in the shell, fresh or frozen, whole or in part. In 1881 a line was established that divides the waters of the state into a northern and southern section. All beds south of this line are State beds.
CT Town Shellfish Lease Beds
In Connecticut, shellfish are defined as oysters, clams, mussels and scallops; either shucked or in the shell, fresh or frozen, whole or in part. In 1881 the Commissioners line was established that divides the waters of the state into a northern and southern section. Most beds north of this line are town beds except for beds north of the line in Milford, West Haven, and New Haven. Town beds are under town jurisdiction and may be leased, licensed or otherwise managed through the local shellfish commission.
NY Aquaculture Sites
Information provided from NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation on locations for seven Temporary Marine Area Use Assignments (TMAUAs) for aquaculture activities.
Layer Names:
CT Shellfish Beds (Natural)
CT Aquaculture Operations
CT Seaweed Licenses
CT Aquaculture Gear Areas
CT Shellfish Beds (State Managed)
CT Shellfish Beds (Town Managed)
NY Aquaculture Sites
Concentrations of Historic Cultural and Educational Uses
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of Historic Cultural and Educational use data layers in a given location.
Concentrations of Recreational Uses
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of Recreational use data layers in a given location.
Concentrations of Navigation, Transportation, etc., Uses
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of Navigation, Transportation, Industry and Commerce use data layers in a given location.
Concentrations of Fishing/Shellfishing Uses
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of Fishing/Shellfishing use data layers in a given location.
Concentrations of All Human Uses
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of human use data layers in a given location..
Layer Names:
Concentrations of Historic Cultural and Educational Uses
Concentrations of Recreational Uses
Concentrations of Navigation, Transportation, etc., Uses
Concentrations of Fishing/Shellfishing Uses
Concentrations of All Human Uses
CT Aquaculture Operations
Concentrations of uses - Water Column
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of Long Island Sound water column relevant data layers in a given location.
Concentrations of Uses - Seafloor
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of relevant Long Island Sound sea-bottom use data layers in a given location.
Concentrations of Uses - Surface
Locations where concentrations can be statistically defined and described by the number of human uses relevant to the surface of Long Island Sound in a given location.
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