October 10, 2018 | Elaina Hancock - UConn Communications
Climate Corps Seeks to Make Impact in Connecticut’s Communities
A service learning course enlists students to help the state's communities respond and adapt to climate change through the UConn Climate Corps.
When President Franklin Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal, he saw it not only as a way to tap into a workforce eager to work, but as an opportunity to preserve open spaces. The Civilian Conservation Corps was a success, and the results of many of those projects are still in use nearly a century later.
Today, UConn is applying a similar concept, enlisting students to help Connecticut communities respond and adapt to climate change through the UConn Climate Corps.
Extension educators Mike Dietz, Chet Arnold, and Juliana Barrett took Climate Corps students on a tour of green infrastructure and low impact development around campus on Sept. 27. Low impact development measures, such as permeable surfaces and rain gardens, are important steps UConn is taking to reduce the campus’ environmental footprint, because stormwater runoff can have a negative impact on the quality of water in streams and rivers around campus. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour1_IMG_4857
Extension educators Mike Dietz, Chet Arnold, and Juliana Barrett took Climate Corps students on a tour of green infrastructure and low impact development around campus on Sept. 27. Low impact development measures, such as permeable surfaces and rain gardens, are important steps UConn is taking to reduce the campus’ environmental footprint, because stormwater runoff can have a negative impact on the quality of water in streams and rivers around campus. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
Many new buildings and road projects, such as bus pull-offs around campus, are integrating low impact development strategies, Dietz says. Pervious pavers, such as these installed around McHugh Hall, are another measure UConn has implemented for rainwater management. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour3_IMG_4861
Many new buildings and road projects, such as bus pull-offs around campus, are integrating low impact development strategies, Dietz says. Pervious pavers, such as these installed around McHugh Hall, are another measure UConn has implemented for rainwater management. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
Standing outside Laurel Hall, Dietz explains that these types of pavers allow rainfall and stormwater to infiltrate into the ground through the joints, rather than running over the surface as it would with traditional asphalt. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour4_IMG_4862
Standing outside Laurel Hall, Dietz explains that these types of pavers allow rainfall and stormwater to infiltrate into the ground through the joints, rather than running over the surface as it would with traditional asphalt. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
The students learn about the green roof installed on Laurel Hall. Green roofs are planted with light growing media and plants such as sedums. These collect and retain some of the rain (about 50 percent annually) that falls on the roof, while also reducing the cost of heating and cooling by providing insulation. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour5_IMG_4864(1)
The students learn about the green roof installed on Laurel Hall. Green roofs are planted with light growing media and plants such as sedums. These collect and retain some of the rain (about 50 percent annually) that falls on the roof, while also reducing the cost of heating and cooling by providing insulation. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
The students learn about pervious concrete outside the Greer Field House. This surface, like other pervious surfaces, is intended to allow water to sink in, but has a unique modular design that allows for easy placement and addresses some of the issues associated with poured-in-place pervious concrete. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour7_IMG_4867
The students learn about pervious concrete outside the Greer Field House. This surface, like other pervious surfaces, is intended to allow water to sink in, but has a unique modular design that allows for easy placement and addresses some of the issues associated with poured-in-place pervious concrete. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
Outside of Storrs Hall, students get to view a green roof up close, and learn about how green roofs play a role in rainwater management. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour8_IMG_4869
Outside of Storrs Hall, students get to view a green roof up close, and learn about how green roofs play a role in rainwater management. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
Dietz explains the importance of installing permeable pavement for parking lots such as this one behind Storrs Hall. Permeable pavement allows rainwater to be absorbed into the ground, rather than running over the surface and inundating storm sewers. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour9_IMG_4875
Dietz explains the importance of installing permeable pavement for parking lots such as this one behind Storrs Hall. Permeable pavement allows rainwater to be absorbed into the ground, rather than running over the surface and inundating storm sewers. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
Dietz says that permeable pavements like the one used at the Storrs Hall parking lot not only help manage stormwater, but they also require less salt in the winter for deicing. When snow and ice melt, the water seeps through to the ground underneath, avoiding black ice conditions. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour10_IMG_4880
Dietz says that permeable pavements like the one used at the Storrs Hall parking lot not only help manage stormwater, but they also require less salt in the winter for deicing. When snow and ice melt, the water seeps through to the ground underneath, avoiding black ice conditions. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
Outside of Beach Hall, Dietz discusses the concepts and purpose of low impact development. When there are heavy rains, the precipitation can inundate storm sewers, leading to flooding. The water carries debris and contaminants with it as it enters the storm sewers. Measures such as permeable surfaces, green roofs, and rain gardens installed around campus help manage rainwater and minimize the amount of contaminants that enter surrounding waterways. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
LIDTour11_IMG_4884
Outside of Beach Hall, Dietz discusses the concepts and purpose of low impact development. When there are heavy rains, the precipitation can inundate storm sewers, leading to flooding. The water carries debris and contaminants with it as it enters the storm sewers. Measures such as permeable surfaces, green roofs, and rain gardens installed around campus help manage rainwater and minimize the amount of contaminants that enter surrounding waterways. (Chet Arnold/UConn Photo)
The Climate Corps is part of a class offering called Climate Resilience and Adaptation: Municipal Policy and Planning. This fall brings the second iteration of the course, team-taught by associate extension educator Juliana Barrett and land use educator Bruce Hyde. The fall portion is a classroom-based course where students learn how to perform vulnerability assessments and to navigate the process by which policy decisions are made at the local, or town, level. The spring semester follows with in-the-field training and service learning, to give students the tools and opportunities to help communities become more resilient against climate change.
“Rather than focusing on the science behind climate change,” Barrett says, “this course is about local policy responses.”
Planning and policy processes can be fraught with challenges. Local responses to conservation proposals can be politically driven and of course financially driven, as many projects can be costly. There may be resistance by some community members. Navigating these nuances and being creative in finding real, actionable solutions is an important and fascinating component of this line of work, and a valuable skill set students learn in the course, says Barrett.
“When you start to look at the whole situation, you start to find doable pieces,” she says.
The first step the students took to find those doable pieces was to identify projects that would not be costly to the communities they started working with.
“We positioned the students to work with towns that did not receive state grants that were previously available to underwrite local vulnerability assessments,” says Barrett.
When you start to look at the whole situation, you start to find doable pieces. — Juliana Barrett
Projects from the first year of the Climate Corps included performing vulnerability assessments, evaluating climate adaptation options, and developing strategies for community outreach, to name just a few.
In terms of areas of the state benefiting from the Climate Corps efforts so far, Barrett says coastal towns are the focus for the service learning for the most part, as they are feeling the brunt of the changes already. Intense storms such as Irene and Sandy served as wake-up calls to coastal communities, who have since begun to increase efforts in resilience planning, through programs such as FEMA’s community rating system.
“Communities have asked students to work with them in applying to the Community Rating System, a points-based system instituted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that makes them eligible for federal assistance,” says Barrett. The process can seem daunting to town leaders, however, and that is where the students are able to step in and help.
To earn points, Barrett says, communities must assess their risks and then put into practice measures to educate the community and measures to reduce potential damage to flood-prone, insurable areas. Homeowners may be required to have flood insurance, for instance, as mortgages that are federally regulated must have flood insurance. Additionally, homeowners and renters insurance policies do not typically cover flood damage. When towns are enrolled in the community rating system, there is a chance they can decrease flood insurance costs for members of the community.
One shoreline town asked Climate Corps for help in prioritizing different resilience actions that could be taken, in order to tackle the least expensive measures first. Students performed flood analyses, following different sea-level rise scenarios, and created a prioritization scheme, says Barrett. They also made a brochure about the measures to use for community outreach and as a result, the town plans to meet again because they would like to continue working with the Climate Corps.
This is one example of a great result in a line of work that can be discouraging at times. But Barrett says the students keep her energized.
“We are bombarded by so many issues, such as climate change, it’s easy to be overwhelmed,” she says. “The students have such great ideas and so much energy, they can’t wait to get to work. It’s rejuvenating.”
Just as the Civilian Conservation Corps has had a lasting legacy, the UConn Climate Corps is helping to implement real-world, lasting solutions to the communities enlisting their assistance.
“The towns are so grateful for the students’ help,” says Barrett.
At the individual level, Barrett suggests taking the same approach of looking for doable pieces. Start to assess what can be done now and what simple steps can be taken. From actions such as installing a rain barrel to reduce the amount of water we use, to building a rain garden (using the UConn smartphone app!), to simply checking FEMA flood maps before buying a property, we can all do something now to become more resilient to climate change.
The corps model is being applied in other areas, giving UConn students additional service-learning opportunities such as the UConn Brownfields Corps, and there are plans for the creation of a Stormwater Corps.
If your community would like to work with the UConn Climate Corps, visit the Municipal Assistance Program page. For more information on planning and development across the state, read how you can get involved in preserving green spaces across the state.
Listen to the writer, Elaina Hancock, discussing the climate change series with the UConn 360 podcast: