Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
4.1
Ashford
4.1.1 Ashford Capability Assessment
Ashford employs a small public works department, a Land Use Department Clerk, and a Land Use Department Administrator who acts as Zoning
Enforcement Officer and Building Official. The Ashford Public Works Department is responsible for maintenance of town roads and town
facilities
Emergency Response
Ashford Volunteer Fire Department operates out of two locations, Company No. 1 on Rt. 89 and Company No. 2 on Old Town Road. Company
No. 1 provides ambulance and fire service, while Company No. 2 provides only fire service. Ashford relies on Connecticut State Police Troop C for
police response.
Regulatory Authorities
Reviewed in Chapter 2.3, Ashford regulates the use of land through zoning regulations, subdivision regulations, wetlands regulations, the
Connecticut Building Code, and a code of ordinances.
Ordinances Adopted by and Special Acts Concerning the Town of Ashford, Connecticut contains the towns’ floodplain management ordinance,
Resolution Concerning Flood Protection and Flood Insurance, which enables the establishment of Ashford’s Flood Plain Zone. Zoning Regulations
for the Town of Ashford contain specific requirements for a special Flood Plain Zone, which includes any land located in zone A on Ashford’s
Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The Flood Plain Zone corresponds to Zone F on Ashford’s Zoning Map.
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Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Zoning Regulations for the Town of Ashford also require new developments to construct a fire fighting water supply. Developers may choose to
construct a well, capable of meeting the dry hydrant requirements, or install a 15,000 gallon cistern.
The Town of Ashford Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations establish an upland review area of 100 feet from all wetlands and
watercourses except the Mount Hope River (200ft) and its tributaries (150ft).
4.1.2 Critical Facilities in Ashford
Ashford is home to one fire department with two locations, zero police departments, one school (pre-kindergarten through 8th grade), Ashford
School, zero emergency care facilities, 25 dams, and zero hazardous materials facilities. For a map of critical facilities throughout the region, see
Figures 4.0a and 4.0b.
4.1.3 Land and Land Use in Ashford
GIS-derived land cover values for the town of Ashford, for the years 2006 and 2010, can be found in Table 4.1a, and a map of 2010 land cover
can be found in Figure 4.1a. Land cover from 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2002 can be found in Appendix 4X.
Natural Environment
The town of Ashford has the second-highest maximum elevation in the NECCOG region, behind Union, and is one of three towns with points
over 1,000 feet. Ashford is also the region’s fifth-most forested town, with large tracts of preserved, forested land including the Yale-Meyers
Forest, Nipmuck State Forest, and Natchaug State Forest. Major watercourses in Ashford are the Mount Hope River, the East Branch of the
Mount Hope River, Knowlton Brook, Poole Pond, Ashford Lake, and Lake Chaffee.
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Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Land Cover Type
Developed
Turf & Grass
Other Grasses
Agricultural Field
Deciduous Forest
Coniferous Forest
Water
Non-Forestsed Wetland
Forested Wetland
Barren Land
Utility ROW (Forest)
2006
7.4%
2.6%
1.2%
7.0%
64.6%
10.1%
2.2%
0.8%
3.9%
0.1%
0.0%
2010
7.4%
2.6%
1.3%
7.0%
64.6%
10.1%
2.2%
0.8%
3.9%
0.2%
0.0%
Table 4.1a: Land cover in Ashford
Development Trends
Residential development in Ashford is focused most-heavily around Lake Chaffee and Ashford Lake. Commercial development in Ashford is both
sparse and small-scale. It is mostly concentrated around its villages and along Route 44, which runs east-west across the southern portion of the
town, Connecticut Route 74, and exits 71 and 72 on Interstate 84, which cuts through the northwest corner of the town.
According to Ashford’s 2005, Plan of Conservation and Development, It should be expected that Ashford will continue to develop and grow in
population in the coming years. The town has identified the need for commercial and industrial expansion along I-84. The high volume of traffic
using the interstate and existing small-scale commercial uses create a great opportunity for future development. Ashford has also identified the
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Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
need to concentrate future development around its existing village centers, with the goal that development is supportive of the town’s rural
character.
4.1.4 Natural Hazard Vulnerabilities in Ashford
Ashford, as a whole, may be more vulnerable, or less vulnerable, to certain hazards than other towns in the region. More specifically, there may
be certain areas within Ashford that may be more susceptible to property damage, personal injury, or loss of life. A Vulnerability Assessment for
the town of Ashford used Hazus-MH software, demographic data, land cover data, Ashford’s plan of conservation and development, and
regulations described in Chapter 4.1.1, to explain variations in Ashford’s vulnerable people and property.
Inventory data from Hazus-MH was also used to estimate the total exposure value of property in Ashford (see Table 4.1b).
Properties Vulnerable to Flooding
The Mount Hope River and the East Branch of the Mount Hope River are major watercourses with hazardous flooding potential. Additionally,
Ashford is home to 25 dams. Goss Brook Dam is a Class C dam, and there are three Class B dams, Lake Chaffee Dam, Ashford Lake Dam, and
happy Acres Pond Dam (see Figure 4.1b).
See Hazus-MH Results for damage estimates from a 100-year flood in the town of Ashford.
Elevation
When compared with the rest of the region, Ashford—northern Ashford in particular—is at higher elevation. Higher elevations should
experience temperature conditions favorable to winter weather before low-lying areas, increasing the likelihood and severity of winter storms.
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Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Infrastructure and Utilities
One of the greatest threats to infrastructure and utilities is wind, which occurs in conjunction with a number of identified hazards. Falling trees
and tree limbs can damage utility wires, leaving people without electricity and communications, and damage or block roadways, disrupting
movement and emergency response. Proportionately, Ashford is the fifth-most forested town in the region, which may heighten the town’s
vulnerability to wind damage. Wind poses a significant threat at the interfaces between human development and forests.
Additional threats to utilities and infrastructure arise from lightning strikes, snow and ice from winter storms, earthquakes, and hail. See HazusMH Results for the expected effects of a Category 3 hurricane and Magnitude 5.0 earthquake in Ashford.
Areas of Heavy Development and High Activity
When compared with other towns in the region, Ashford has no areas of significant development or human activity. Village centers and the
communities of Ashford Lake and Lake Chaffee are the most densely developed portions of town. There are also a number of summer camps
and campsites that become densely populated in warmer months. People and property in these areas should be considered more vulnerable to
tornadoes, hail, earthquakes, and lightning, than people and property in sparsely developed portions of town.
Areas Prone to Isolation
In the northern Ashford, there are number of narrow, populated roads through the Natchaug State Forest and Yale-Meyers Forest that may
become inaccessible or isolated from emergency response.
Agriculture
In 2010, 7% of Ashford’s land cover was designated “Agricultural Field”, fewer than most towns in the region. Nonetheless, agricultural areas in
Ashford should be considered especially vulnerable to drought and hail.
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Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazus-MH Results
Hazus-MH software was used to model the expected effects of a 100-year flood event (see Table 4.1b and Figure 4.1c), Category 3 hurricane (see
Table 4.1b), and Magnitude 5.0 earthquake, in the village of Moodus, Connecticut (see Table 4.1b), in the town of Ashford.
Event
Building Damage Debris Generation Shelter Requirements
100-year Flood
$XXXXX
XXXX Tons
X Persons
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake
$XXXXX
XXXX Tons
X Persons
Category 3 Hurricane
$XXXXX
XXXX Tons
X Persons
Table 4.1b: Hazus-MH results for building damage, debris generation, and shelter requirements from flooding, earthquake, and hurricane
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Figure 4.1a: Overview of Ashford
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Figure 4.1b: Dams and watercourses in Ashford
Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Region All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazus-MH Flood Map
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