Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Cleaning Tips For Your Boat

The Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) encourages you to dry your equipment and boat for a minimum of one week during hot/dry weather and four weeks during cool/wet weather. If, however, you can't wait that long, below are some cleaning methods to help prevent the spread of invasive species.
 
  • Washing with hot, pressurized water.
  • Dipping equipment into 100% vinegar for 20 minutes prior rinsing.
  • "Wetting" with a bleach solution (1 oz per gallon) or soap and hot water (Lysol, boat soap, etc.) for ten minutes prior to rinsing.
  • Using 1% table salt solution for 24 hours, prior to rinsing. This table provides correct mixtures for the 1% salt solution in water:
Gallons of Water  Cups of Salt 
5  2/3 
10  1 1/4 
25  3 
50  6 1/4 
100  12 2/3 
  • If hot water is not available, spray equipment such as boats, motors, trailers, anchors, decoys, floats, nets, with high-pressure water.
Make sure to clean everything that came in contact with the water. Pieces of plants can hide on anchor lines, on the propeller and on your dog.