Coastal Planning

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. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Coastal Land Use Planning

Coastal Management Manual

Developed as a tool for coastal land
use agents, boards and commissions,
as well as developers, consultants and
individuals, to use in understanding how
to apply the standards and policies of
Connecticut's Coastal Management Act.

Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation

Connecticut's Coastal and Estuarine Land
Conservation Plan (CELCP) describes and
prioritizes the State's coastal land acquisition
opportunities and provides guidance for
selecting land acquisition projects to compete
for federal CELCP grant financing.

Guidance on P.A. 12-101

Public Act 12-101, An Act Concerning the
Coastal Management Act and Shoreline Flood
and Erosion Control Structures, included
initiatives to address sea level rise, revise
the regulatory limit for activities in coastal, tidal
and, navigable waters, and revise regulatory
policies concerning shoreline protection.

Coastal Landscaping Guide

The University of Connecticut Coastal
Landscaping Guide for Long Island
Sound provides a resource for coastal
property owners to learn about the
benefits of incorporating riparian buffers.

Connecticut Beaches and Dunes

The Connecticut Beaches and Dunes:
A Hazard Guide for Coastal Property Owners
website helps coastal property owners to
evaluate threats and identify actions to protect
coastal property and the natural environment.

The Gateway Commission's Mission

Protecting the Character of the Lower Connecticut
River – The Gateway Commission's Mission
presents a discussion of the Commission’s
adopted zoning standards,which govern
development in the Gateway Conservation
District of the Lower Connecticut River.

The Gateway Commission, enabled by state
statute in 1973, grew out of an effort to “protect
the scenic, historic and environmental resources
of the lower river”. The Gateway Commission
accomplishes this goal through land protection
and the creation of zoning standards to be
adopted and enforced by the eight participating
towns in the Gateway Zone.

Content Last Updated January 30, 2020

Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection