Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

DEEP headquarters at 79 Elm Street in Hartford has partially re-opened to staff and members of the public as of Tuesday, February 3. The DEEP records room has re-opened. The DEEP Central Permit Processing Unit (CPPU) will be open to the public starting on Wednesday, Feb. 4. For updates, click here

Connecticut's Coastal Nonpoint Source
Pollution Control Programgrazing
Wetlands, Riparian Areas
& Vegetated Treatment Systems

Wetlands, riparian areas, and vegetated treatment systems are effective in removing pollutants from stormwater, including sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Wetland and riparian areas also help to slow the flows from higher-than-average storm events, protecting downstream areas from impacts such as channel scour, stream bank erosion, and fluctuations in temperature. Changes in their physical, chemical or biological characteristics may impair the ability of a wetland or riparian area to filter excess sediments and nutrients, causing deterioration of surface water quality. Activities that cause such changes include draining of wetlands for cropland, overgrazing, construction, channelization of adjoining waterways (see hydromodifications), deposition of dredged material and excavation.

Key Concepts
  • Maintain the ability of wetlands and riparian areas to filter nonpoint source contaminants such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
  • Prevent or reduce pollutant loadings to wetlands and riparian areas.
  • Restore degraded and preexisting wetland and riparian areas.
  • Use vegetated filter strips to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering adjacent waterbodies.

Related Links

Content Last Updated February 28, 2020