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

Living on the Shore: What You Can Do

The complex issues raised by the scarce resources and competing uses of Connecticut's coast require active management in order to keep our coast a good place to live, work, and play. One aspect of coastal management is the regulation of coastal development. Any work in tidal wetlands or waterward of the coastal jurisdiction line requires authorization from the DEEP Land & Water Resources Division (LWRD). In particular, if you're thinking about purchasing property with coastal structures or planning to repair structures in the water or within tidal wetlands, first check with the appropriate LWRD Regulatory Staff for your area to see if the existing structures are permitted. In many cases, you may need to undertake few or no additional procedures to conduct maintenance and repair activities. If the structures were not previously permitted, LWRD can provide information on how to proceed.

idyllic shore scene sketch 

In exercising your rights to use and enjoy your property, please keep in mind that the ownership of shorefront property gives you a special opportunity to protect and preserve the natural resources and quality of life that all of Connecticut's citizens cherish. In pursuing this opportunity, we offer a list of "DOs and DON'Ts" to help you improve your stewardship of and appreciation for your part of the coastal environment:

DON'T  

DON'T  

DON'T  

DON'T  

DO  

DO  

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DO  

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interfere with tidal flow by blocking culverts, tide gates, or tidal streams;

fill or dump in wetlands;

dump animal waste, household wastes, or litter into the water;

build unauthorized structures or place unauthorized fill waterward of the coastal jurisdiction line;

contact LWRD before undertaking projects involving work in tidal wetlands or waterward of the coastal jurisdiction line;

landscape your property appropriately, maintain a vegetated buffer, and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers;

preserve and, where appropriate, restore your tidal wetlands;

observe and learn about the plants and animals that share their coastal habitat with you;

Learn more about Connecticut’s Coastal Management and Regulatory programs, and contact LWRD for more information about what you can do to help protect Long Island Sound;

join the drive to preserve the Sound by purchasing a Long Island Sound license plate, the proceeds of which go to the Long Island Sound Fund, which provides money for education, public access, habitat restoration and research; and,

enjoy your special place on the Connecticut shore and help protect it for future generations.

Introduction | Access to Your Boat: Your Littoral Rights
Tidal Wetlands | Water Pollution | Shoreline Protection


Content Last Updated March 6, 2020