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. 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

Long Island Sound
Water Quality and Hypoxia Monitoring Program

Results and Annual Reports

A collage of LIS water quality monitoring pictures
LIS Monitoring Surveys
The summer Long Island Sound water quality sampling schedule includes routine water quality surveys as well as summer-only hypoxia surveys.

Routine water quality surveys are conducted year-round, including during the summer months.  During these surveys water samples are collected from 17 stations and analyzed for nutrients and other water quality parameters.  In addition, phytoplankton and zooplankton samples are collected from 6 stations in the Sound.

Hypoxia surveys are conducted during the months of June through September at an additional 30 stations.  During hypoxia surveys, stations are sampled for dissolved oxygen to get a more accurate understanding of the extent of summer hypoxia conditions in Long Island Sound bottom waters.

DEEP's Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program utilizes data from both surveys to monitor the extent of low dissolved oxygen in Long Island Sound bottom waters, or 'summertime hypoxia'.  Hypoxia condition maps are posted as soon as possible after each survey.  

Monitoring Schedule
Monitoring Results

This year's monitoring results are reported in the survey summaries and hypoxia maps below.   

Survey Summary Newsletters:

Dissolved Oxygen Distribution/Hypoxia Extent Maps:

 

Historic Monitoring Reports & Maps
Use the drop-down menu below to view and download available summary reports and maps from past monitoring efforts.

    
LIS Hypoxia Monitoring Distribution List

Biweekly newsletters, summarizing the results of each survey, are also distributed to interested parties. If you are interested in receiving future biweekly survey summary newsletters, email Katie O'Brien-Clayton at Katie.Obrien-Clayton@ct.gov to be added to the distribution list.

  
Photo of the research vessel John Dempsey
  
  
Long Island Sound
Water Quality and Hypoxia Monitoring Program
 
 
 
 
 
Content last updated September 2024.