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

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