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: Water Pollution

Perhaps the most prominent environmental issue associated with Long Island Sound is water quality, which isn't surprising, since we all contribute to water pollution in one way or another. According to the Long Island Sound Study, 20 percent of the man-made nitrogen loading to Long Island Sound comes from nonpoint source pollution – pollution that does not result from direct discharges from industries or sewage treatment plants.

coastal water pollution sources sketch 

Nonpoint source pollution includes ”urban“ runoff from streets, driveways, parking areas, and other impervious surfaces, as well as runoff from yards, which can contain fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, and even human wastes from malfunctioning septic systems. Stormwater runoff everywhere in Connecticut eventually drains into the Sound, bringing with it pollutants which can be harmful to Long Island Sound.

While every ­resident of the state should take part in the effort to control non-point source pollution, waterfront residents stand literally on the front lines of this struggle. Because coastal property owners are directly adjacent to the water, it is especially important that they take measures to reduce runoff and prevent pollutants from reaching the Sound. Simple, common-sense steps such as reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides and fertilizers, minimizing impervious surfaces, and maintaining a vegetated buffer along the shore, such as a fringe of tidal wetlands, will help natural systems filter out pollutants in stormwater runoff. In addition, pollution can be prevented by keeping septic systems in good order, and by never allowing waste from pets or boats to enter into the waters of Long Island Sound.

Introduction | Access to Your Boat: Your Littoral Rights
Tidal Wetlands | Shoreline Protection | What You Can Do


Content Last Updated March 6, 2020