News Releases

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• 6/22/2025 Connecticut Facing First Summer Heat Wave DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for June 22 and 23, 2025

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting temperatures to reach the mid to upper 90’s beginning Sunday, June 22 and last through Wednesday June 25, 2025. At points during this heat wave heat indices are expected to exceed 100oF. These very hot temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for the southern portion of Connecticut on Sunday and Monday. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for these parts of Connecticut.

• 6/18/2025 MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP Boating Division and No Child Left Inside® Offer Family Boating Day on Saturday, June 21

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Families in the Parks Program and Boating Division will host a free “Family Boating Day” at Indian Well State Park in Shelton from 12:00 to 4:00 PM on Saturday, June 21, 2025.

• 6/13/2025 DEEP Announces Grant Recipients and New Funding Opportunity for Urban and Community Forestry

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today recipients of 2025 Urban and Community Forestry Planning and Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration grants. Over $184,000 will be granted to support 11 urban and community forestry projects in Bloomfield, Ellington, Mansfield, New London, North Stonington, Old Saybrook, Ridgefield, Stamford, and Stratford.

• 6/4/2025 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for June 4–5 2025

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting temperatures to reach the mid-to-upper 80s (˚F) beginning June 4th, with high temperatures persisting and reaching near 90 on June 5th. These warm temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for western Connecticut and inland areas on Wednesday and continuing from southwest Connecticut to northeast Connecticut on Thursday. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for these parts of Connecticut.

• 5/30/2025 Connecticut Greenways Council to Hold 26th Annual Greenway Awards and Kick Off Connecticut Trails Day Events

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Greenways Council (CGC) will host its 26th Annual Connecticut Greenway Awards at Riverfront Recapture’s Boathouse in Hartford on Friday, June 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The event is traditionally held on the Friday before Connecticut Trails Day, which occurs the weekend of June 7 and 8, 2025.

• 5/23/2025 DEEP Highlights Connecticut State Parks as Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off the Summer Tourism Season

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start to the busy summer parks season, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is highlighting the extraordinary outdoor recreation opportunities our State Parks and Forests have to offer, some of the ways we’re working to improve access and the user experience in our parks, and important things to remember in order to have a fun, safe, summer.

• 5/21/2025 DEEP Announces Alcohol Ban for Nine Recreation Areas

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has imposed a temporary alcohol ban for nine state recreation areas. This ban is in effect from Wednesday, May 21, through Monday, August 18, at the following locations:

• 5/16/2025 Visitors to Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield Can Purchase Advance Parking Reservations for Weekends and Holidays

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) once again will offer an online reservation system for parking at Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield. Parking passes for holidays and weekends may be purchased up to 14 days prior to arrival to help improve the experience for visitors and reduce traffic congestion near the park.

• 5/15/2025 DEEP Celebrates National Safe Boating Week

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) joins partners across the country to remind boaters of the importance of safe and responsible boating during National Safe Boating Week. The seven-day campaign will occur May 17 to May 23, the week preceding Memorial Day weekend, which is the unofficial kickoff to the summer boating season in Connecticut.

• 5/14/2025 DEEP Launches New Online Tool to Assist Solar Siting

  (HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that it has launched a new online tool that will enable a more transparent and efficient siting and permitting process for large-scale renewable energy projects, while at the same time protecting Connecticut’s environmental and natural resources.

• 5/13/2025 DEEP Acquires 643 Acres in Killingly for New Wildlife Management Area

  (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that it acquired 642.9 acres of important wildlife habitat and wetlands at 520 Bailey Hill Road, in Killingly, Connecticut with the intent to establish a new Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This significant land purchase marks a major step forward in conserving Connecticut’s natural heritage and expanding passive recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

• 5/8/2025 Visitors May Now Reserve All-Terrain Wheelchairs to Enjoy the Outdoors at Seven Connecticut State Parks

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is excited to announce the expansion of its All-Terrain Wheelchair Program to seven Connecticut State Park and Forest locations. Five locations were available beginning last fall and starting today, users can make reservations online to use the all-terrain wheelchairs for free beginning June 7 at a total of seven locations.

• 5/8/2025 ADVISORY: DEEP Kicks-Off the 20th Anniversary of the No Child Left Inside® Families in the Parks Program With Free Family Fishing Day May 10th

  (HARTFORD) –The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce that the 20th Anniversary of the No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Families in the Parks Program will begin on Saturday, May 10, 2025, with Free Family Fishing Day!

• 5/7/2025 DEEP Celebrates National Air Quality Awareness Week May 5-9

  (HARTFORD)—To mark National Air Quality Awareness week, which runs May 5-9, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) encourages the public to stay aware of the air quality around you, learn how to protect yourself on poor air quality days, and consider actions you can take to improve your local air quality.

• 5/2/2025 DEEP Issues Request for Proposals (RFP) for Food & Beverage Concessions in Three Connecticut State Parks

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified food service vendors to provide services to the public at existing concession buildings at Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent, and Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield. The Lake Waramaug concession includes a camp store serving the park’s 73-site seasonal campground. The RFP is available on the CTsource Bid Board as solicitation number DEEP04212025MM, and proposals are due May 29th.