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

Press Releases

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02/07/2019

DEEP Announces $1 Million in Grants Available for Water Quality Improvement Projects

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that Connecticut has received approximately $1 million in funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that are available for communities, local conservation groups, and other organizations to improve water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams that are not meeting water quality standards. DEEP administers these grants and is now accepting proposals for fiscal year 2019.
“Protecting Connecticut’s waterways is at the core of our agency’s mission,” said DEEP Commissioner-designee Katie Dykes. “These funds will help to improve water quality by controlling nonpoint sources of water pollution, benefiting flora and fauna throughout our watersheds. Healthy and vibrant watersheds are key to ecotourism, which is a significant driver of economic activity in the state.”
The funding comes from Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act, which is a federal program to control nonpoint sources (NPS) of water pollution.  Common NPS pollutants include:  bacteria, nutrients, sediment, salt, petroleum products, heavy metals, pesticides, and debris.  These pollutants are typically carried by stormwater runoff into streams, lakes, and estuaries from diffuse land use and other activities that are not regulated as point source discharges. Previous grants have supported projects for dam removals, conservation practices on farms, and treatments of polluted runoff.
Proposals may be submitted by any interested public or private organization and must be received by April 3, 2019.
Information can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/nps
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