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

News Releases - 2021

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  • 7/8/2021 DEEP Asks Residents To Take Feeders Down and Be On the Lookout for Sick Songbirds

    (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is alerting residents to a mortality event occurring in parts of the United States among certain species of fledgling songbirds, and asking residents to take certain precautionary measures.

  • 7/8/2021 DEEP Forester to Lead Tree ID Walk in Great Pond State Forest July 10

    (HARTFORD)—Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Forester Jerry Milne invites members of the public to join him on a tree identification walk in Great Pond State Forest in Simsbury Saturday, July 10, at 10 a.m.

  • 7/2/2021 Take the Bus, Avoid Traffic and Stress This July 4th Weekend

    (HARTFORD, CT)— The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents that fare-free shuttles and enhanced existing transit service to various state parks and beaches are available this Fourth of July weekend via the pilot ParkConneCT program

  • 7/2/2021 New Inland Fishing Rules Take Effect to Expand Opportunities

    (HARTFORD, CT) – The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announces new inland fishing regulations effective immediately that are intended to enhance existing and provide new fishing opportunities.

  • 7/1/2021 DEEP Announces Operation Dry Water 2021

    (HARTFORD)—As boaters begin to prepare for the July 4th holiday weekend, law enforcement officers across Connecticut will be on heightened alert looking for those violating boating under the influence laws. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon), in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, local law enforcement, and the U.S. Coast Guard, will be participating in the national Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend from July 2 – 4, 2021.

  • 7/1/2021 DEEP Reminds Visitors to State Parks this Weekend to Plan Ahead, Arrive Early, and Have a Back-up Plan

    (HARTFORD)—Ahead of the July 4th Weekend, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut State Police, and municipal leaders remind visitors to state parks and boat launches to plan ahead, arrive early, and have a back-up plan in mind in case the location of your choice is full and closed to new visitors upon arrival.

  • 6/24/2021 Boating Incident Has Positive Outcome Thanks to Emergency Preparedness and Actions by Vessel Owner, ‘Good Samaritan’ Vessels in Area

    (HARTFORD)—The lives of five men on a fishing trip on Long Island Sound were saved earlier this week after their boat sank, thanks to the preparedness and quick actions taken by the owner of the sinking vessel, and the Good Samaritan vessels in the area who came to their aid.

  • 6/18/2021 USDA Forest Service Approves Connecticut’s 2020 Forest Action Plan

    (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently received official approval from the USDA Forest Service of Connecticut’s 2020 Forest Action Plan, a ten-year strategic document designed to guide policies, priorities, and actions to conserve Connecticut’s forest resources across multiple landscapes from urban and suburban, to rural.

  • 6/17/2021 DEEP, CFPA Announce Master Woodland Manager Program

    (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Forestry Division and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA), in collaboration with UConn Cooperative Extension, are thrilled to announce the Connecticut Master Woodland Manager Program (MWM), a year-long program consisting of online and field study that provides woodland owners and managers with the knowledge and skills that they need to make the right decisions for their woodland.

  • 6/16/2021 DEEP to Hold Informational Meeting on Pachaug Pond Dam Repair Project June 23

    (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will host a public informational meeting June 23 to discuss an upcoming project that will repair and improve the Pachaug Pond dam in Griswold.

  • 6/11/2021 DEEP EnCon Police Partner with Foundation to Promote Wearing of Life Jackets

    (HARTFORD)—Thanks to a donation from the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)’s Environmental Conservation Police will be in a position to provide new donated life jackets to individuals on Candlewood Lake who are without one.

  • 6/10/2021 DEEP Re-imposes Alcohol Ban for 6 Recreation Areas

    (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has re-imposed temporary alcohol bans for six state recreation areas. These bans are in effect immediately and until August 25, 2021, at the following locations:

  • 6/3/2021 CT Greenways Council to Hold 22nd Annual Greenway Awards and Kick-Off CT Trails Day Events: June 4 - 6

    (HARTFORD)- The Connecticut Greenways Council (CGC) will hold its 22nd Annual CT Greenway Awards on Friday, June 4, at 10 a.m. at the Brookfield Town Hall Bandshell in Brookfield. The event, traditionally held on the Friday before CT Trails Day weekend on June 5 and 6, will celebrate the Still River Greenway.

  • 5/28/2021 Share the Shore with Nesting Birds

    Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that Charles Island in Milford and Duck Island in Westbrook will be closed to the public from now through September 9, 2021, to prevent disturbances to nesting birds. Both islands have been designated by DEEP as Natural Area Preserves, primarily due to their importance as nesting habitats for several state-listed birds, including snowy egrets and great egrets (state threatened species), glossy ibis, and little blue herons (state special concern). The two islands also have been designated as Important Bird Areas by Audubon Connecticut.

  • 5/28/2021 DEEP Announces the Great Outdoor Pursuit 2021

    The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce that registration for the No Child Left Inside® Great Outdoor Pursuit 2021 – Connecticut State Parks’ Family Adventure, will open on 9:00 a.m., Saturday, May 29, 2021 at www.NoChildLeftInside.org. Get outside with the family for some healthy fun, exercise, and to make memories together.