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. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Dam Permitting

Information regarding Individual Permit Applications received by The DEEP Dam Safety Regulatory Program can be found on the following table:

STATUS OF DAM SAFETY INDIVIDUAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Table Updated: September 4, 2024

Permit Application Submittal Procedure: 

 The DEEP Dam Safety Regulatory Program is now able to offer the option of submitting all Dam Safety Permit Applications electronically. Please follow these steps to submit Dam Safety Permit Applications to DEEP:

1. Submit the appropriate form via email to DEEP.CentralPermits@ct.gov, and copy DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov. The Primary Contact listed in the application will receive a Confirmation of Application Receipt email that includes the Permit Application # the next business day after it is processed.

• If there is a fee please indicate in the email if you would like to pay by e-check or credit card.

   **DO NOT EMAIL YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER**
  • If paying by e-check provide the name and phone number of the person that will have bank information (checking account #, routing #) available when we call to process your payment.
  • If you wish to make payment by credit card, indicate in the email that you are authorizing DEEP to receive your credit card* information over the phone. In addition to this authorization, please include the following information in the email: cardholder's name, billing address of the cardholder, the amount to be processed (including the invoice or application number if available), and the phone number and name of the contact to be reached for the credit card information. *We currently accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover.
  • If you do not wish to pay via e-check or credit card, you will receive an invoice in the mail, and you can mail in a paper check.
• If you are sending the Individual Permit Application via email, please do not send us a duplicate paper copy.  In your email, you may ask us to verify that we received your Individual Permit Application successfully. The email subject heading should say “Electronic Individual Permit Application: Dam Safety Program”. You will receive a Permit Application # from DEEP.CentralPermits@ct.gov

2. Send another email to DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov to submit the rest of the permit application (with appropriate attachments), and reference the Permit Application # in the email subject heading.

• The rest of the application and attachments must be received by the DEEP Dam Safety Program within 30 days of submitting the Permit Transmittal Form in Step #1. If the attachments are too large to email, please use our FTP site (Instructions for how to use FTP Site).
• If the rest of the permit application and attachments are not received within 30 days, the application will be deemed insufficient.


Individual Permit
A Dam Safety Individual Permit is required prior to initiating substantial repairs, alterations, or removals of dams. This permit process is used to authorize large scale projects. For smaller scale projects, a general permit may provide authorization through a faster process. Be sure to read the Permit Application Guidance below when preparing an individual permit application.  Download all the Dam Safety Individual Permit Materials (application forms, instructions, and supporting attachment information) for an individual dam safety permit application. 

General Permits
Three Dam Safety General Permits were signed on October 16, 2015 and are currently available. These permits provide quick process authorization for many dam-related minor activities which have only minimal environmental impacts.

This table provides a quick view of the three general permits.
Download the permits, filing forms, the notice form, and fact sheets - Dam Safety General Permits GP-014, GP-015, and GP-016

 

Fishway Determination

A determination of the need for a fishway is necessary for any work that requires a DEEP Dam Safety individual or general permit: Request for Determination of Need for Fishway - Word Form, PDF

Permit applicants must submit the completed form to the DEEP Inland Fisheries Division and submit the determination response with the final Dam Safety permit application.    

Stream Flow Release Determination
Certain dams, primarily large impoundments with consumptive withdrawals such as drinking water supply reservoirs, will be required to make releases in accordance with Connecticut Stream Flow Standards and Regulations.  All water supply reservoir companies must request a determination of the need to perform stream flow releases whenever applying for a DEEP Dam Safety individual permit, and submit the determination with the final Dam Safety permit application. Request for Determination of Stream Flow Release Requirement - Word, PDF.

Further information about stream flow releases may be found by contacting the DEEP Water Quantity section in the Water Planning & Management Division at deep.streamflowclass@ct.gov.     

Fish Screening
Triploid (sterile) grass carp are one option for the control of nuisance aquatic vegetation.  Applicants considering the installation of a screening device on any dam or spillway must contact the DEEP Dam Safety Regulatory Program at DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov so that we may determine if the screen will require a Dam Safety Individual Permit.

Dam Removal
Links to websites with dam removal information: (leave DEEP website)
Links to videos on dam removal projects: (leave DEEP website)
For further information contact the DEEP Dam Safety Regulatory Program at (860) 424-3706 or by email at  DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov
 

 

Content last edited September 6, 2024