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

Water Monitoring and Assessment Program

A brown trout is measured by DEEP staff.CT DEEP's Long Island Sound water quality monitoring vessel, the John Dempsey."No Swimming" sign posted at a beach closed due to high bacteria counts.

Overview

The DEEP Water Monitoring Group conducts annual water quality monitoring to evaluate the physical, chemical and biological condition of the State’s waters.  Staff collect a wide variety and large quantity of information each year, including water chemistry data, water temperature data, bacteria data, biological community data (fish, macro-invertebrates, diatoms) and tissue contaminant data. With this information, DEEP is able to:
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of pollution control programs,
  • Study water quality trends, 
  • Determine the impacts of pollution events, 
  • Explore existing and new water quality problems, and
  • Investigate citizen complaints.  

In addition, the Water Monitoring Group plays a critical role in insuring the State meets federal requirements to document the condition of the state's water bodies.  Under the Federal Clean Water Act, every two years Connecticut is required to report on the condition of the state's aquatic resources by submitting an Integrated Water Quality Report to US EPA. 

General Information

Learn More About Our Programs

Special Research Topics

Program Contact Information

Water Monitoring and Assessment Program
79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106
DEEP.watermonitoring@ct.gov

  

 
Content last updated May 24, 2022.