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

Dissolved Oxygen Maps for Summer 2003

During the summer of 2003 the Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program continued the modified summertime hypoxia monitoring.  The Program collected samples for nutrient analysis and water quality parameters as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton samples from six stations located throughout the Sound.  During the summer of 2003 Long Island Sound experienced one of its most severe hypoxic events.  The duration was merely average due in large part to a strong wind event on September 2, 2003.  The areas affected by low dissolved oxygen were some of the largest we have recorded.  The summer of 2003 had the second largest area below 2 mg/L (186 sq. miles) and 3 mg/L (345 sq. miles), second only to 1994.  The area affected by dissolved oxygen levels below 1 mg/L (62 sq. miles) was the largest we have recorded since our program began in 1991.  Our August 19 - 21 survey had the maximum area affected by hypoxia with D.O. values at our western stations near 0.0 mg/L.  Hypoxia was estimated to begin on or about July 5, 2003 and ended on or about September 2, 2003 for a total of 60 days.

(Select map below to link to a larger image)

Link to larger image of hypoxia map for September 3-9, 2003

September 3-9, 2003 		Link to larger image of hypoxia map for August 19-21, 2003

August 19-21, 2003 		Link to larger image of hypoxia map for August 4-8, 2003

August 4-8, 2003
 
Link to larger image of hypoxia map for July 24-28, 2003

July 24-28, 2003 		Link to larger image of hypoxia map for July 7-9, 2003

July 7-9, 2003

Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring