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 2008

During the summer of 2008, DEP's Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program continued to monitor the extent of summertime hypoxia. The Program collected samples for nutrient analysis and water quality parameters from 17 stations, as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton samples from 6 stations located throughout the Sound.  An additional 20 – 30 sites were sampled during the summer for dissolved oxygen to get a more accurate idea of the extent of hypoxia.

Maps showing the extent of low dissolved oxygen in Long Island Sound are posted as soon as possible after each survey.

Select a sampling date below to view the progression of hypoxia in the western Sound throughout the summer.

    June 17, 2008

      June 30- July 7, 2008

      July 21-22, 2008

      August 5-8, 2008

      August 20-22, 2008

      September 3-4, 2008

      September 16-17, 2008

Water temperature plays a major role in the timing and severity of the summer hypoxia event.   The DEP's monitoring program also records water temperatures and salinity during its hypoxia monitoring cruises to help estimate the extent of favorable conditions for the onset, extent, and ending of hypoxia.

  Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring