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

Summer 2018 Hypoxia Monitoring

Example map showing summer hypoxia conditions in Long Island Sound .

Hypoxia Monitoring Overview

The 2018 sampling schedule included routine water quality surveys as well as summer-only hypoxia surveys.

Routine water quality surveys are conducted year-round, including during the summer months.  During these surveys water samples are collected for from 17 stations and analyzed for nutrients and other water quality parameters.  In addition, phytoplankton and zooplankton samples are collected from 6 stations in the Sound.

Hypoxia surveys are conducted during the months of June through September at an additional 30 stations.  During hypoxia surveys, stations are sampled for dissolved oxygen to get a more accurate understanding of the extent of summer hypoxia conditions in Long Island Sound bottom waters.

DEEP's Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program utilizes data from both surveys to  monitor the extent of low dissolved oxygen in Long Island Sound bottom waters, or 'summertime hypoxia'.  Hypoxia condition maps were posted as soon as possible after each survey.   Biweekly newsletters, summarizing the results of each survey, are also distributed to interested parties.

2018 Monitoring Results

Select a sampling date below to view the progression of hypoxia in the western Sound throughout the summer of 2018.

June 2018

July 2018:
August 2018
September 2018

LIS Hypoxia Monitoring Distribution List

Interested in receiving future biweekly survey summary newsletters?  Email Katie O'Brien-Clayton at Katie.Obrien-Clayton@ct.gov to be added to the distribution list.

Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program Maps

Content last updated January 18, 2018