| Proposed New Stream Flow Regulations |
Thanks to Trout Unlimited and other conservation partners, in 2005,
Public Act 05-142 was passed in the state assembly requiring the
Department of Environmental Protection to draft new stream flow
regulations to replace standards which had been in place for nearly 25
years.
With
input from a variety of stakeholders, the four years of work by the
agency has created newly proposed regulations which seek to balance the
many uses of Connecticut’s water resources.
Trout Unlimited
Connecticut is working with TU National staff and partners from various
conservation organizations across the state to ensure these new
regulations are adopted.
WHAT WOULD CHANGE
In short, the
regulations would require users taking water from a river system to
maintain river flows downstream which closely match the hydrography of
a natural river system. This would mean higher flows in the summer
months to protect young trout and other fish, adequate flows throughout
the winter and a more natural rise and fall of water levels during wet
periods to provide the intermittent flushing and cleansing that a
stream needs to remain healthy.
WHAT’S THE PROCESS
Currently
the draft regulations are in the public comment phase and are open to
comment and suggestions. While TU and other organizations are working
to provide written and oral testimony in favor of the regulations,
water users such as water companies and others are active in their
opposition.
A public hearing on the proposed stream flow regulations
is being held January 21 in Hartford at which time stakeholders such as
water companies and organizations such as TU will be providing oral
testimony stating their position and suggestions for the new
regulations. All written testimony and letters of support are then due
by February 4.
Following this hearing, the Regulation Review
Committee of the state General Assembly will review the proposed
regulations and the public comments and vote on the regulations.
If
they are passed, the regulations will go before the state legislature for a final vote.
If approved by the General Assembly, the regulations will create a phased implementation
period in which the DEP would spend the first 5 years re-classifying
all of the rivers in the state which will determine the level of new
stream flow protections for each river. Needless to say, TU’s role in
this classification process would be significant as we will be able to
provide compelling, localized information on each of these streams and
advocate for the highest possible classifications. Within the five year
period after classification, water companies and other water users
would be required to modify their operations and equipment to adjust
for and ensure the water flows set forth in the regulations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
As a TU member and conservationist, your voice is important in helping ensure passage of these new regulations.
This section of the website includes the full text
of the proposed regulations, state documents detailing the changes
which would take place, and a calendar of key dates and addresses for
sending or giving testimony.
Please take the time to review this
material. With the help of TU National we will be adding a template for
letters to the state to the website and will advise members by email
when that is available. Please be sure your email address is on file
with the Mianus Chapter so you can receive these important
notifications. Contact Jeff Yates at jyates@mianustu.org, to be added
to our email list.
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• Read the Regulations
• Regulation Summary Sheet
• DEP Presentation
Thank You For Your Help
On Wednesday, February 3, we delivered approximately 40 letters of testimony in support of the proposed streamflow regulations to the DEP office in Hartford. Your overwhelming support and action to protect our rivers and streams as a member of Trout Unlimited is greatly appreciated.
But, the fight is not over. In the coming months, help will be needed to ensure the regulations are approved by our state legislature. When the regulations are presented to the general assembly, we will be sure to keep you informed.
Email Jeff Yates to be added to the Mianus Chapter's mailing list.
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