EPA Research in Connecticut

Explore EPA's research across the United States.

EPA researchers in the Office of Research and Development and their partners are working hard to protect communities across the nation. Learn about some of the work EPA researchers are doing in Connecticut.

Long Island Sound Study
EPA Researchers Develop Tool That Helps Water Quality Managers Meet Nutrient Load Targets
EPA Projects Aim to Improve Ozone Models Over Long Island Sound
Using Cost-Effective Tools for Assessment of Infiltration at Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Sites
EPA Scientists Collaborate with States to Protect Long Island Sound Air Quality
The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network
EPA’s EnviroAtlas Publishes Data on Six New Urban Areas
EPA Scientists Study the Carbon-Storing Power of Seagrass to Fight Climate Change
Meeting Air Quality and Climate Goals Simultaneously
Hazards to Bees associated with the Consumption of Pesticide Contaminated Pollen

For more EPA work, see EPA in Connecticut.

Long Island Sound Study

Since 1985, EPA has been collaborating with the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) partners in New York and Connecticut to protect and restore the sound. One of the most serious threats to water quality in Long Island Sound is nutrient input from the surrounding watersheds. Excess nutrients lead to algal blooms, acidification and lower oxygen levels in the water. EPA researchers in the Office of Research and Development (ORD) have served key membership and leadership roles on LISS committees and have collaborated on a host of projects to inform the LISS Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. For example, in 2014 ORD scientists headed the editorial team that produced Long Island Sound: Prospects for The Urban Sea, the first synthesis of the science of Long Island Sound in more than 35 years.

EPA Researchers Develop Tool That Helps Water Quality Managers Meet Nutrient Load Targets

Nutrient pollution is one of America’s most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems. To help water quality managers reduce nutrient pollution, EPA researchers developed the River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool, a regional online tool currently available for the Upper Connecticut River Basin that provides low-cost solutions to meet nutrient load targets. Read EPA Researchers Develop Tool That Helps Water Quality Managers Meet Nutrient Load Targets.

EPA Projects Aim to Improve Ozone Models Over Long Island Sound

In the summer of 2018, EPA and partners collected air quality data to investigate ozone formation over the ocean and transport across Long Island Sound. Now, EPA scientists are using this data to improve air quality models. These improvements will create a more accurate picture of ozone pollution in the regions surrounding Long Island Sound as well as how ozone forms and moves across the region. Read EPA Projects Aim to Improve Ozone Models Over Long Island Sound.

Using Cost-Effective Tools for Assessment of Infiltration at Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Sites

Green infrastructure can help manage the stress of excess stormwater on water treatment systems in urban areas. EPA researchers are working with communities in Connecticut and Kansas to test devices that track stormwater through soil. This work will provide a better understanding of the life-cycle costs and performance of green infrastructure. Read Using Cost-Effective Tools for Assessment of Infiltration at Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Sites.

EPA Scientists Collaborate with States to Protect Long Island Sound Air Quality

The Long Island Sound is home to a diverse array of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This unique geography leads to high ground-level ozone concentrations along the shorelines of New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. EPA is working with partners to better understand the complex interaction of emissions, chemistry, and meteorological factors contributing to these high levels. Read EPA Scientists Collaborate with States to Protect Long Island Sound Air Quality.

The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network

The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network uses historical and current satellite data to provide an early warning for harmful algal blooms in freshwater. Since 2015, CyAN imagery has detected algal blooms in Connecticut, Ohio, Florida, California, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island before traditional monitoring efforts alerted watershed managers. Read The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network.

EPA’s EnviroAtlas Publishes Data on Six New Urban Areas

All communities rely on clean air, clean water, green space, and other natural amenities for their economic sustainability and quality of life. However, these factors aren’t always fully understood or considered when making planning decisions. EPA’s EnviroAtlas combines a variety of data to help inform decision makers. EPA added data for six new urban areas, including New Haven, Connecticut. Read EPA’s EnviroAtlas Publishes Data on Six New Urban Areas.

EPA Scientists Study the Carbon-Storing Power of Seagrass to Fight Climate Change

Seagrass meadows make up a powerful carbon storage system—one that, if properly managed, could help rein in global carbon dioxide emissions responsible for climate change. To get a better picture of how much carbon is stored in seagrass meadows, EPA researchers in New England sampled seagrass and sediments from 11 meadows in the region. Read EPA Scientists Study the Carbon-Storing Power of Seagrass to Fight Climate Change.

Meeting Air Quality and Climate Goals Simultaneously

EPA Office of Research and Development, EPA Region 1, and the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI) collaborated with Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) to apply the GLIMPSE modeling framework to examine several mitigation scenarios. The project team also explored ways to translate these emission changes into insights about ozone attainment. CT DEEP staff were beta testers and provided valuable feedback on the GLIMPSE software and Users’ Guide which were released in June 2023. The project team is continuing to work with CT DEEP to identify management strategies to achieve both air quality and climate benefits.

Hazards to Bees associated with the Consumption of Pesticide Contaminated Pollen

EPA Region 1 has identified the protection of bees and other pollinators from pesticide risk as a regional research priority. The area is home to a thriving horticulture industry. EPA's Office of Research and Development, in collaboration with EPA Region 1, partnered with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, CT, to design studies to provide information potential hazards to bees associated with the consumption of pesticide contaminated pollen.