Connecticut Federation of Lakes

Join us in celebrating Lakes Appreciation Month by participating in the Secchi Dip-In! This volunteer effort is vital for monitoring lake water clarity, allowing communities to engage in meaningful conversations about water quality. Identify your Secchi disk, choose a July sampling date, and share your findings with us! Let’s work together to promote lake health and awareness.

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Celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month! 🌊 Join us in honoring our precious lakes!
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July is Lakes Appreciation Month — What Will Your Lake Do? Email from Connecticut Federation of Lakes Choose one simple action to celebrate and protect your lake this July.       July is Lakes Appreciation Month July is Lakes Appreciation Month, a national op

Are you ready for Month 2026?! Each year, NALMS - along with our members and partners - recognizes the month of July as Lakes Appreciation Month! Why? We use this time to highlight the importance of lakes, reservoirs, and all freshwater resources, along with the issues they face. Lakes Appreciation Month offers an excellent opportunity to take the time to enjoy your local freshwaters and bring attention to them - to either celebrate their values, or launch an action to protect, enhance, or rejuvenate them. Thank you for celebrating lakes with us!

Get involved: https://www.nalms.org/lakes-appreciation-month/

Washington State Lake Protection Association - WALPA BC Lake Stewardship Society Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association Michigan Lakes and Streams Association PA Lake Management Society Illinois Lakes Management Association (ILMA) New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc. (NYSFOLA) Indiana Lakes Management Society Alberta Lake Management Society Oregon Lakes Association California Lake Management Society North Carolina Lake Management Society

Mosquito surveillance season is underway in Connecticut. Starting today, CAES is trapping and testing mosquitoes across 88 municipalities statewide to monitor the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) through the end of October.

Last year, WNV was found in 230 mosquito samples across 37 towns, and six Connecticut residents became ill. EEE was not detected in 2025, but remains a serious concern, as it carries roughly a 40% mortality rate in humans.

A few easy ways to protect yourself and your family:
- Use repellents with DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus
- Wear long sleeves and pants around dusk and dawn
- Check your door and window screens for gaps
- Eliminate standing water around your home

For more infor, visit: portal.ct.gov/mosquito.

Under Public Act 26-60 all unregistered vessels in CT are now required to be identified, including paddlecraft! Current and valid contact information can be printed on or attached to the vessel.

This will greatly help search and rescue operations.

Calling all K-12 students! Submit your artwork for the Lake Poster Contest!
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Enter Lake Poster Contest Now Email from Connecticut Federation of Lakes K–12 students can help celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month through art. Deadline June 12       Lake Poster Contest July is Lakes Appreciation Month, and the N

🌤️ Connecticut is getting dry again. Let’s pay attention.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows that all of Connecticut is experiencing drier-than-normal conditions, with portions of the state now in Moderate Drought.

For lake communities, dry weather matters. Lower rainfall can affect lake levels, shallow coves, wetlands, stream inflows, lawns, gardens, wells, and the plants and wildlife that depend on steady water conditions.

A few simple steps help:

💧 Use water wisely outdoors
🌱 Water lawns and gardens only when needed
🚫 Avoid fertilizing before storms or near shorelines
🌿 Keep native vegetation along the shoreline to protect soil and habitat
👀 Watch for exposed shorelines, stressed plants, algae, or unusual water conditions
📍 Check your local drought status here:
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CT

Dry conditions can change quickly, but awareness helps lake communities respond early.

| U.S. Drought Monitor To see or report current drought impacts, please visit the Drought Impacts Toolkit, where you can find impacts from media in the Drought Impact Reporter and from citizen scientists and other volunteer observers under Condition Monitoring Observations.

Mark your calendars! Plant Science Day 2026 is happening at Lockwood Farm in Hamden, CT and we want to see you there!
📅 Wednesday, August 5
⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM
📍 890 Evergreen Ave, Hamden, CT
Come check out the exciting research our scientists are conducting, walk the beautiful farm, browse our partner exhibitors, and catch some talks and demonstrations. We've also got kids activities and food trucks!

We're thrilled to announce that HB 5525 has passed unanimously! This crucial legislation empowers lake communities and conservationists to tackle aquatic invasive species effectively. With early detection and rapid response protocols in place, we can safeguard water quality and local economies. Join us in celebrating this bipartisan victory!

https://conta.cc/4u4fLYF

HB 5525 Passed: AIS Rapid Response Email from Connecticut Federation of Lakes Learn How AIS Rapid Response Works in CT       CT House & Senate Pass HB 5525 Unanimously A Statewide Win for Rapid AIS Response HB 5525’s approval marks an