Connecticut's largest river is the Connecticut River, which runs north to south through the center of the state. At 410 miles, it is New England's longest river and runs south from New Hampshire into the Long Island Sound. Historically, the river was a major facilitator of trade in New England and contained numerous shipping ports. According to the "Chicago Tribune," trade use has diminished over the course of the 20th century and the river is now used mostly for recreational boating and fishing. Other major rivers include the Housatonic, the Thames and the Quinnipiac.
A large estuary running along the entirety of Connecticut's southern border, the Long Island Sound is Connecticut's most vital water resource. According to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, the Sound brings in over $5.5 billion to the local economy through fishing, boating and tourism revenues. The Sound contains a great deal of biodiversity and is a crucial component of Southern Connecticut's economy, recreation and cultural identity.
Connecticut is home to more than 2,000 lakes and reservoirs. The state's largest body of freshwater is Candlewood Lake, which is a man-made lake produced by a dam on the Housatonic River. Candlewood Lake, bordering Brookfield, New Milford, Sherman and New Fairfield, is mostly surrounded by private property, mainly for private houses. The largest natural lake in Connecticut is Bantam Lake, surrounded by the towns of Bantam, Litchfield and Morris.
Founded in 1971, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection is the state's agency for environmental preservation for water, air, forests and other natural resources. According to its website, the Department strives to protect the environment via "regulation, monitoring, inspection and enforcement, and licensing procedures." The DEP works to ensure that beach water is safe for swimming, protects aquifers and other sources of drinking water from contamination, regulates sewage disposal and protects citizens from pollution through regulating toxic chemical runoff.
