Connecticut Administrative Code › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › 141b - Stream Flow Standards and Regulations › Section 26-141b-6 - Release requirements

Current through July 10, 2024
(a) Not later than
			 ten years after the initial date of publication in the Connecticut Law Journal
			 of a river or stream segment's classification, a dam owner or operator shall
			 comply with the following:
(1) Operate all
			 dams such that, unless the Commissioner of Public Health determines that a
			 water supply emergency exists, no active manipulation of the storage of water
			 occurs behind the dam and no withdrawal of water occurs from within the
			 impoundment, if the release is into a river or stream segment designated as
			 Class 1.
(2) Release a continuous
			 seventy-five percent of the river or stream system's natural inflow if the
			 release is into a river or stream segment designated as Class 2. Such release
			 shall be calculated and the release rate adjusted, if necessary, on the first
			 day and the fifteenth day of every month unless such day falls on a weekend or
			 holiday in which case the required release shall be calculated and the release
			 rate adjusted on the next business day.
(3) Release the following minimum continuous
			 flow if the release is into a river or stream segment designated as Class 3:
Bioperiod
Effective Dates
Minimum Required Release
Antecedent Period Dry
Antecedent Period Wet
Overwinter
Dec 1 - Feb 28/29
Bioperiod Q99
Habitat Forming
Mar 1 - Apr 30
Bioperiod Q99
Clupeid Spawning
May 1 - May 31
Bioperiod Q95
Resident Spawning
June 1 - June 30
Bioperiod Q90
Rearing and Growth
July 1 - Oct 31
Bioperiod Q80
Bioperiod Q50
Salmonid Spawning
Nov 1 - Nov 30
Bioperiod Q90
(A) The required
			 release shall be calculated and the release rate adjusted, if necessary, on the
			 first day and the fifteenth day of every month unless such day falls on a
			 weekend or holiday in which case the required release shall be calculated and
			 the release rate adjusted on the next business day.
(B) The wet period release shall be required
			 when the median natural flow during the antecedent period equals or exceeds the
			 bioperiod Q25.
(C) The dry period
			 release shall be required when the median natural flow during the antecedent
			 period is less than the bioperiod Q25.
(4) Release flow that is consistent with the
			 narrative standards for a Class 4 river or stream segment and that is approved
			 as a site specific release by the Commissioner pursuant to subdivision (2) of
			 subsection (f) of this section, if the release is into a river or stream
			 segment designated as Class 4. Such site specific release may include
			 provisions similar to those specified in subsection (b) of this
			 section.
(5) Notwithstanding
			 subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection:
(A) Release a minimum of the rearing and
			 growth bioperiod Q80 or the natural inflow of water, whichever is less, for a
			 dam that impounds a river or stream system with an upstream, natural drainage
			 area of three square miles or less;
(B) Release a minimum of the rearing and
			 growth bioperiod Q80 or the natural inflow of water, whichever is less, for a
			 dam that releases to a river or stream system that flows for a distance of one
			 and one-half miles or less before discharging into an impoundment, and provided
			 releases from the downstream dam, or the most downstream dam if in a series,
			 comply with subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section; or
(C) Release a minimum of the rearing and
			 growth bioperiod Q80 or the natural inflow of water, whichever is less, for a
			 dam that impounds a reservoir with usable storage of 100 million gallons or
			 less.
(D) The required release
			 pursuant to this subdivision shall be calculated and the release rate adjusted,
			 if necessary, not less frequently than the first day and the fifteenth day of
			 every month unless such day falls on a weekend or holiday in which case the
			 required release shall be calculated and the release rate adjusted on the next
			 business day.