The inland wetlands and watercourses of the state of Connecticut are an indispensable and irreplaceable but fragile natural resource with which the citizens of the state have been endowed. The wetlands and watercourses are an interrelated web of nature essential to an adequate supply of surface and underground water; to hydrological stability and control of flooding and erosion; to the recharging and purification of groundwater; and to the existence of many forms of animal, aquatic and plant life. Many inland wetlands and watercourses have been destroyed or are in danger of destruction because of unregulated use by reason of the deposition, filling or removal of material, the diversion or obstruction of water flow, the erection of structures and other uses, all of which have despoiled, polluted and eliminated wetlands and watercourses. Such unregulated activity has had, and will continue to have, a significant, adverse impact on the environment and ecology of the state of Connecticut and has and will continue to imperil the quality of the environment thus adversely affecting the ecological, scenic, historic and recreational values and benefits of the state for its citizens now and forever more. The preservation and protection of the wetlands and watercourses from random, unnecessary, undesirable and unregulated uses, disturbance or destruction is in the public interest and is essential to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the state. It is, therefore, the purpose of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, to protect the citizens of the state by making provisions for the protection, preservation, maintenance and use of the inland wetlands and watercourses by minimizing their disturbance and pollution; maintaining and improving water quality in accordance with the highest standards set by federal, state or local authority; preventing damage from erosion, turbidity or siltation; preventing loss of fish and other beneficial aquatic organisms, wildlife and vegetation and the destruction of the natural habitats thereof; deterring and inhibiting the danger of flood and pollution; protecting the quality of wetlands and watercourses for their conservation, economic, aesthetic, recreational and other public and private uses and values; and protecting the state's potable fresh water supplies from the dangers of drought, overdraft, pollution, misuse and mismanagement by providing an orderly process to balance the need for the economic growth of the state and the use of its land with the need to protect its environment and ecology in order to forever guarantee to the people of the state, the safety of such natural resources for their benefit and enjoyment and for the benefit and enjoyment of generations yet unborn.

(1972, P.A. 155, S. 1.)

Cited. 179 C. 250; 180 C. 421; Id., 692. To interpret Sec. 22a-430 as precluding municipal regulation of sewerage systems would clearly work to undermine some of the basic purposes of the act as expressed in statute. 183 C. 532. Cited. 186 C. 67; 193 C. 414; 196 C. 218; 203 C. 525; 209 C. 544; Id., 652; 211 C. 416; 212 C. 710; Id., 727; 213 C. 604; 216 C. 320; 217 C. 164; 218 C. 703; 219 C. 404; 220 C. 362; Id., 476; 226 C. 579; 227 C. 71; Id., 175; 228 C. 95; 229 C. 247; Id., 627; Id., 654; 235 C. 448; 242 C. 335. Although one of the broad purposes of act is to prevent “loss of fish and other beneficial aquatic organisms, wildlife and vegetation”, when viewed in context of the act as a whole, the intent to protect wildlife is a secondary effect of protecting the wetlands and watercourses themselves. 266 C. 150. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act does not provide inland wetlands agencies with jurisdiction to regulate activities that solely affect the wildlife that uses the wetlands and watercourses without affecting the wetlands or watercourses themselves. 269 C. 57.

Cited. 4 CA 271; 5 CA 70; 6 CA 715; 12 CA 47; 15 CA 336; 18 CA 440; 19 CA 713; 20 CA 309; 25 CA 446; 26 CA 564; 27 CA 590; 28 CA 262; Id., 780; 29 CA 12; Id., 105; 30 CA 85; 31 CA 105; Id., 599; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627; 32 CA 799; 34 CA 385; 36 CA 270; 37 CA 166.

Cited. 32 CS 104. Under Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act, commissioner is limited to promulgating regulations and appealing from decisions of municipal commissions. 35 CS 145. Nothing obligates commissioner to include “balancing computation” in his opinion relative to economic factors described in section at risk of nullification of his entire action; section must yield to Sec. 22a-41 for factors to be considered. 36 CS 1. Cited. 41 CS 444; 42 CS 57.