July 2026 

Forest Management Supports Rare Habitat 

There’s something special happening at Pachaug State Forest. Recent management efforts have sparked a remarkable flush of pitch pine and scrub oak regeneration. 

The pitch pine–scrub oak barren is one of Connecticut’s imperiled ecosystems.  Pitch pine requires periodic disturbance—historically wildfire—to regenerate successfully. Today, natural fires occur far less frequently, allowing more competitive species such as white pine to overtake these specialized habitats.

Recognizing the unique sandy soils and ecological value within portions of Pachaug, State Lands Foresters implemented management in the summer of 2023 that removed white pines and competing oaks in these areas. The disturbance created growing space and increased sunlight, enabling pitch pine and scrub oak seedlings to thrive. Once the young trees mature beyond the sapling stage, scheduled thinning will support their continued development and long‑term stand resilience.

Pitch pine saplings emerge after management at Pachaug State Forest. Photo credit: Beth Bernard. 

Pachaug State Forest is one of many across the state that include management for this habitat and the species it contains. State Foresters are actively managing and restoring pitch pine ecosystems through targeted harvests, invasive species control, and strategic use of prescribed fire. This includes sites within Cockaponset, Nassahegon, Nehantic, Meshomasic, and Tunxis State Forests. These efforts promote the conditions this fire‑adapted community depends on - open, sunny conditions with nutrient‑poor, sandy soils. 

These projects underscore the Division of Forestry’s commitment to restoring and sustaining the state’s threatened ecosystems. Foresters work to ensure that these habitats will remain part of Connecticut’s landscape into the future, providing ecosystem services and essential habitat for many wildlife species that depend on them. 

Learn more about management in Connecticut's State Forests. 

Beech Leaf Disease Research Efforts Underway 

Eli Ward, CAES Forest Ecosystem Health and Ecology Scientist, and Chris Ozyck from Urban Resources Initiative, installed a deer exclosure at a beech regeneration plot in New Haven. Photo credit: Danica Doroski. 

Beech leaf disease (BLD) was first detected in Connecticut in 2019. It has since spread throughout Connecticut’s beech trees, damaging unfurling leaves in the spring, leading to sparse canopies and possible tree death. The disease is caused by a nematode, or microscopic worm. There is much to learn about the effects of BLD on our forests. 

The DEEP Division of Forestry is partnering with scientists at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) to study the effectiveness of potassium phosphite treatments to control BLD in the forest. Research plots have been established in the Centennial Watershed and Naugatuck State Forests. These sites were chosen because they are heavily impacted by BLD.

This 4-year research study will determine the effects of applying potassium phosphite to a tree’s bark to control the nematode. Potassium phosphite is a fungicide that effectively reduces the symptoms of BLD on individual beech trees, but it is not known whether it will also be an effective treatment in a forested setting. The study will assess bud formation, canopy health, mycorrhizal fungi, and soil conditions in treated and untreated American beech trees across experimental forest plots throughout the state.  

BLD research is also happening on a local scale. BLD restoration plots have been installed in New Haven by the Urban Resources Initiative, CAES, and the City of New Haven. This research project aims to determine the best way to increase tree survival and native understory plant diversity in New Haven parks severely impacted by BLD. Study areas include East Rock (18 plots), Edgewood (6 plots), and Quarry (3 plots) Parks. The three plot types established are beech treatment, beech removal, and control (no action). Changes in tree regeneration and understory plant composition in each plot will be monitored for five years.   

Learn more about beech leaf disease and BLD research in New Haven. 

A view from Mattatuck State Forest. Photo credit: Beth Bernard. 

Forest Highlight: Mattatuck State Forest  

Connecticut boasts 33 State Forests, totaling about 175,000 acres. The Forestry Division works to ensure that these forests remain healthy and vigorous while serving the needs of Connecticut's human and non-human residents. These needs include recreation, natural diversity, the preservation of cultural sites, the utilization of forest products, and the maintenance of wildlife and fish habitats.

Mattatuck is a 4,442-acre forest that comprises multiple parcels in the towns of Harwinton, Litchfield, Plymouth, Thomaston, Waterbury, and Watertown. We sat down with Jill Humphreys, the State Forester who manages Mattatuck State Forest, to learn a bit more about the forest.

What is unique about Mattatuck State Forest? 

After attending a dedication ceremony for People's State Forest in 1925, Harley F. Robert was inspired to work with the Black Rock Association to fund the conservation of Mattatuck's first 2,453 acres. In 1927, Austin Hawes, Connecticut's State Forester, wrote that this area was one of the most picturesque parts of the Naugatuck Valley, and that acquiring the property would help protect this feature. The State Forest was also established to designate a much-needed source of local timber.

Mattatuck highlights include acres of oak and mixed hardwood forest dotted with stands of hemlock and white pine; miles of rocky trails with scenic overlooks, including the blue-blazed Mattatuck trail; historic remains of quarries, lime kilns, foundations, and charcoal mounds; and one of the historic Leatherman's rock shelters. 

What is your favorite Mattatuck memory? 

I often traverse parts of the forest that are inaccessible by road or trail. My favorite memories are of discovering something unique in the forest. I especially like the hidden valleys with streams flowing through them. 

Tell us a little about the forest management happening at Mattatuck. 

Mattatuck is a large forest with diverse management needs. Lately, we have been focusing on managing for young forest habitat to support wildlife, as this habitat type was absent in the forest. We are also focusing on invasive plant management in areas that were impacted by the emerald ash borer. As the forest regenerates after overstory ash mortality, we want to ensure that tree seedlings have the resources to thrive without excessive competition from invasive species.        

Check out Mattatuck's Forest Management Plans.  

Update to PA 490 Forest Land Value

Effective July 1, 2026, the governor reinstated the Forest Land value for the PA-490 tax classification to $200/acre. The PA-490 tax program provides a financial incentive for landowners to maintain their land as forest land, farmland, maritime heritage, or open space. 

The change of Forest Land valuation was a relief for many woodland owners and was informed by the PA-490 work group and Senate Bill 148, now Public Act 26-75. This work group was convened in February 2026. The purpose of the PA-490 work group is to recommend measures to improve data collection, review, and valuation processes for classified PA 490 lands in Connecticut. 

The Office of Policy and Management convened the work group in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. The group includes representation from agricultural organizations, farmers, state agencies, municipal leaders, and assessors. Meetings are held monthly and welcome public participation. 

View meeting minutes and attend an upcoming PA-490 work group meeting. 

Forests (and Foresters) Are For the Birds! 

CT DEEP Wildlife Biologist, Jane Seymour, speaks to participants at an Audubon Forester training in 2025. Photo credit: Rosa Goldman. 

Wildlife is a focus for DEEP’s Foresters as they work to manage Connecticut's State Forests and educate private and municipal landowners on the importance of forest management. DEEP Foresters participated in a training program offered by the National Audubon Society to support this effort. 

Audubon’s Forester Training and Endorsement Program brings together professional foresters and bird conservation experts to promote forest management practices that support bird habitat. During the interactive training, Foresters learned how to identify key bird species, assess habitat conditions, and integrate bird-friendly strategies into their woodland management and outreach. The training blends science-based guidance with practical field skills, helping foresters understand how decisions about canopy structure, understory vegetation, and forest age diversity influence the birds that depend on these landscapes. After the training, Foresters achieve Audubon endorsement by submitting examples of their bird-friendly forestry practices.

“It is great to have this endorsement opportunity because Audubon has long been a partner of Foresters, and many landowners love birds and want to help birds in any way they can.  Many of the management practices that Foresters promote are not just beneficial to trees, but to many keystone wildlife species that are declining across their range,” says David Irvin, DEEP Service Forester and Audubon-endorsed Forester. 

Enhancing forested habitat for birds supports the many goals of Connecticut's Forest Action Plan.

A list of endorsed foresters is available for those interested in working with an Audubon-endorsed Forester. Learn more about the Audubon Forester Training and Endorsement Program.   

Grant Opportunities

Ongoing: Connecticut Landowner Support for Forest Resilience Cost Share Program for woodland owners. 

Due August 3: Urban Forest Resilience Grant for municipalities. 

Due August 31:  Resilient Forestry Practices Grant for municipalities and federally recognized Tribes.

Due September 10: Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant for municipalities.

Through December 4, 2026: Urban Green and Community Garden Grant for municipalities or non-profit organizations. In-kind match for this program may be available through DEEP’s UCF program, reach out to DEEP.UCF.TA@ct.gov for more info. 

Upcoming Events 

July 15: Deadline for CT Master Woodland Manager Program Applications 

July 16: Connecticut Tree Protective Association Summer Meeting, Farmington 

July 28: Using Hand Tools to Manage Your Woods Great Mountain Forest, Falls Village 

August 5: Plant Science Day, Lockwood Farm, Hamden

August 14 - 16: Forestry Educators Retreat, Yale Camp at Great Mountain Forest, Falls Village 

August 19-20: Tools for Engaging Landowners Effectively (TELE) Forest Practitioner Training, DeKoven House, Middletown 

August 27: Forest Management for Wildlife, Great Mountain Forest, Falls Village