Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 447 - State Parks and Forests
Section 23-5b. - Definitions.

As used in sections 23-5a to 23-5i, inclusive:

(1) “Natural area” means an area of land or water, or land and water, containing, or potentially containing, plant or animal life or features of biological, scientific, educational, geological, paleontological, or scenic value worthy of preservation in their natural condition;
(2) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection;
(3) “Natural area preserve” means a natural area which has been approved by the commissioner and designated by the Governor. Such designation shall be effective only as to interests in land owned by the state or conveyed to the state in form approved by the commissioner within ninety days after such designation or land subject to a conservation restriction, as defined by section 47-42a, conveyed to the state by a private landowner; and
(4) “Protected resources” means the particular conditions, vegetation or natural features within a natural area preserve, including, but not limited to, any species of plant or wildlife, which require protection and preservation in order to continue and flourish.
(1969, P.A. 727, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 160; P.A. 91-65, S. 2; 91-358, S. 2; P.A. 97-54, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: 1971 act defined “commissioner” rather than “commission” and changed references throughout to reflect transfer of duties from state park and forest commission to commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 91-65 rephrased the definition of “natural area”, redefined “natural area preserve” to include land dedicated to the state by a private landowner, and added a new Subsec. (d) defining “dedicated land”; P.A. 91-358 amended Subsec. (c) to remove from definition of natural area preserve land dedicated to the state by private land owners and substituted land subject to a conservation restriction and deleted Subsec. (d); P.A. 97-54 added definition of “protected resources” and replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric indicators; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 2011.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 23 - Parks, Forests and Public Shade Trees

Chapter 447 - State Parks and Forests

Section 23-1 to 23-3. - Appointment and term of commission. Powers and duties; reports; director. Supervision of tree wardens.

Section 23-4. - Regulations for preservation and protection. Penalties. Alcoholic beverages in state parks and forests. Taking of mushrooms. Liability.

Section 23-4a. - Lands of public use and benefit. Conservation and preservation restrictions on department lands.

Section 23-4b. - (Note: This section is effective July 1, 2022.) Prohibition of use of cannabis on state lands or waters managed by department. Penalty.

Section 23-4c. - Hazardous tree mitigation policy. Requirements. Tree replanting demonstration project. Report.

Section 23-5. - Public reservations; supervision.

Section 23-5a. - Natural area preserves. Declaration of policy.

Section 23-5b. - Definitions.

Section 23-5c. - Natural area preserves system.

Section 23-5d. - Approval of preserve.

Section 23-5e. - Alienation.

Section 23-5f. - Advisory committee.

Section 23-5g. - Cooperation with federal agencies.

Section 23-5h. - Acquisition of property.

Section 23-5i. - Responsibility of other public authorities.

Section 23-6. - Maintenance of state park and forest lands adjoining other states.

Section 23-7. - Memorials in state parks and reservations.

Section 23-8. - Open spaces for recreation. State goal for acquisition of open space. State-owned lands valuable for conservation purposes. Public use and benefit land registry. Content.

Section 23-8a. - Conveyance of certain state land previously held as protected open space.

Section 23-8b. - Purchase of certain water company land in Fairfield County. Requirements for preservation. Jurisdiction by certain officers and patrolmen.

Section 23-9. - Acquisition of property by eminent domain.

Section 23-9a. - Acquisition of easements for maintenance of dams.

Section 23-9b. - West Rock Ridge conservation area and supplement. Notice requirements re land use changes or transfers.

Section 23-10. - Development of recreational areas.

Section 23-10a. - Designation of state hiking trails.

Section 23-10b. - Outdoor recreation-related services.

Section 23-10c. - Designation of trails for use by horseback riders.

Section 23-10d. - Equine Advisory Council.

Section 23-10e. - Equestrian use on multiuse trails on state park and forest lands. Nonequine use of trails. Temporary closing of multiuse trails.

Section 23-10h. - Heritage parks: Legislative policy.

Section 23-10i. - Designation of heritage parks. Public hearing. Designation of additional sites.

Section 23-11. - Licenses for use of portions of parks or forests.

Section 23-12. - Transfer of control of open spaces.

Section 23-13. - Animals for public parks.

Section 23-14. - Rights-of-way in state parks and forests.

Section 23-14a. (Formerly Sec. 19a-192a). - Payments to certified ambulance services for calls at state parks or forests.

Section 23-15. - State park receipts deposited in Passport to the Parks account.

Section 23-15a. - Use of state parks. Reimbursement of municipalities.

Section 23-15b. - State park special event rentals paid into Passport to the Parks account. Subaccounts. Uses. Report.

Section 23-15c. - Revenue from food service facilities, vending machines and stands in state parks.

Section 23-15d. - Request for information re state park concessions, services and amenities.

Section 23-15e. - Rents for special events of limited duration.

Section 23-15f. - Adopt-A-Park program. Financial sponsorship.

Section 23-15g. - Per-person admission fee for state parks. Report.

Section 23-15h. - Passport to the Parks account. Established. Subaccounts. Payments from account.

Section 23-16. - Leases of camp sites.

Section 23-16a. - Leasing of camping sites at shore parks. Pilot program.

Section 23-16b. - Portable wastewater holding tanks. Use at state or private campgrounds. Authorized.

Section 23-17. - Trust funds.

Section 23-18. - State Park Police.

Section 23-19. - State Forester.

Section 23-20. - Powers and duties of commissioner.

Section 23-21. - Purchase and sale of land by commissioner.

Section 23-22. - Acquisition of land by exchange.

Section 23-23. - Purchase and sale of seeds and seedling stock.

Section 23-24. - Establishment of boundaries.

Section 23-24a. - Survey of boundaries of state parks and forest lands.

Section 23-25. - Granting of leases for public purposes.

Section 23-26. - Revenue from state parks and facilities. Motor vehicle parking passes. Lifetime passes for residents sixty-five years of age or older or disabled veterans.

Section 23-26a. - “All-terrain vehicle” defined.

Section 23-26b. - Certificate to operate all-terrain vehicles on state land.

Section 23-26c. - Availability of state land for use by persons operating all-terrain vehicles.

Section 23-26d. - Regulations re safety education courses for the operation of all-terrain vehicles.

Section 23-26e. - Operation of all-terrain vehicles on state land by certain minors.

Section 23-26f. - Regulations re operation of all-terrain vehicles.

Section 23-26g. - Penalties.

Section 23-27. - Federal grants.

Section 23-27a to 23-27k. - Registration of private land for recreational purposes.