Candlewood Lake Groups Planning Rally at New Fairfield Board of Selectmen's Meeting

NEW FAIRFIELD, CT — Many Candlewood Lake area residents have stood in strong opposition to the use of herbicides and algaecides to fight Blue-Green Algae in the lake, and a group of lake lovers is planning to protest the New Fairfield Board of Selectmen's next meeting.

The newly-organized Candlewood Voices group announced Wednesday that it is planning to organize a rally at the New Fairfield Senior Center to oppose the move. The group detailed plans to present First Selectmen Susan Chapman with a petition of over 2,600 signatures to oppose the chemical treatment of the lake.

"The New Fairfield Selectmen have ignored the Candlewood Lake Authority’s (CLA) weed abatement solutions, which include the introduction of non-native sterile carp," read the press release."Their plan to spend at least $30,000 for a chemical experiment without the consent of taxpayers, may work against the natural solution and injure, or even KILL some of the carp. Telephone calls, emails, public comments and questions from citizens have also been ignored."

The release also cites comments from Brookfield First Selectmen Steve Dunn and New Fairfield Mayor David Gronbach, who voiced support for the CLA's solutions.

“New Fairfield should obtain the permission of all of the other towns before taking this action. After all, it may be their beach but it is our lake,” said Dunn according to the release.

“I support CLA's position regarding this issue and giving the carp a chance to do their job,” said Gronbach

An online petition has been started in protest of the use of herbicides and algaecides on Candlewood Lake by the Town of New Fairfield, a move in which petitioners argue would poison the lake.

The petition has garnered support in communities that surround the lake, which include Brookfield, Danbury, New Milford, Brookfield and Sherman as well as New Fairfield. Petitioners argue that town officials intend to use 60 acres of herbicides and up to 150 acres of algaecides on the lake; without input from residents, the Candlewood Lake Authority (CLA), state officials and other stakeholders.

According to a report by the News Times, the town of New Fairfield hired Solitude Lake Management to apply the herbicide Diquat and up to 160 acres of copper sulfate to treat blue-green algae when blooms appear or are about to appear.

The report cites Susan Chapman, who stated that the town is not poisoning the water and that the herbicides have been widely used in both Connecticut and nationwide.

The rally is planned for 6:45 p.m. outside of the senior center, and a Selectman's meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the same location.