Shenipsit Lake Recreation Program Set to Open

TOLLAND, CT — Connecticut Water Co. and the Shenipsit Lake Association announced Monday that the Shenipsit Lake Recreation Program will open for its 25th season on April 14.

The program offers free fishing and hiking at Connecticut Water’s Shenipsit Lake Reservoir, which is located in Ellington, Tolland and Vernon.

The program is a cooperative effort between Connecticut Water and the SLA.

Here are the details:

Fishing may be done from shore or from oar- or electric-powered boats that are stored free of charge at the boat storage area on Ellington Road in Tolland. There are 46 storage slips for canoes and rowboats that are available to the public for boat storage.

Boat Registration

Starting on Friday, April 6, at 7 a.m., individuals may register to have their boats stored at Shenipsit Lake Reservoir by checking in with representatives of the SLA on-site at the Park & Ride Lot on Reservoir Road, near exit 67 off I-84 in Vernon (the Park & Ride Lot is located just east of the interstate). The first 46 people to check in will be assigned a number that will designate their spot for registration for the 46 available slips.

After checking in, people must stay on-site until 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, to complete the registration process and obtain the slip assignment. If there are more than 46 people requesting boat slips, anyone checking in after the last spot is assigned will be added to a waiting list. People are asked not to bring their boats to the Park & Ride Lot.

In the event of snow, Connecticut Water and the SLA will post reschedule information on their respective websites, www.ctwater.com andwww.shenipsitlake.org, by 5 p.m. on April 5.

Hiking

The hiking trail is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. A considerable portion of the trail, parallel to Shenipsit Lake Road in Tolland, is an old railroad bed that is maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association as a Blue-Blazed Trail. The remainder of the trail is existing town roads in Ellington, Tolland and Vernon.

Public Water Supply Source

Shenipsit Lake Reservoir is a public water supply source that has been opened for recreation since 1994. The reservoir, with a storage capacity of 5 billion gallons, is an important water supply source for 100,000 people in north central Connecticut. The recreation program’s rules and regulations protect water quality and the program has been approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

“We take great measures to protect public drinking water supplies and our watershed areas as part of our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Cindy Gaudino, Connecticut Water’s manager of Source Protection and Real Estate. “At the same time, we wish to provide the community with recreational activities and access to this land.”

“We are all very fortunate to have access to these resources. Not only does the lake provide some of the best fishing in the state, but it also offers several miles of trails that everyone can enjoy,” stated SLA President Shawn LaForest.

For more information about the Shenipsit Lake Recreation Program, please call Connecticut Water at 1-800-286-5700, or check its website atwww.ctwater.com for a copy of the Recreation Program brochure and directions, or follow it on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CTWtr) or Twitter(www.twitter.com/CTWater).

Photo Credit: Ct Water