The Connecticut Water Company and the Shenipsit Lake Association (SLA) announce that boats will be accepted at the Lake Shenipsit boat storage area located on Ellington Road in Tolland beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, for those who wish to use their boats in the Shenipsit Lake Recreation program this season.
Because boats are stored free of charge on a first come, first-serve basis, they are generally taken fairly early, so anyone with interest may want to arrive early. There are a total of 48 boat storage slips available for canoes and row boats. It is important to note that all boats must be quarantined for at least 48 hours before being allowed onto the lake to prevent the potential introduction of Zebra Mussels to the lake.
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The Shenipsit Lake Reservoir Recreation Program will officially open on Saturday, April 21.
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Located in Ellington, Vernon and Tolland, the Shenipsit Lake Reservoir is a public water supply source that has been opened for the Department of Public Health approved Recreation Program since 1994. It includes a year-round hiking trail around the lake in cooperation with the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset from designated shoreline areas and from electric and oar-powered boats from the third Saturday in April through October 31.
“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.”
“Our hope is to encourage people to enjoy the Recreation program and for more families to take advantage of this year’s fishing derbies,” said SLA President Shawn LaForest.
The SLA is sponsoring three free fishing derbies for children this season in the age categories of ages 3 through 8 years and ages 9 through 15 on May 13, June 24 and August 26, from 7 a.m. to noon. Registration is at the boat storage facility on Ellington Road, Tolland.
For more information about the Shenipsit Lake Recreation Program, please call Connecticut Water at 1-800-286-5700, or check our Web site at www.ctwater.com for a copy of the Recreation Program brochure and directions.
