Shenipsit Lake Recreation Program
Opens April 21
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
CLINTON, CONNECTICUT, April 17, 2007 – The Connecticut
Water Company and the Shenipsit Lake Association (SLA) announce
the opening of the Shenipsit Lake Reservoir Recreation Program
on Saturday, April 21. There are 48 boat storage slips available
at the lake and boats can be stored free-of-charge on a
first-come, first-serve basis.
Boats will be accepted at the Lake Shenipsit boat storage
area between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, and Thursday,
April 18 and 19. Please 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.
Located in Ellington, Vernon and Tolland, the Shenipsit
Lake Reservoir is a public water supply source that has
been opened for the Recreation Program since 1994. It includes
a hiking trail around the lake and fishing from designated
shoreline areas and from electric and oar-powered boats.
The program is approved by the Connecticut Department of
Public Health.
While this program continues to be run in partnership with
the local communities, given the difficulties the past few
years for the local towns to provide financial contributions
to the program, this year Connecticut Water will fully fund
the fishing and hiking program. Also this year, in cooperation
with the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, the hiking
trail will be open year-round, from sunrise to sunset.
“We are pleased to once again provide this popular
recreation program with the Shenipsit Lake Association for
all Connecticut residents to enjoy,” said Eric W.
Thornburg, Connecticut Water’s president and CEO.
“It is an important part of our commitment to the
environment, and the community, and we encourage people
to take advantage of what the program has to offer.”
According to the SLA, more than 9,000 people made use of
the recreation program in 2006, with more than 5,100 fishing
from designated shoreline fishing areas, nearly 3,000 hiking
on the trail, and more than 1,000 fishing from boats kept
at the boat storage area. The SLA has scheduled free fishing
derbies for children ages 3 – 12 this season on the
following Saturdays, May 12, July 14 and August 18 from
8 a.m. to noon. Registration is at the lake monitoring station
on Ellington Road.
For more information about the Shenipsit Lake Recreation
Program before Saturday, April 21, please call Connecticut
Water at 1-800-286-5700. For more information about the
Shenipsit Lake Association, visit www.shenipsitlake.org/
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Note to reporters and editors: The Shenipsit Lake Association
can be reached at (860) 872-3086.
