Shenipsit Lake Recreation Program Opens Saturday, April 19

The Connecticut Water Company and the Shenipsit Lake Association (SLA) announce that the Shenipsit Lake Recreation program will open for its 21st year on April 19. The program is a cooperative effort between Connecticut Water and SLA and affords area residents fishing and hiking at Connecticut Water’s Shenipsit Lake Reservoir located in the towns of Ellington, Tolland and Vernon.
 
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 45 storage slips for canoes and row boats that are available to the public for boat storage. Boats will be accepted at the boat storage area beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, for those who wish to use their boats at Shenipsit Lake this season. Boats are accepted three days before the start of the program to allow for a 48 hour quarantining to prevent the potential introduction of Zebra Mussels to the lake. 
 
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 (CFPA).  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.”

“It's a unique place, uncluttered by houses, free of motorboats and jet skis. It's a place we go to get away from civilization and enjoy nature. After this long winter, I absolutely can't wait to get back out there this spring,” 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 June28, July 26 and September 6, from 7 a.m. to noon. Two adult fishing derbies are scheduled for May 4 and September 21.  Registration is at the boat storage facility on Ellington Road, Tolland. Additional details on the fishing derbies are available at SLA’s Web site: http://shenipsitlake.org/

In addition, Connecticut Water is participating CFPA’s 2013 “Connecticut Trails Day” and will host a guided hike of a portion of the hiking trail on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at 10 a.m. beginning at the trail entrance at on Route 74 in Tolland across from RockVern Electric.

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, or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CTWtr) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/CTWater).