b'in the spotlightLake HousatonicL ooking for a spot to take the jet skis or take the family tubing?Lake Housatonic might be the right spot for you!The lake was created inthelate1860sbytheconstructionofthe Housatonic Dam. Edwin N. Shelton built the dam over a period of three years for the Housatonic Water Company. The 686 foot long, 22 feet high dam was considered an engineering marvel in its day. Built at a cost of $320,000, this dam created a reservoir behind it and provided power to localHousatonicyoucanexpecttofindlargemouth industrythroughaseriesofcanals. Thisdambass,smallmouthbass,yellowperch,black became so important to the area that in 1882 thecrappie, white perch, rock bass, brown bullhead town of Shelton was named after its builder. andAmericaneels.IftheweatherturnsbadToday, the dam is commonly referred to asor the lake gets too busy, please check out the the Derby Dam and Lake Housatonic is a popularnearby Kellogg Environmental Center & Osborne recreationareaforlocalresidentsandvisitors.Homestead Museum.The 328-acre lake is long and narrow and borders In addition to regular state boating laws, there the towns of Oxford and Seymour and the citiesare local regulations that apply to Lake Housatonic. of Ansonia, Derby, and Shelton.The lake canVessels are prohibited from approaching the dam be used for jet skiing, water skiing, and tubing.be very busy at state parks and capacity closureswithin 300 feet on upstream side or 1,500 feet on Fishing, canoeing and kayaking are also popularregularly occur.It is best to check the statusdownstream side.There is an established traffic there and are best enjoyed during off peak hours.before heading out. pattern on the lake, vessels proceeding upstream TheboatlaunchparkingareacanNotethatwaterreleasesfromupstreamordownstreambeartotheirright.Minimum accommodate 45 vehicles and is located withindams can cause water levels to fluctuate rapidlysteerage speed within 25 feet of shore or dock. Indian Well State Park at 400 Indian Well Road,on Lake Housatonic so boaters should familiarize45 MPH limit daytime, 25 MPH from 1/2 hour after Shelton.Although there is no charge to launchthemselves with the shallower areas of the lakesunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise. No kite skiing or boats, park entrance fees may apply to out of stateto avoid running aground or hitting rocks. Powerparasailing without permission. residents. The park allows boaters to beach boatsboatersinexperienceonthiswaterbodyareUSEFUL LINKS: Kellogg Environmental Center on a small sections of sandy shoreline on eitheradvised to avoid venturing north of the area known& Osborne Homestead Museum https://portal.side of the marked swim area, making this a greatlocally as Indian Head due to submerged hazardsct.gov/DEEP/Education/Historical-Parks-and-place to bring the family for boating and picnickingto navigation.An outcropping of rocks on the westMuseumsfun! If you take advantage of these areas pleaseside of the river that are often painted as an NativeFish in Lake Housatonic - https://www.be especially cautious of people in the water andAmerican identifies this point.takemefishing.org/where-to-fish-and-boat/#/follow the Slow-No-Wake Zones. Weekends canIfyouareinterestedinfishingonLakebow/90546 BANTAM LAKEfrom page 16a trophy northern pike, the lake offers plenty ofwater-skiers are not permitted within 150 feet of fishing opportunities for both casual and seriousshore, except taking off or landing; No riding on anglers to enjoy. Please refer to special fishingdeck; No motors 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.; and No kite regulations before heading out onto Bantam Lake. skiingorparasailingwithoutpermission.Also, Additional recreational opportunities includinguse of internal combustion motors prohibited on picnicking and hiking can be found at the nearbythe Bantam River between Bantam Lake and the WhiteMemorialConservationCenter.Createdinlet to Little Pond.in 1913, this conservation center is located inUSEFUL LINKS: General lake information- Litchfield and Morris and includes 40 miles ofhttp://bantamlakect.com/ easytomoderatehikingtrailsthrough4,000Fishing - https://www.takemefishing.org/acres of beautiful wetland, field and forest scen- where-to-fish-and-boat/#/poi/486769 ery.Overnight camping is available if one day isWhite Memorial Conservation Center- https://not enough to take it all in.So this boating seasonare local regulations that apply to the lake.Therewhitememorialcc.org/ get out and enjoy Bantam Lake! is a 6 MPH limit in Nicks Cove; boats towing In addition to regular state boating laws, there 2021 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE17'