Candlewood Lake
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| Candlewood Lake | |
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| Candlewood Lake from space (NASA photo) | |
| Location | Western Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°30′N 73°28′W / 41.5°N 73.46°WCoordinates: 41°30′N 73°28′W / 41.5°N 73.46°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Rocky River, Housatonic River |
| Primary outflows | Rocky River, Housatonic River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 11 miles (18 km) |
| Max. width | 2 miles (3.2 km) widest point |
| Surface area | 5,420 acres (21.9 km2) |
| Average depth | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Max. depth | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Shore length1 | 60 mi (97 km) |
| Surface elevation | 429 feet (131 m) |
| Islands | 12 |
| Settlements | Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Candlewood Lake, 8.4 sq mi (21.8 km²), is located in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties in the Appalachian Mountains of western Connecticut, a northeastern state of the United States. It is the largest lake in Connecticut. The lake is bordered by five towns: Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman.
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[edit] Hydroelectric dam
Candlewood Lake is formed behind a hydroelectric dam south of the Rocky River's junction with the Housatonic River. Like a giant battery, its main purpose is to store water during periods of low electrical demand for power generation when demand is high. Excess electricity from the valley's hydro-system is used to pump water up a hillside into the lake from the nearby Housatonic River during the Spring and overnight hours in Summer. The water is then allowed to flow back down into the river when extra electricity is needed in the grid, often during the region's intense mid-to-late summer heat waves. Power is generated by turbines that are spun by the water flowing into the river while pumping is done by reversing the impellers.
Candlewood Lake was created in the 1920s. Inhabitants were relocated elsewhere, but many of the buildings were left standing and some farming equipment was left behind. The roads were not torn up before the valley was flooded. Scuba divers can investigate buildings from that era, following the roads underwater, and discover artifacts from that era onwards. Some of the notable underwater finds are model Ts, plane wreckage from small craft that have hit the lake since then, and covered bridges from that era.
[edit] Popular recreation area
The lake is used year round, although tourists primarily come during the summer months for fishing, boating and golfing. Along its approximately 60-mile (97 km) shoreline are five-star tourist resorts and recreational facilities, including golf courses, beaches, and marinas.
The lake is around 40 feet (12 m) deep in most places, with some deeper areas that are 80 feet (24 m). There is a 45 mph (72 km/h) daytime speed limit for boats and a 25 mph (40 km/h) night-time speed limit from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise. A 6 mph (9.7 km/h) speed limit is in effect within one hundred feet of shore, dock, moored vessel, and other places that the power company has marked as hazardous.
[edit] Environmental problems
The lake has an ongoing problem with the growth of eelgrass and eurasian milfoil in shallower areas. Because of the silt kicked up by boats and the problem with water weeds and algae, the visibility in the lake is around 5-20 feet.
The level of the lake is usually dropped ten feet over the winter in an attempt to freeze the weeds. Attempts have also been made to trim them with mechanical cutters on barges, but this has had limited success. In December 2006, the state Department of Environmental Protection working with members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency treated Candlewood Lake for its eelgrass and algae issues with an organic phosphate, and the initial results appear promising. However, the full effect of the initial treatment and subsequent additional treatments will not be realized for several more years.
[edit] History
On July 15, 1926, Connecticut Light and Power Company's board of directors approved a plan that would be unique: The first large-scale operation of pumped storage facilities in the United States. By creating the lake and pumping it full of water from the Housatonic River then letting the water pour down an immense pipe called a penstock and into a turbine, the utility could produce electricity.
Within weeks, an army of 50 surveyors swarmed into the valley, and lawyers were hired to process the deeds transferring land held by some families since before the American Revolution into the hands of CL&P. The utility had the power of eminent domain and so the farmers sold their land -- $2,356 for 53 acres (210,000 m2), $3,000 for 34 acres (140,000 m2), $100 for 3 acres (12,000 m2).
Starting in late July, 1926, nearly 1400 men labored to create Connecticut's largest body of water. About 500 men from Maine and Canada, hand-felled 4,500 acres (18 km2) of woodland, burning the lumber in massive bonfires - reminiscent of Indian campfires that once burned in the valley centuries earlier. Several dams were built. The largest, at the north end of the valley, measured 952 feet (290 m) wide and 100 feet (30 m) high upon completion.
Nearly two years later on February 25, 1928 the first pumping operation began pouring water into the valley from the Housatonic. Engineers had planned on the Rocky River and its tributaries filling the valley one-fourth of the way, with the generating plant pumping the remaining three-fourths of the water out of the Housatonic. The valley filled quickly and only 7 months later, on September 29, 1928, the water reached an elevation of 429 feet (131 m) above sea level and Candlewood was considered complete.
Even before the lake's filling was completed, it became apparent it would draw summer vacationers from as far away as New York City. Land prices on what would become the shoreline had already jumped to an unbelievable $1,000 an acre and summer developments sprang up almost immediately.
Although it was almost called Lake Danbury, Candlewood Lake ultimately got its name from New Milford's Candlewood Mountain - which was named after the Candlewood tree, whose sapling branches were sometimes used as candles by early settlers.
Popular myth states that the area on which the lake resides was discovered by two pioneers named Connor and Jake on their way back from temple in the late 1800's.
To this day Candlewood Lake serves as a relaxing getaway for city folk and a year round home for others. Common activities for lake-goers include swimming, boating, and various other water sports. Candlewood lake is also home to "Chicken Rock" which is a large rock which people jump off of into the water and rope swings.
[edit] Recent events
More recently, Candlewood Lake has become a popular Summer time boating and recreation area for the towns surrounding Danbury. On the morning of Saturday July 19, 2008 two men were killed and a third ( a local firefighter) was critically injured when the 24-foot (7.3 m) power boat they were operating while intoxicated collided with an 18-foot (5.5 m) Triton fishing boat. Neither of the Triton's passengers sustained life threatening injuries, however the passing of two local men and the injuries to the third have left local government officials to wonder how safe the lake really is, and what can be done to make it safer.
[edit] Islands
- Green Island
- Deer Island
- Cedar Island
- Oak Island
- Rock Island
- Pine Island
- Thistle Island
- Hi Five Island
- Goat Island
- Uncle Nick Island
[edit] See also
[edit] Bibliography
- Candlewood Lake by Susan Murphy, Gary Smolen, March 2005, 128 pages, "Images of America" series, Arcadia Publishing, paperback ISBN 0738536024; ISBN 978-0738536026
- Candlewood Lake (fiction) by Penny C. Sansevieri, May 2005, paperback ISBN 0-595-35129-8
