Catastrophe Averted At Lake Quonnipaug

Quick thinking and hard work by town and state officials working through the weekend averted a potential catastrophe at Lake Quonnipaug after a leaking oil tank was discovered Friday by someone lunching in the picnic area across from the beach.

Check out Kevin Magee's account in our video.

Magee, an environmental planner with the town's Natural Resources Department, was scheduled to have both Friday and Monday off as vacation days. Instead he and others worked around the clock all weekend to preserve the town's popular beach, swimming hole and picnic area.

On Friday, someone picnicking in the area across Route 77 from the lake noticed a sheen of oil on the parking lot. That person called the town and the town's fire department responded. They contacted the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, which responded with two emergency vehicles.

The emergency responders determined that an old oil tank, improperly remediated, had filled with water and had essentially floated up along with the rise in the water table in the area, following a series of torrential downpours last week. The leaking oil was headed straight for the lake across the street, through nearby streams and across the parking lot. 

McVac Environmental, a contractor from New Haven that has specialized equipment and expertise, was called in to place booms in nearby streams and in the parking lot to prevent the oil from reaching the lake. They also brought equipment and trucks that could suck up the oil that had already spilled. 

Guilford Health Director Dennis Johnson was one of several people who worked through the weekend to make sure the water was safe. After closing the beach Saturday, he determined that it could be re-opened on Sunday, Magee said.

First Selectman Joe Mazza on Monday praised the hard work and quick thinking of town officials and employees. He thanked Selectman Charles Havrda, who stepped in while Mazza was out of town, for his role in coordinating and working with with emergency responders and town employees. Mazza also thanked the fire department, the parks department, the health department, public works and others who pitched in to make sure the beach was saved. Mazza said Guilford Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Vetre, working as a first responder, was instrumental in preventing any damage to the lake.

"It was a catastrophe avoided," Mazza said. "Everything worked the way it should have. Everyone did just a great job. The beach was re-opened Sunday  because of their quick action. This goes to show we really have some great people working for the town." 

Located off Route 77 just north of Route 80 in Guilford, the Lake Quonnipaug recreation area is used by residents of North Guilford, North Madison and other surrounding areas for swimming, fishing, kayaking, camping, picnicking, and other forms of summer fun from Memorial Day to Labor Day.