Shenipsit Lake Reservoir Recreation Program To Open For 2025 Season

VERNON/TOLLAND/ELLINGTON, CT — March 3, 2024 — The Connecticut Water Company Monday announced that the 2025 Shenipsit Lake Reservoir fishing program will open at sunrise on Saturday, April 12, for the 2025 season.

Boat registration takes place this month.

Recreation at Shenipsit Lake Reservoir is allowed under a permit to Connecticut Water from the Department of Public Health that provides for approved recreational opportunities with measures to protect the public drinking water source. Because Shenipsit Lake Reservoir is a public drinking water supply, special precautions are in place to ensure the continuous protection and quality of the water supply source.

The 2025 program features fishing from designated shoreline areas, fishing from boats registered and stored at the boat storage area, and hiking. Fishing from boats is available to property owners along the shoreline of the Shenipsit Lake Reservoir and for those who have boats stored at the boat storage area. There are 48 slots in the boat storage area that will be assigned by a lottery through an online registration process.

"In 2024, about 12,000 people took advantage of the Shenipsit Lake Reservoir recreation program, whether that be through hiking, fishing from the shoreline or fishing from registered boats," Connecticut Water President Craig J. Patla said. "We are pleased to offer this program again in 2025. For nearly 30 years this program has provided access to a great natural resource for recreation while still preserving the quality of the public drinking water supply."

Those who wish to have a boat at the boat storage area, located at 95 Ellington Road in Tolland, will need to register through an online process. Paper registration forms will not be accepted. The week-long registration period will open on Thursday March 13, at noon and will close on Thursday, March 20 at noon. A lottery will take place when the registration period closes on March 20, which means that registrants will have a full week to complete and submit their registration materials. The instructions for boat registration lottery can be found at www.ctwater.com/shenipsit.

All registrants will be notified of the status of their registration request via email on Friday March 21, and further instructions will be provided for those who received a boat slot. Those receiving a boat slot will have an opportunity to deliver their boat to their slot beginning Saturday, April 5 at noon.

Additional information on the recreation program is available at www.ctwater.com/shenipsit.