GOAL:
Protect and restore the ecological integrity and recreation value of lakes and ponds with public access.

OBJECTIVES:
Achieve and maintain high water quality and natural habitat conditions in lakes and ponds with public access through pollution source abatement, implementation of proven lake treatment technologies, and educational awareness.

STATUS & TRENDS:
Human induced sources of nutrients and sediments from septic systems and storm water runoff cause accelerated eutrophication and will continue to degrade the ecological, aesthetic and recreational value of Connecticut's lakes and ponds. Most municipalit ies have not fully implemented best management practices, including street sweeping and maintenance of catch basins, to control non-point sources of pollution. Additionally, a nuisance aquatic plant, Eurasian water milfoil, has become a serious impairmen t to recreation in many lakes. Lake eutrophication and lake acidification conditions have been determined by water quality monitoring at 106 lakes which provide public access and recreational use opportunities. Seven lakes are classified as oligotrophic , 62 as mesotrophic, 21 as eutrophic, and 16 as highly eutrophic. Of the 106 lakes assessed, 95 have been classified as unthreatened by acidification, and 11 have been classified as threatened by acidification, and no lakes have been classified as impair ed by acidification. Water quality trend assessments have revealed that 8 lakes exhibit degradation of water quality, 13 exhibit improved water quality, and 85 exhibit stable water quality. No lakes are degrading due to recent acidification. Federal match ing grants have resulted in classification of water quality conditions, diagnostic feasibility studies, eutrophication abatement projects, assessment of acid deposition effects, and the publication of handbooks on watershed and inlake management. State g rants have made funding available for 13 water quality projects at 12 lakes, but no funding has been available for the past 3 years. Since 1987, the State has acquired additional access to Pachaug Pond and Red Cedar Lake.

STRATEGIES:

1. Prevent excessive nutrient enrichment and sedimentation from surface sources including agricultural activities, storm water and urban runoff through regulatory programs, incentives, and implementation of best management practices.
2. Develop innovative technologies and implement effective programs for the inlake management of water quality problems.
3. Continue monitoring the status and trends of lakes used for public recreation, and document the effectiveness of publicly funded lake management projects.
4. Develop comprehensive programs for the control of nuisance species of plants and algae such as, Eurasian water milfoil and zebra mussels.
5. Continue to provide technical assistance and education for lake communities and individuals.
6. Prevent excessive nutrient enrichment and pollution from groundwater sources such as septic and oil tanks through mandatory tank inspection programs, education on proper maintenance, research on effluents from non-failing septic systems in lake waters heds, and other appropriate techniques.
7. Develop a program to restore oxygen levels to improve summer habitat for cold water fisheries in stratified lakes used for public recreation.
8. Develop individual recreation management plans for lakes used for public recreation.
9. Evaluate the feasibility of establishing shoreland buffers along lakes and ponds to benefit water quality and recreational use.
10. Encourage creative land use management and water quality management techniques, such as transfer of development rights, combining lots, and innovative waste treatment technologies to overcome the problem of undersize lots of record which if developed could cause increased water quality problems in lakes and ponds.
11. Develop a comprehensive program to mitigate sediment deposits resulting from past land management practices, through dredging and other innovative technologies to remove sediment deposits which affect water quality, and to mitigate weed problems which limit recreational use.
12. Provide additional public access to lakes and ponds.