Squantz Pond State Park

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Squantz Pond
Squantz Pond - from space (NASA photo)
from space (NASA photo)
Location Western Connecticut
Coordinates 41.51056° N 73.47056° WCoordinates: 41.51056° N 73.47056° W
Lake type periglacial
Basin countries United States
Surface area 288 acres (1.2 km²)
Average depth 22.9 ft (7 m)
Max. depth 47 ft (14 m)
Water volume 2 billion US gallons (7,600,000 m³)
Surface elevation 429 m
Settlements New Fairfield and Sherman

Squantz Pond State Park is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) north of Danbury, Connecticut in the towns of Sherman, Connecticut and New Fairfield, Connecticut, in Fairfield County. It is part of Candlewood Lake but is separated from the main body of the lake by Route 39. Squantz Pond is natural in origin; however, its level was raised when Candlewood Lake was impounded in 1923. The lake has a surface area of approximately 288 acres (1.2 km²), a maximum depth of 47 feet (14 m), an average depth of 22.9 feet (7 m), and holds approximately 2 billion US gallons (7,600,000 m³) of water.

The shoreline bottom materials consist mostly of rocks, ledge, and gravel. Mud and organic muck cover the relatively flat areas of the bottom. The lake is fed by Glen Brook from the north, Worden Brook from the west, and several small unnamed streams.

The watershed of Squantz Pond is 3,635 acres (15 km²). Woodlands, wetlands, and water comprise approximately 80 percent of the watershed, 15 percent is moderate to low-density housing, while the remaining 5 percent is open land and farm land.

The eastern shoreline is developed with homes, while the western shoreline is steep and wooded. The southwestern shoreline borders Squantz Pond State Park. Facilities in the park include concession stands, picnic areas, beach and swimming areas, toilets, and hiking trails.

Public access to Squantz Pond is provided through a state owned boat launch located in the State Park. Boats launched from the State Park are limited to a maximum of 7.5 horsepower (6 kW). The launch can be reached by taking Interstate 84, Exit 6 to Route 37 north, to Route 39 north to the State Park entrance.

The launch has a ramp of concrete pads with an asphalt approach. There is parking for 25 cars at the launch.

An aquatic survey of Squantz Pond was published in 1988. The survey found aquatic vegetation in Squantz Pond to be sparse and limited to the shallower areas in the northern section. Species observed included Bushy pondweed (Najas flexilis, Najas minor), bulrush (Scirpus sp.), and cattail (Typha sp.)

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection periodically stocks both brown and rainbow trout in Squantz Pond. Other species found in the lake include Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Walleye, and Chain Pickerel.

The current Connecticut Angler's Guide has specific fish consumption advisory information, as well as, the most recent rules governing sport fishing.

SOURCE - Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Copyright 1998-2004

Contents

[edit] History

Settlers from Fairfield, Connecticut received approval from the General Assembly to establish a new township and they negotiated with Chief Squantz of the Schaghticoke (tribe), a tribe of Algonquian lineage. They "purchased" a 32,000 acre (130 km²) tract of land, that is now New Fairfield and Sherman, for the equivalent of about 300 dollars and on April 24, 1729, The deed was recorded on May 9,1729, and is now deposited in the archives of the State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut.

It is said that Squantz Pond State Park takes its name from Chief Squantz who lived at the northern tip of the lake, which is now separated from the rest of Candlewood Lake by the Route 39 causeway. Before becoming a state park, the area around Squantz Pond was also a farm and an apple orchard. Despite many changes to the land, the presence of the original residents is still marked by occasionally uncovered artifacts such as stone adzes, mallets and other tools. The remains of an Indian canoe over 22 feet long and 5 feet wide was raised from the bottom of the lake, leading to speculation that even before the settlers came, Squantz Pond may have been much larger than it was just prior to its expansion during the flooding of Candlewood Lake.

[edit] Plant species

[edit] Trees

Acer pensylvanicum (Striped Maple) lots, Acer rubrum (Red Maple), Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Betula lenta (Sweet Birch), Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch), Betula populifolia (Gray Birch), Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam), Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory), Cornus Florida (Flowering Dogwood), Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Juniper), Larix laricina (Tamarack Larch), Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree), Picea pungens (Blue Spruce), Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine), Populus grandidentata (Big-toothed Aspen), Prunus serotina (Black Cherry), Quercus alba (White oak), Quercus prinus (Chestnut oak), Quercus rubra (Red oak), Sassafras albidum (Sassafras), Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock)

NOTE: The Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is rapidly destroying the Eastern Hemlock population at the park and surrounding areas.

[edit] Shrubs

Chimaphila maculata (Spotted wintergreen),Clethra alnifolia (Sweet pepperbush), Hamamelis virginiana (Witch-hazel), Kalmia latifolia (Mountain laurel), Lindera benzoin (Spicebush), Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry), Rosa multiflora (Multiflora rose) Rubus occidentalis (Black raspberry), Rubus phoenicolasius (Wineberry), Viburnum sp. (Viburnum)

[edit] Vines

Celastrus orbiculatus (Asiatic Staff vine), Toxicodendron radicans (Poison-ivy), Vitis sp. (Grape)

[edit] Herbs

Alliaria petiolata (Garlic mustard), Artemisia vulgaris (Common mugwort), Epifagus virginiana (Beech-drops), Galium sp. (Bedstraw), Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe), Rumex crispus (Curled Dock), Rumex obtusifolius (Broadleaf Dock), Solidago spp. (Goldenrod), Typha sp. (Cattail), Verbascum thapsus (Common mullein)

[edit] Sedges

Carex laxiflora type (Sedge), Carex stricta (Tussock sedge), Scirpus sp. (Bulrush)

[edit] Grasses

Setaria italica (Foxtail millet)

[edit] Ferns

Dryopteris sp. (Woodferns), Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive fern), Polypodium sp. (Rock cap ferns) lots, Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern) lots

[edit] Others

Liverworts, Najas flexilis, Najas minor

[edit] Fish species

Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Yellow perch, White perch, Sunfish, Walleye, Chain pickerel, Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Catfish

[edit] Water quality

The water of Squantz Pond is moderately productive, and of suitable quality for all recreational water uses, including swimming, boating, and fishing. The productivity, or ability to support plant life, is due to the concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, found in the water. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has classified Squantz Pond, as mesotrophic, due to its moderate nutrient concentrations, good clarity, and other water quality characteristics.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a requirement for the respiration of fish and other aquatic organisms. The concentration of DO depends, in part, on water temperature, as cold water can hold more DO than warm water. Because of this, season also effects the distribution of DO in the lake. In the fall, as temperature decreases, the cooled DO-rich surface waters begin to descend toward the bottom because of the difference in density, (water density increases with falling temperatures until it reaches its maximum density at 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), below which it decreases). This mixing of the water due to the difference in density, along with mixing by wind, transports DO to the deeper waters of the lake and results in relatively uniform conditions from the surface to the bottom of the lake by winter. This condition can be seen in the winter profile of DO and temperature (Winter Profile), where the DO concentrations are relatively uniform with depth.

In the spring and summer, the surface waters of the lake are warmed by increasing temperatures and the sun. This warmer, less-dense water remains at the surface, and the lake becomes thermally stratified. As a result of this stratification, there is little mixing of the shallow and deep water in the lake. Thus, DO, which enters the water primarily from the atmosphere and from photosynthesis carried out by aquatic plants, is not transported to deeper water. Near the bottom, the consumption of DO by aquatic organisms and chemical reactions exceed the rate of replenishment, resulting in lower DO levels. This condition can be seen in the summer profile of DO and temperature (Summer Profile), where the DO concentrations decrease rapidly below about 18 feet and are less than 1 milligram per liter below 24 feet. During periods when these low DO conditions exist, there is insufficient DO to support most types of game fish in deeper waters of the lake, and they will normally move to upper layers of the lake where higher DO concentrations are found.

The pH of the water indicates whether it is acidic or alkaline. The pH level is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, where 7.0 is considered neutral, less than 7.0 acidic, and greater than 7.0 alkaline. Highly acidic or alkaline water can be detrimental to aquatic organisms. The ideal range for most freshwater game fish is from 6.5 to 9.0, however, most adult game fish can tolerate pH as low as 5.5. The pH of Squantz Pond ranges from 6.8 to 8.9, which is adequate for most gamefish.

Alkalinity, which is a measure of the ability of water to neutralize acid, is relatively high in Squantz Pond. For this reason, the lake is not very susceptible to acidification.

[edit] State Park Information

New Fairfield, CT U.S.A.
178 Shortwoods Road
New Fairfield, CT 06810
U.S.A.
203-797-4165

Open Year-Round - Entry Fee Charged

Picnicking, Hiking, Beaches, Canoeing, Kayaking, Boat Launch, Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, Bird Watching, Nature Viewing, Wheelchair Accessible

[edit] Park Hours

Connecticut State Parks are open from 8:00 AM to Sunset.

[edit] Pets & Alcohol

  • Pets are not permitted in the park during the summer season from April 15 through September 30. Pets on a leash are permitted in picnic areas and on hiking trails from October 1 to April 14.[1]
  • Alcohol-free park. Please do not bring alcoholic beverages.[1]

[edit] Swimming Safety

Check out the State Park & Forest Swimming Safety Information & Beach Regulations from the DEP.

[edit] Trails

From the west side, the main trail starts from the north end of the picnic area; it follows the edges of the lake’s western shoreline for 2 miles to a peninsula that juts out into the lake (and has an unobstructed view of the entire lake). The lake is always visible, so there is no fear of getting lost.

A green trail travels north to Worden Brook and then head southwest, passing the northern end of the yellow trail, and turns to heads eastward to the southern part of the yellow trail which continues east to bring you back to the outgoing green trail. A shortcut can be had to shorten the green trail circular walk by taking the yellow trail south when it first appears.

The white trail goes along the west shoreline of Squantz Pond to Pine Ledge. Some old reddish-brown markers can still be seen. But the trail is easy enough to follow because it parallels the shoreline. It is mostly a hemlock laden area with quite a few rapidly flowing streams splashing down to the lake. There are also many interesting rock formations. A little less than half-way there is a nice open area and a rock on which you can stand and look back at the beach at Squantz Pond State Park. (Also along the way, a red-blazed trail comes down the steep grade from Pootatuck Mountain.)

TRAIL MAP

[edit] Drownings at the Park

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection began keeping records on drownings at Connecticut state parks in 1996 and since then 13 people have died at Squantz Pond State Park. On Labor Day 2007, an 18-year-old man from Queens, N.Y., became the third drowning victim of 2007 at about 1 p.m. at East Beach, an area that was not protected by lifeguards because the state DEP believed the drowning danger to be lower than other sections of the park.

In June of 2008, DEP unveiled several improvements to the park designed to improve the safety of swimmers. The designated beach swimming area was enlarged and clearly marked to make it more attractive to swimmers, and several trees were removed to improve the sight lines of on-duty lifeguards. In addition, a new dock houses a patrol boat.

The other Squantz Pond victims drowned in the areas known as "the Rocks" and the unroped section of "Squantz Cove" that are outside the designated swimming area. These areas also were not protected by lifeguards. "Tree Jump[1]". is a video example of a highly risky maneuver conducted by a park-goer at the Rocks.

In July 2007, DEP Officials made "the Rocks" off limits to beachgoers. In response to the drownings and pressure from local officials, the state announced plans to reduce the parking capacity of the park from about 500 cars to about 250, and to post signs on nearby Interstate 84 announcing if the park has reached capacity. DEP hopes the reduced capacity will help them prevent swimming outside of authorized areas.

Full List of Drowning Victims
• Jun. 16, 1996: Cezar Guzman, 20, Yonkers, N.Y.
• Aug. 27, 1997: Thomas Swords, 33, New Fairfield, C.T.
• Aug. 02, 1998: Adames Tamarez, 26, New York City, N.Y.
• Jul. 13, 1999: Jesus Tapia, 21, Queens, N.Y.
• Jun. 25, 2000: Alex Marte, 24, Queens, N.Y.
• Jul. 13, 2002: Felix Lantigua, 33, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Sep. 04, 2004: Felipe Mendez, 38, Bronx, N.Y.
• Aug. 28, 2005 Julissa Sierra, 18, Bronx, N.Y.
• Aug. 09, 2006: Michael Rivera, 20, Staten Island, N.Y.
• Aug. 22, 2006: Jesse Nazario, 23, Bronx, N.Y.
• Jul. 10, 2007: Jarvell Ward, 19, Bronx, N.Y.
• Jul. 22, 2007: Celso Tacuri-Rivera, 27, Bridgeport, C.T.
• Sep. 03, 2007: Antonio Gonzalez, 18, Queens, N.Y.

[edit] The Rocks - Homemade Jumping Videos

This is a highly dangerous activity and is against the law. Do not attempt to do this. Over 10 people have died attempting this jump in the last 10 years.

[edit] Squantz Pond in the News

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b CT DEP: Squantz Pond State Park

[edit] External links