5. PLAN FOR HOUSATONIC RIVER

GREENWAY AND RIVER TRAIL

FROM BRIDGEWATER TO MONROE, CT

RIVER TRAIL MAIN PAGE --- MANAGEMENT PLAN
1. DANBURY STILL INVENTORY --- 2. BROOKFIELD STILL INVENTORY
3. NEW MILFORD STILL INVENTORY -- 4. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC THRU NEW MILFORD
5. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC FROM BRIDGEWATER TO MONROE

OVERVIEW
As shown on this topographic overview map, the Housatonic River leaves New Milford at the Town's south central boundary, the River now known as Lake Lillinonah. The Towns of Brookfield, Newtown and Monroe then form the west bank, and the Town of Bridgewater, Southbury and Oxford the east bank. Once in northern Newtown at the Shepaug Dam Lake Lillinonah becomes Lake Zoar.

A summary of the River Trail's paddle distances south of New Milford is as follows:

3.66 MILES, BROOKFIELD - NEW MILFORD LINE TO RT 133 STATE RAMP
4.07 MILES, RT 133 RAMP TO WEST SHEPAUG DAM PORTATE
2.27 MILES, EAST SHEPAUG DAM PORTAGE TO GLEN ROAD BRIDGE
1.06 MILES, GLEN ROAD BRIDGE TO I-84 BRIDGE
1.14 MILES, I-84 TO LAKE ZOAR BOAT RAMP
1.67 MILES, BOAT RAMP TO KETTLETOWN STATE PARK
3.60 MILES, KETTLETOWN TO STEVENSON DAM PORTAGE
17.47 MILES, TOTAL

5A. BRIDGEWATER ON LAKE LILLINONAH:
LAKE LILLINONAH STATE RAMP
This State Boat Ramp on Route 133 in Bridgewater, CT is well marked from adjacent Route 133. It has a large and very active ramp primarily for fishing and powerboats. It may be most suitable for small craft launching on weekday mornings. The parking is very crowded on weekends, and there is a lot of traffic in the parking lot and on Lake Lillinonah.

There are sanitary facilities here in the summer. There are no picnic tables or grassy areas for picnicking. This location is noted as a landmark on the HVRT brochure only; there is no HVRT signage on or near the property. The paddle distance from this boat ramp downstream to the portage at the Shepaug Dam is 4.07 miles.

View of Route 133 Bridge over Lake Lillinonah
from Brookfield's Lillinonah Woods Town Park.
Source: Brookfield Parks and Recreation Department.

The parking area is to the right off of Route 133, just past Obtuse Rocks Road, which, in turn, is just 0.2 miles before reaching the Route 133 Bridge over the Housatonic River heading north from Brookfield into the Town of Bridgewater. Parking is near the gate. There are picnic tables by the parking area and also inside the park. There are trails in this park.

There is a path down to the Lake from Route 133 and walking trails (see map). There is a pull off area that could be used for parking. There are no signs indicating the existence of this park either on the road or on Lake Lillinonah. There is nothing in place at present to stabilize the bank for taking or putting in kayaks.

This location is noted as a landmark on the HVRT brochure only; there is no HVRT signage on or near the property. There is a possibility that this location could be developed for paddlers in the future if Brookfield is interested.

Pond Brook Inlet is about 1.48 miles downstream from the Lake Lillinonah State Ramp back in Bridgewater. It is well identified by boating ramp signs from Route 133 north in Brookfield and on Newtown’s Hanover Road. There are sunny and shady picnic locations. There are sanitary facilities in the summer.

FUTURE OPTIONS: This location is noted as a landmark on the HVRT brochure only; there is no HVRT signage on or near the property. There is a large sign structure in the park that might be available for HVRT to add information for paddlers in the future.

The Paugusett State Forest is within walking distance. Maps for paddlers to find the forest to enjoy a hike would make this an ideal point of interest for paddlers.

A paddle of two miles or so is available up the Shepaug. Development of paddling opportunities up and down the Shepaug need to be investigated. They would greatly expand paddling opportunities for residents and visitors.

FUTURE OPTIONS: This state forest could have access from Lake Lillinonah with places to safely secure boats while paddlers enjoy a scenic hike. Perhaps cedar log steps could be installed at minimal cost by scouts once DEP, Army Corps and Town of Newtown permits were obtained. A trail could be marked for this purpose. Possibly the AMC would undertake this project of marking the trail from the Lake to other trails already in existence.

5E. SOUTHBURY ON LAKE LILLINONAH:
SHEPAUG DAM PORTAGE TO LAKE ZOAR
DESCRIPTION: Vehicular access is from River Road in Southbury, with the Shepaug Dam being at the western “dead end” of that town road.

The portage is approximately one third mile in length. It is well marked all along the path. Green and white HVRT portage signs are on the eastern bank of Lake Lillinonah both above and below the dam. There is flat water at either end.

Note that this portage leads from Lake Lillinonah down slope to Lake Zoar, both of which are segments of the Housatonic River.

Northeast Generating Company worked with the HVRT to identify a safe place for paddlers to access and exit the two lakes whether the dam is generating power or not. The bank is gradual and an easy place to put in or take out. As most paddlers would travel in a southerly direction with the current, signs are located along the easterly trail down to Lake Zoar.

Overview of Shepaug Dam showing Lake Lillinonah above
and Lake Zoar below. Source: Housatonic Valley Association.

The portage is located on NU property and is maintained by NGC. There is a canoe rest built by NGC.The portage signs were paid for by NGC and installed by them. The contact person worked with at NGC was Robert Gates.

PARKING: There is parking available in the lot below the dam.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Here at the “Shepaug Dam Recreation Area”, the riverside park below the dam is open from 8 AM to sunset from Memorial Day to Labor Day. NU operates a Bald Eagle watching station from late fall thru the winter. There are picnic tables, grills, and sanitary facilities. There is a nature self-guided trail developed by a NU naturalist. Brochures are available about this walking trail.

The tail waters below the Shepaug Dam may have significant currents during periods of power generation and water discharge. Thus particular caution for paddlers is needed.

FUTURE NEEDS: A ramp is to be installed so the debris harvester can be moved from Lake Lillinonah to Lake Zoar and back. Bob Gates of Northeast Generation Services is interested in the possibility of additional access or portage for paddlers.

The Walnut Tree Hill ball field in Sandy Hook is located here. It has a parking lot accessed off of Bridge End Farm Lane. Access steps from the water might be possible in some way on this Town owned property.

There is an inlet just to the south that may provide future access for canoes or kayaks. Note that the Pootatuck River empties into the Housatonic River at the west end of this inlet.

The 1934 vintage Glen Road Bridge carrying State Route 816 over the Housatonic River to Southbury is a landmark here, to the south across the cove from the ball field. There are interesting points of interest around this area including an old railroad trestle.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS: It may be possible for paddlers to paddle up the Pomperaug River to a shopping center for restaurants and evening concerts. Feasibility of such a possibility depends upon the depth of the River, strength of current, obstacles etc. Put in and/ or take out ramps may be possible along the Pomperaug if Southbury is supportive of the idea.

5J. SOUTHBURY ON LAKE ZOAR:
LAKE ZOAR STATE BOAT RAMP
This state ramp has recently been refurbished. It is quite large, paved and very busy with fishing and power boat launching. There are sanitary facilities in the summer. See this private summary of Lake Zoar boat ramps.

Lake Zoar State Boat Ramp in Southbury.

However it may not be an ideal location for paddlers to try to access the Housatonic River, as there is so much motorized traffic. As such a decision will need to be made as to removing it as a reference point on the HVRT. This state access ramp is about 1.14 miles downstream from the I-84 bridges.

5I. NEWTOWN ON THE LAKE ZOAR:
LOWER PAUGUSETT STATE FOREST
This forest of over 1930 acres is in Newtown on the south side of Lake Lillinonah, on its upstream end across from Kettletown State Park (see DEP map). There are no signs from Lake Zoar to identify this ideal hiking forest, which includes a 6.5 mile loop trail. There are no places to tie a canoe or kayak. There are no steps or a ramp to permit people to walk into the forest without causing damage to the shore of Lake Zoar.

FUTURE OPTIONS: This forest could have access from Lake Zoar with places to safely secure boats while paddlers enjoy a scenic hike. There is a beautiful seasonal waterfall. A trail could be marked for paddlers. Possibly the AMC would undertake this project of marking the trail from the river to other trails already in existence. Cedar log steps could be installed at minimal cost by scouts once DEP permits were obtained.

There is a cove, nice swimming beach, picnic tables, bathrooms, fishing, and hiking. Overnight camping is permitted. Call (203) 264-5678 for information about fees and reservations.

Campers may launch their canoes from the shore but there is no boat ramp. This location is noted as a landmark on the HVRT brochure only; there is no HVRT signage on or near the property.

From the Lake Zoar State Ramp in Southbury downstream to the entrance into the cove for Kettletown State Park is a paddle distance of about 1.67 miles.

FUTURE OPTIONS: The Town of Oxford may be willing to allow HVRT paddlers to use the ramp and/or park for free or at a reduced rate. This should be researched.

5M. MONROE ON LAKE ZOAR:
PORTAGE FOR STEVENSON DAM
DESCRIPTION AND SIGNAGE: Continuing the journey, the distance paddled from Kettletown State Park downstream to this location is about 3.60 miles. The portage is on the southern bank of Lake Zoar, just before the Stevenson Dam, and is part of a Town of Monroe boat ramp. Route 34 is on the west bank of Lake Zoar here, and for its journey eastward crosses over the top of the dam to the east bank.

Route 34 atop Stevenson Dam.
Source: Newtown Bee, Clark.

Paddlers must walk along and cross Route 34 as part of the portage around the Stevenson Dam. The walk from the take out to the dam is about .15 miles.

From there, the steep and narrow driveway into the power plant property and to the put in at the riverside end of the portage is a similar distance, about .17 miles. The Lake’s water elevation above sea level at the beginning of this portage is about 100 feet, and then on the Housatonic River below less than 40 feet.

SIGNAGE POSTED: At the beginning of the portage, green Housatonic Valley River Trail signs are said to be visible from Lake Zoar, but this could not be verified by a land based field inspection during May of 2006. Vehicular access to the small boat ramp is designed as one way in and one way out, and is signed on Route 34 as “Lake Zoar Boat Ramp - Use by Permit Only.”

Half way thru the portage, a second sign location is found easterly on Route 34, marking the entrance to the driveway down to the power plant, the drive beginning just before the turn of Route 34 on to the bridge carrying Route 34 atop the Stevenson Dam. The sign says “Canoe and Kayak Portage.”

The third and final sign location is on power plant property at the portage put in, which is adjacent to the riverbank of the Housatonic. This is a large sign, mounted on wooden posts, with a schematic map of the vicinity and the title “Stevenson Recreational Facility.”

While this schematic map includes the designation “portage trail” it is not oriented from the point of view of the user. It is also so generalized that it is somewhat confusing.

Perhaps the HVRT process, using the HVCEO GIS, could donate a large laminated replacement based on an aerial photograph. This sign is adjacent to a wooden staircase taking paddlers down to the waters edge.

These signs were paid for and installed by Northeast Generation Services in 2002. NGS has been active on the River Trail Advisory Committee.

PROPERTY OWNER AND TYPE OF AGREEMENT: There was a verbal agreement with NU about the location of the portage signs. It is not known if the Town of Monroe was contacted about the posting on their property, or if the sign at the power plant driveway entrance is on Conn DOT property, or if either was contacted.

AGREEMENTS FOR PARKING: The very small parking area across Route 34 from the upstream take out states “Monroe Residents Parking - Permit Only.” This little dirt lot also serves hikers on the nearby Paugussett Trail, which is identified by a blue oval sign here on adjacent Route 34.

At the other end of the portage the parking lot at the bottom of the power plant driveway is open to the general public as part of the FERC license.

TYPE OF MAINTENANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR: The middle HVRT portage sign at the entrance to the driveway has been vandalized with green spray paint. Perhaps NGS has additional signs or they may be able to clean the existing sign.

NGS has had to repair the railing of the steps to the portage put in. The bottom step however is non-existent. The wooden landing might have been washed away by high water. Rocks here are a barrier for paddlers carrying a boat. NGS needs to be contacted as to a solution.

Aerial view of the Stevenson Dam, with Lake Zoar to left.

RIVER TRAIL MAIN PAGE --- MANAGEMENT PLAN
1. DANBURY STILL INVENTORY --- 2. BROOKFIELD STILL INVENTORY
3. MILFORD STILL INVENTORY -- 4. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC THRU NEW MILFORD
5. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC FROM BRIDGEWATER TO MONROE