Ashford Lake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ashford Lake
Ashford Lake Location in Connecticut
Location	Ashford, Connecticut, United States of America
Coordinates	41°54′01″N 72°07′42″W / 41.90036°N 72.12825°W / 41.90036; -72.12825
Type	Artificial
Primary inflows	Intermittent streams, runoff, springs
Primary outflows	Goss Brook
Basin countries	United States of America (Connecticut)
Managing agency	Ashford Lake POA
First flooded	1949
Max. length	0.59 mi (0.95 km) approx.
Max. width	0.19 mi (0.31 km) approx.
Surface area	52.6 acres (21.3 ha)
Max. depth	12 ft (3.7 m)
Surface elevation	659 ft (201 m)
Frozen	December through March (most winters)
Islands	0

Ashford Lake is a small, private pond located in eastern Connecticut. It's found in the town of Ashford, right near the border with Eastford. This pond covers about 52.6 acres. It's not very deep, only about 12 feet at its deepest spot. The surface of the lake is about 659 feet above sea level.

How Was Ashford Lake Formed?

Ashford Lake was made by people in 1949. They built a dirt dam across a stream called Goss Brook. This dam helped create the lake we see today.

When Did a Tornado Hit Ashford Lake?

On July 17, 2018, a small tornado hit the lake area. This was the first tornado in Windham County since 1992. The tornado caused trees to fall and damaged some homes nearby.

What Does Ashford Lake Look Like?

Ashford Lake gets its water from a few places. Small streams flow into it sometimes, and water also runs off the land. There are also natural springs at the bottom of the pond. A dirt dam on the south side holds the water in. The water then flows out of the lake through Goss Brook. This brook eventually joins the Mount Hope River.

Can You Visit Ashford Lake?

Ashford Lake is a private pond. This means only homeowners who live around the lake and their invited guests can use it. There are private beaches for residents to enjoy. The lake does not have a public boat launch. However, residents can use their own boats. Just remember, only electric motors are allowed on the boats, not gas motors.

What Plants and Animals Live in Ashford Lake?

Ashford Lake has many plants growing underwater. Most of these plants can't be seen from the surface, so they don't get in the way of fun activities. Luckily, there are no harmful invasive plant species here.

You might see patches of plants like Sparganium along the shore. Other plants like Eleocharis acicularis, Isoetes, Nuphar variegata, and Brasenia schreberi are also present, but they are less common. Different plants grow at different depths in the lake. For example, Najas flexilis is common in water from one to six feet deep. Utricularia radiata grows in water that is six to nine feet deep. And Potamogeton foliosus can be found in the deepest parts, from nine to twelve feet.

Sometimes, you might spot fish swimming in Ashford Lake. One type of fish seen here is the largemouth bass.