Lake Waramaug facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Waramaug |
|
|---|---|
Lake Waramaug with
Mount Bushnell across the water |
|
 Lake Waramaug
Location in Connecticut
|
|
| Location | Warren & Washington, Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°41′52″N 73°21′44″W / 41.6977611°N 73.3621928°W |
| Type | Natural lake |
| Etymology | Named after Chief Waramaug |
| Primary inflows | Sucker Brook (Lake Waramaug Brook), groundwater |
| Primary outflows | East Aspetuck River |
| Max. length | 2.4 miles (3.9 km) |
| Max. width | 1.75 miles (2.82 km) |
| Surface area | 656 acres (265 ha) |
| Average depth | 22.1 feet (6.7 m) |
| Max. depth | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Residence time | 300 days |
| Surface elevation | 692 feet (211 m) |
Lake Waramaug is a beautiful lake in Litchfield County, Connecticut. It covers about 656 acres and is located near the towns of Kent, Warren, and Washington. The lake is named after Chief Waramaug, who used to spend his winters in this area. It's about 24 miles north of Danbury.
Contents
What is Lake Waramaug Like?
Lake Waramaug is a natural lake, but its water level has been raised a bit by a small dam. The lake's surface covers about 680 acres. It's pretty deep in some spots, reaching a maximum depth of 40 feet. On average, it's about 22 feet deep.
How Does the Lake Get Its Water?
The lake gets its water from a stream called Sucker Brook (also known as Lake Waramaug Brook). Many other small streams also flow into it. Plus, water from underground, called groundwater, seeps into the lake from the bottom. The water from Lake Waramaug then flows south into the East Aspetuck River.
What is the Lake Bottom Made Of?
If you look at the steep sides of the lake, the bottom is mostly made of gravel, cobbles (small rounded stones), and boulders. In the flatter areas, you'll find more sand, mud, and organic muck. The land area that drains into the lake, called the watershed, is about 14.4 square miles.
What is Around the Lake?
Most of the land around the lake is covered by forests, about 74 percent of it. Wetlands and other water bodies make up about 10 percent. The remaining 16 percent has homes, businesses, and farms.
There are many houses, seasonal cottages, and boat houses along the shoreline. You won't find many big stores or businesses right on the lake.
Can You Visit Lake Waramaug?
You can only access the lake publicly at Lake Waramaug State Park. This park is located at the northwestern end of the lake. Outside the park, the land along the shoreline is privately owned. To get to the park, you can take Route 45 north from Route 202 and then turn west onto North Shore Road.
Animals and Plants in Lake Waramaug
Scientists studied the plants and animals in Lake Waramaug in 1987. They found that there weren't too many aquatic plants. Only a few types grew along the shorelines and in the shallower parts of the lake.
Aquatic Plants in the Lake
Some of the plants found in the lake include:
- Robbins pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii)
- Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum)
- White-water lily (Nymphaea odorata)
- Narrow-leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea)
- Yellow-pond lily (Nuphar variegatum)
- Spike rush (Eleocharis sp.)
- Bushy pondweed (Najas flexilis)
- Leafy pondweed (Potamogeton foliosus)
- Pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus)
Fish Species in Lake Waramaug
Many different kinds of fish live in Lake Waramaug. These include:
- Largemouth bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Calico bass
- Lake trout
- Rainbow trout
- Yellow perch
- White perch
- Pickerel
- Alewives
- Sunfish
- Bullheads
Improvements by the Town of Washington
In 2004, the Town of Washington worked with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. They agreed to rebuild and make the town's boat launch at Lake Waramaug bigger. This agreement allows 20 boats per day from non-residents to launch. In return, the Department of Environmental Protection agreed not to build a new boat launch at Lake Waramaug State Park.
This agreement helps control the number of motorboats on the lake. It also requires that all boats are checked for invasive aquatic plants before they can be launched. This helps protect the lake's ecosystem.
Plans for the new boat launch were made in 2006, and it opened in 2008. In 2010, the Town of Washington also rebuilt the nearby Town Beach at Lake Waramaug. This beach is only for residents of Washington and their guests. They built new parking areas, added new fences and landscaping, and even a new boathouse with a caretaker's apartment.
