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Saugatuck Reservoir
Saugatuck Reservoir.jpg
Location of Saugatuck Reservoir in Connecticut, USA.
Location of Saugatuck Reservoir in Connecticut, USA.
Saugatuck Reservoir
Location in Connecticut
Location of Saugatuck Reservoir in Connecticut, USA.
Location of Saugatuck Reservoir in Connecticut, USA.
Saugatuck Reservoir
Location in the United States
Location Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates 41°15′54″N 73°21′54″W / 41.265°N 73.365°W / 41.265; -73.365
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Saugatuck River
Primary outflows Saugatuck River
Catchment area 35 square miles (91 km2)
Basin countries United States
Surface area 827 acres (3.35 km2)
Average depth average 45 feet (14 m)
Max. depth 110 feet (34 m)
Water volume 37,215 acre-feet (45,904,000 m3)
Shore length1 13 miles (21 km)
Surface elevation 279 ft (85 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The Saugatuck Reservoir is a large, man-made lake in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It sits across the towns of Redding, Weston, and Easton. This reservoir was finished in January 1942. It was created by building the Samuel P. Senior dam on the Saugatuck River. The reservoir's main job is to provide drinking water to several nearby towns.

The Saugatuck Reservoir is surrounded by beautiful natural areas. These include the Centennial Watershed State Forest and a small part of the Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve. The reservoir has a special feature called an uncontrolled spillway next to the dam. This spillway helps control the water level, making sure it doesn't get too high. There's also a concrete wall, called a levee, on one side. This levee stops water from flooding the nearby Trout Brook Valley.

How the Reservoir Was Made

The Saugatuck Reservoir was created by a company called Bridgeport Hydraulic Company Holdings. This company is now known as Aquarion. After 1938, they flooded the Saugatuck River Valley. To do this, two small villages, Hull and Valley Forge, had to be removed. This flooding created the large body of water we now know as the Saugatuck Reservoir.

Fishing at the Reservoir

Aquarion Water Co. owns the Saugatuck Reservoir and its dam. They allow fishing in one special area at the Weston end of the reservoir. This area is called a tailrace fishing spot. Aquarion has even built a special area there that is easy for people with disabilities to use. However, if you want to fish in the Saugatuck Reservoir, you need to get a special permit from Aquarion first.

Size and Importance

The Saugatuck Reservoir is the biggest of eight reservoirs that make up Aquarion's water system for the greater Bridgeport area. It holds a huge amount of water, about 12 billion US gallons (45,000,000 m3). This makes it a very important source of drinking water for many communities.

Fish Species in the Saugatuck Reservoir

The Saugatuck Reservoir is home to many different kinds of fish. Anglers (people who fish) can find a variety of species here. Some of the fish you might find swimming in the reservoir include:

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