Emergency Contacts
  • Lake Emergencies: 911
  • Report Boating Accidents: CT DEP 860-434-8638
  • Call for FirstLight Power’s water level recording 888-417-4837 Menu Item 2, then 2
  • Lake Emergencies: 911
  • Report Boating Accidents: CT DEP 860-434-8638
  • Call for FirstLight Power’s water level recording 888-417-4837 Menu Item 2, then 2

News & Announcements

Join us in preserving and protecting this great natural resource. Each member who joins Friends of the Lake is another voice. The more voices we have, the stronger we are. Together we can improve the water quality and debris problems for generations to come.

2024

2024 SAVE THE LAKE DAY

Date: Saturday, May 18th, 2024 Location: Bridgewater Boat Launch, Route 133, Bridgewater, CT Gloves, garbage bags, refreshments provided! Please wear shoes that can get soaked! Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen. Always a fun and interesting day – everyone is welcome! If you have a pontoon boat you can provide, please let us know!

BACK TO THE DINE-AROUND!

Date: Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 Due to popular demand, we are returning to this adventurous evening of friends, fun and food. Pontoon boats will bring you to host homes where you can renew old friendships and begin new ones. If you are interested in being a host house, please let us know! We normally have …

21st ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Date: Thursday, August 8th, 2024 Mark your calendars! Details forthcoming…

2023

2023 SAVE THE LAKE DAY!

Date: Saturday, June 3rd, 2023 Location: Bridgewater Boat Launch, Route 133, Bridgewater, CT Gather at 8AM at the Bridgewater Boat Ramp! Volunteers will be shuttled by pontoon boats, circling Lake Lillinonah’s shorelines to collect man-made trash and debris. Coffee, water, donuts, gloves, and garbage bags will be provided to all volunteers. Don’t forget sunscreen, hats, and waterproof shoes! …

2023 LAKE FAMILY BBQ

Date: Saturday, July 29th, 2023 // 11:30am – 2:30pm Location: Lake Lillinonah Town Park, 194 Hanover Road, Newtown, CT Friends of the Lake cordially invites you to our annual community Barbeque, which will be held at Newtown’s Lake Lillinonah Town Park (194 Hanover Rd). We hope that you can join us for a great opportunity to reconnect with …

20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Date: Thursday, August 10th, 2023 // 6:30pm – 9:30pm This will be our biggest event of the year and we hope that all members can attend! Since this is our 20th anniversary, we will be having the evening fully catered at Sunny Meadow Farm in Bridgewater with a cocktail hour, passed Hors D’oeuvres and a …

INVASIVE SPECIES: HYDRILLA

A new aquatic invasive species, hydrilla, has been found in Lake Lillinonah. Please view the Hydrilla Newsletter to learn more about hydrilla and what you can do to help prevent its spread.

ANNUAL LAKE DRAWDOWN

FirstLight Power has announced the dates of their annual drawdown of Lake Lillinonah to perform their maintenance and inspection of the Shepaug Dam. This year the drawdown will begin on October 30, ending November 8, 2023. The drawdown will be approximately 5’ below the normal low operating level of 195.5’. Please be aware that any …

2022

DEBRIS SURVEY

Date: Week of September 15th Summary: We plan to retain the services of Connwood Foresters again this year to measure and compile the annual debris survey. We will need several volunteers to help the effort. It’s this consistent documentation that allows us to have a history of surveys that shows the amount of debris in …

LAKE LILLINONAH HEALTH UPDATE & MEMBERS COCKTAIL PARTY

Date: Thursday August 11th 2022 Location: Camp Silverman Summary: Back for its 19th year, this is the event of the season that all members look forward to! The executive committee and surrounding partners prepare informative updates for the membership to highlight the progress and continued efforts of this and other organizations to help the lake.

2022 SAVE THE LAKE DAY!

Please join us for Save the Lake Day on Saturday, June 4, from 8:30AM until 12:30PM at the State Boat Launch on route 133 in Bridgewater, CT. This year we will return to the normal collection of man-made debris that has built up along the shoreline of Lake Lillinonah. Volunteers will meet at the route …

2021

2021 Fall Drawdown begins

Beginning on October 27, 2021 FirstLight will conduct a drawdown of Lake Lillinonah at the Shepaug Dam to conduct its maintenance and inspection activities. The normal summer operating range of the station is from 200’-195.5’ and the drawdown will target an elevation of 191’. The drawdown will lower lake levels to minimum pond levels and …

Firstlight Power: Registration of Historic Use

Friends of the Lake, Earlier this year, Firstlight Power distributed a letter via US mail to inform that if you currently have shoreline and/or land uses along the shores of Lake Lillinonah, it requires approval. It included instructions necessary to register your existing uses and obtain a Certificate of Permission from FirstLight, which either owns …

Heartbreaking News: Jeff Tinley

Dear Friends of the Lake: With heavy hearts and tears in our eyes we inform you of the passing of Jeff Tinley. A great friend, Friends of the Lake board member and tremendous human being, “JT” was a man of exceptional character and intellect. Though soft-spoken, he had the ability to light up a room …

DEEP and DPH Advise Against Swimming or Other Water Contact Recreation Over Next 48 Hours Due to Storm Ida’s Impact

(HARTFORD)— Given the significant rainfall that has occurred due to Storm Ida, many areas across the state have experienced discharges of untreated sewage. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) are advising against direct contact with surface water in areas in close proximity to drainage …

Lowering Lake Lillinonah due to Hurricane Henri and forecasted river flows

This message about changing water levels on Lake Lillinonah is brought to you by Lake Lillinonah Authority, Friends of the lake, and First Light Power Resources. Due to forecasted high river flows, We are lowering Lake Lillinonah starting tomorrow morning. The approximate pond level the lake will be taken to will be 192.0. This is …

Low Water Alert

This message about changing water levels on Lake Lillinonah is brought to you by Lake Lillinonah Authority, Friends of the Lake, and FirstLight Power. Due to forecasted high river flows, we are lowering Lake Lillinonah starting at 8pm, Friday July 16th. The approximate pond level the lake will be taken to will be 190.0’. This …

Annual Newsletters