As a result of a town meeting vote in Morris to terminate an agreement with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Bantam Lake boat launch is now open only to residents of Morris and DEP has ended its operation of that facility.
DEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette said, “We are disappointed that we were unable to reach an agreement with the town of Morris to continue DEP’s operation of this boat launch and maintain boating access to Bantam Lake for the general public. Given the outcome of the vote in Morris, however, DEP has turned operations of this facility over to the town, which will require proof of residency for access to it.”
“DEP has a 25-year history with the Bantam Lake Boat launch under lease agreements with the town,” Frechette said. “These agreements allowed access to the general public in return for our operation of the facility. With the vote in Morris, we are no longer listing this boat launch as a public facility on our web site and we are taking steps to inform the boating public of this change. We would of course be pleased to resume discussions with the town of Morris at any time in order to restore DEP’s lease and our operation of this launch.”
The boat launch on Bantam Lake, which is Connecticut’s largest natural lake, is located on East Shore Rd. There is parking for 15 cars at the launch. This launch was the only one on the lake that provided boating access for the general public.
As an alternative to Bantam Lake, boaters seeking access to larger lakes in Western Connecticut should consider public launches on Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar, West Hill Pond, Winchester Lake, and Highland Lake. Additional information on state boat launches can be found at http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/boating/boatingmap.htm.
DEP had operated the launch in Morris under terms of a two-year lease with the town of Morris. The lease called upon DEP to provide staffing, maintenance, bathroom facilities and other services. In return the launch was available to the general public as well as town residents. DEP estimates it incurred expenses of about $50,000 a year to operate the boat launch.
Prior to the two-year lease, DEP and the town had a long term agreement for operation of the launch, which ran from 1980-2005.
