SOUTHWICK – Southwick town officials, which included Lake Management Committee Chairman Dick Grannells and member Mike DeBay, Southwick Police Chief David Ricardi, Board of Health Director Tom FitzGerald, and Conservation Commission Coordinator Dennis Clark, held a meeting to discuss issues that have come up regarding Congamond Lake.
The meeting stemmed from an e-mail sent several weeks ago by a resident of Congamond Lakes that a high number of boats were spotted clustered together that appeared to be partying and potentially creating a health issue.
DeBay, who lives on the lake, said that there have been a large amount of boats coming onto Congamond Lake this summer that are from outside of town, along with boats from town, who all cluster together on certain parts of the lake.
Town officials met last Thursday to discuss the boat gathering complaints. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
The officials talked about reports of people relieving themselves in the water as well as on the shore and in the woods.
“It’s been a problem,” said DeBay. “It’s been getting worse and worse.”
One specific example discussed at the meeting was the report of several boats anchored and connected together recently on North Pond. With North Pond being by far the smallest pond on the lake at 47 acres, overcrowding on that particular basin can happen rather quickly and it’s been a concern for lake owners.
“For the people living there, it’s getting more and more frustrating,” said DeBay.
While referencing the sanitary concerns, one suggestion was the possibility of having multiple portable toilets available for the public to use as there are no public restrooms near the shores of the ponds.
While the discussion about acquiring portable toilets will continue, those in attendance then wondered what could be next in order to reduce the reported large boat gathering issues on Congamond Lake.
It is unlikely that a town bylaw could be implemented since the town wouldn’t be able to prohibit individuals from using public and state land. However, it was determined that the best option is to create an active awareness campaign. The campaign would promote education about safety on Congamond Lakes which could include signs and other ways to remind people using the lake to respect the lake and the residents who live on it.
Clark added that this topic would be talked about at the next Conservation Commission meeting and town officials will continue to discuss it further in the coming months.
