Lake Wangumbaug: A Coventry Crown Jewel
A Three Part Series Exploring Coventry Lake’s history, its health and its impact on our community
Written by Michael Clausen and Emma Thomas, members of the Coventry Lake Environmental Action
Network(C.L.E.A.N. Team), a Community Problem Solving Team of Coventry high school students seeking
to be PROactive, not REactive toward Coventry Lake’s ecology. You can reach the team at
[email protected].
Part 1: “A Bit of History and Economics”
The history of Lake Wangumbaug, more commonly called Coventry Lake, begins in 1712 when
land is just being developed on its watershed. As a significant water body, the lake was a perfect
focal point for various agricultural development that occurred in the 1700s. Several families
owned farms upon or near the lake's watershed. In 1716, the first grist mill appeared in Coventry
near the lake. Although it was not built on the watershed, it shows how Coventry's agricultural
development expanded from the farms near Lake Wangumbaug.
After a century or so, the lake started transforming into a recreational center for the community.
"The first known recreational use of the lake properties was a cottage on the north island [off
Standish Road] in the 1870s" (Jobbagy, Bill. “The Development of Lake Wangumbaug
Properties” ). This event was the first contributing factor in the modern development of the lake.
The next influence was the creation of the trolley in Willimantic. "The rolling hills of Coventry
were traversed by streetcars from Willimantic from 1909 to 1926" (BERA "Trolley Towns").
This provided a means of transportation for Willimantic residents to get to Lake Wangumbaug,
where there was a small amusement park. In 1910 the Lisickie Beach area, which was then the
Clark Farm, was sold to the Beville family and they built a boat rental stand. The Beville family
sold the property to the Town in 1961.
In 1926, the Willimantic trolley stopped running. With the advent of the automobile, people
could still travel to Lake Wangumbaug to enjoy the recreational opportunities it offered.
Families traveled to the lake to camp and fish and eventually people from other parts of
Connecticut, as well as from New York and New Jersey, began to vacation there. As more and
more tourists traveled to the lake, they began to settle and build simple cottages. Many farms that
bordered the lake were sold to some of these visitors and were developed into small seasonal
cottages. The cottages contained basic plumbing systems which would soon become a major
challenge. This was because the waste that traveled through the plumbing systems ended up
running into the lake when septic systems failed and waste ran directly into Coventry Lake. It
seems to be that either the cottage owners were unaware of this issue or did not give it much
consideration, because new sewer system regulations were not implemented until the 1990s.
Eventually, in the 1970s, some of these lake cottages became more developed year round homes.
The progress of land development continues to evolve through generations to come and creates a
changing local society.
Today Lake Wangumbaug is an attraction both to local residents and seasonal users, providing a
wide range of recreational activities. Some of these are swimming, personal boating, Coventry's
water ski club, fishing, and the University of Connecticut's crew team. The State of Connecticut
owns a boat launch on one end of the lake, which attracts boaters from within and from outside
the town. When the lake freezes over in the winter, many visitors are found ice fishing and ice
skating. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection also hosts a popular ice
fishing derby on the lake. This shows that Lake Wangumbaug serves as a place for competition,
relaxation, entertainment, and enjoyment.
When one first looks at Lake Wangumbaug one may initially only think of two attractions:
recreation and aesthetics. However, Lake Wangumbaug also has economic benefits to the Town
of Coventry. Many enterprises are able to take advantage of Lake Wangumbaug. These
businesses include restaurants such as Lakeview, which has a deck over the lake, and a
newcomer to town: Daisy’s Creamery. Also benefitting from traffic drawn to Coventry Lake are
businesses such as Subway and Dunkin’ Donuts, which may serve as a lunch time break from the
beach or a breakfast stop before a fishing derby. In addition, local bait shops, gas stations
and even the ice cream truck that stops at the beaches to sell ice cream benefit from the lake’s
allure. Another economic benefit the lake has is it helps to attract new home buyers looking for a
house. With more residents, there are more students in the town's local school system, and more
business for local restaurants, grocery stores, and health practices.
Coventry Lake also provides more direct economic benefits to the town, especially through the town’s
Parks and Recreation Department. Parks and Recreation runs a highly successful day camp at Patriot’s
Park. Campers use the band shell for theater programs, the playground and fields for games, and the lake
for swim programs. Coventry Parks and Recreation sponsors swim lessons at Lisicke Beach and collects
gate fees from non-residents who wish to use the beach during the summer season. In addition, Coventry
Parks and Recreation sponsors outdoor concerts, a Pumpkin Festival and several other events – all at
Patriot’s Park, on the shores of Coventry Lake. Not only do these activities generate revenue for
recreation programs, they build a sense of community.
Coventry Lake has a long history as a centerpiece for the town. However, in our next article in the series
we will focus on threats to the lake’s ecological health and its continued role in our community.
Lake Wangumbaug: A Coventry Crown Jewel
A Three Part Series Exploring Coventry Lake’s history, its health and its impact on our community
Written by Michael Clausen and Emma Thomas, members of the Coventry Lake Environmental Action
Network(C.L.E.A.N. Team), a Community Problem Solving Team of Coventry high school students seeking
to be PROactive, not REactive toward Coventry Lake’s ecology. You can reach the team at
[email protected].
Part 2: Coventry Lake’s Fragile Ecology
Coventry’s most recently adopted Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD 2010) focuses
upon the sustainability of Coventry's rural character and the role that Coventry Lake plays in that
rural character. Maintaining Coventry Lake’s good water quality is significant to sustaining
the Town of Coventry's essential nature.
Dr. Robert Kortmann, limnologist and Coventry resident, has greatly benefited the Town of
Coventry and Lake Wangumbaug. Since the 1970s, Dr. Kortmann has taken water samples and
conducted tests on Coventry Lake in order to assess its health and water quality levels. After
reviewing Dr. Kortmann's tests and reflecting them in their document, the newly adopted POCD
of 2010 makes clear that the lake is currently in a quite healthy state. "The shape of the lake
basin results in a small sediment-contact at depths where water remains cold in the summer. The
lake is also oriented such that wind mixing is strong compared to lakes of similar size. These
features are beneficial to the aquatic life in the lake" (“Plan Of” 2010 5-1). Also, "The area
which drains to the lake [watershed] is small when compared to the large, deep lake. This means
that the lake does not need to process a large mass of additional watershed organic matter that
would result in oxygen demand" (“Plan Of” 2010 5-1). These two unique qualities of Coventry
Lake benefit its health. Although the lake is healthy, Dr. Kortmann reported that Coventry Lake
is also fragile. In a powerful analogy, he describes the lake as a glass vase sitting on a table. At
the moment, it is not damaged, but once it is knocked over, it falls and shatters into many shards.
Once this happens, it is difficult and very costly to restore the vase to its original state.
There are various challenges and events that could occur and possibly negatively disrupt
Coventry Lake. The most prominent threats to lake water quality are construction and
development around the watershed, runoff and resident waste in the watershed, and uncontrolled
invasive species taking root in the lake.
Basically, there are three layers of Coventry Lake. The bottom layer, closest to the ground of the
lake, is called the hypolimnion. The top layer, what you see if you look at the lake from land, is
called the epilimnion. The middle layer, or the metalimnion, is a few feet of water in between
the two. In a healthy lake, and in years past, the hypolimnion is a dark and cold area of water.
The epilimnion is warm and full of light due to direct sunlight absorption. Zooplankton are found
in the hypolimnion during the daytime in order to hide from predators. However, during the
night they swim up to the epilimnion and feast on algae and plants. Then when they swim back
down to the bottom of the Lake during the day, they diffuse the organic material and it seeps into
the ground, acting as a fertilizer. These plankton are a key aspect of Lake Wangumbaug's health
because they eat the potential health risks and decompose it into healthy fertilizer. When we met
with Dr. Kortmann, he described water samples he had taken in August 2009. He was concerned
because the samples showed that the hypolimnion's oxygen levels were declining. This is an
issue because if there is not enough oxygen for the zooplankton to survive, it reduces the chance
of algae being converted into organic fertilizer. It also means that the zooplankton will no longer
have a dark area to hide from predators. If these plankton are eaten, then nothing is eating the
algae and algae blooms will begin to overtake the lake. This will end up creating a green, mucky
lake that will only be transparent for about two feet.
In the latest plant survey by The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CEAS) two
invasive plants were noted in Coventry Lake. CEAS stated, "our July of 2008 survey found the
invasive species Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton crispus in relatively small quantities
as well as 16 native species. Myriophyllum spicatum was concentrated in medium sized patches
near the shore with the largest of the patches near the small boat launch and docks located near
the middle of the western shore. Other patches occur more to the north on the same eastern
shore and in smaller quantities toward the northwest. Potamogeton crispus is an invasive that
occurs in even smaller quantities like right near the output of a storm pipe on the southwestern
shore. The most diversity in plant life is concentrated along the western stretches of shore where
more houses and private docks are present" ("CEAS:Coventry"). Invasive species are plants and
other organisms that are foreign to a specific demographic area. The problem is that they
often take over native plants and animals that are already living in that area, exterminating them
and leaving only themselves.
Invasive species tend to be transported into bodies of water by boaters who use multiple
watercourses for boating. When boaters do this without properly washing off any plants or
organisms clinging to the boat, the debris is then transported from one water body to another. Dr.
Kortmann has reported that currently invasive species aren't a huge factor in Lake Wangumbaug.
However, as mentioned before, unless steps are taken to reduce the chance of invasives intruding
in the Lake, it is possible that they will soon become an issue. This is especially urgent
considering that Lake Wangumbaug is the closest recreational lake of moderate size with a
public boat launch within the Hartford and central Connecticut area. This means that increasing
numbers of regional users come to take advantage of the lake. They, as well as the local
community, need to understand their impact on the Lake. If the public has trouble understanding
the harm invasives can create, they can take a look at Crystal Lake in our neighboring town,
Ellington. Milfoil recently spread over large areas of Crystal Lake. Ellington had to create a
committee to combat this invasive species and hire specialists to remove the plants, which is both
costly and timely. Another recent example is the spread of invasive aquatic plants in Bolton Lake
during the summer of 2010 and the cries of alarm this has raised. The Town of Bolton and Rep.
Pamela Sawyer are currently trying to find ways to extirpate the plants and find ways to finance
the costly removal process.
Dr. Kortmann has also brought to our attention that one of Lake Wangumbaug's growing threats
is the amount of human development around it. "Approximately one-quarter of the Town [of
Coventry's] population lives around Lake Wangumbaug" ("Plan Of” 2010 3-2) and "moderate to
high density residential development occupies 40 percent of the lake's drainage area" (“Plan Of”
2010 5-1). Thus, there already is a large amount of residential development around the lake. As
mentioned before, the first cottages around the lake were meant for recreational purposes and
were only used for the summer season. Development around the lake was not meant to create
year-round homes for people to live in. More houses are being squeezed into lots between other
houses and older homes are being renovated into larger ones. The issue is that it creates more
plumbing that needs to be directed away from the lake as well as more runoff on impervious
surfaces. Furthermore, when homeowners spread phosphorus fertilizers on their lawns it runs off
directly into the lake during rainfalls. This can either kill some of the plants and fish, or create
algae and plant blooms, both of which are problematic and are starting to present themselves in
Lake Wangumbaug. In addition, many lakeshore residents are unaware that large, open lawns
stretching to the water are attractive to geese, resulting in animal waste running directly into the
water.
A homeowner's main concern over a decline in the lake’s healthy ecology may be that if the lake
is in poor health and begins developing algae blooms, property values of homes around the
watershed will decline. Other citizen's concerns will most likely be that they will no longer be
able to use Coventry Lake for recreational purposes. Still others might be concerned about loss
of revenue if fewer people visit Coventry to use the lake. By becoming careful caretakers of
Coventry Lake, we can reduce the chance of this unfortunate event occurring. In our next article,
we will discuss how we can be responsible stewards of Coventry Lake by being “PROactive, not
REactive”.
Lake Wangumbaug: A Coventry Crown Jewel
A Three Part Series Exploring Coventry Lake’s history, its health and its impact on our community
Written by Michael Clausen and Emma Thomas, members of the Coventry Lake Environmental Action
Network(C.L.E.A.N. Team), a Community Problem Solving Team of Coventry high school students seeking
to be PROactive, not REactive toward Coventry Lake’s ecology. You can reach the team at
[email protected].
Part 3: Becoming Stewards of Coventry Lake
In this final article, we will discuss how we can ensure that Coventry Lake continues as a shining
jewel in our town. Henry Louis Mencken once said, "For every problem there is a solution". This
is quite true. There are many actions that will help to maintain Coventry Lake’s excellent water
quality and reduce the chance of it starting to wobble like a crystal vase on a shaky table.
Without pursuing any of the following solutions it is likely that the health and quality of our
beautiful lake will begin to decline.
The C.L.E.A.N. team has reviewed scientific research, and met with numerous environmental
analysts, lake management experts, and town officials to develop a list of significant actions to
take in order to protect our lake. These include educational programs to inform the community,
boat washing before launching water craft, use of phosphorous free fertilizers in the lake
watershed, hydro-seeding lawns, and the installation of rain gardens, rain barrels, and catch
basins to reduce the impact of run-off. In order to least disrupt the lake, solutions should mimic
nature as closely as possible. Our C.L.E.A.N. team has already begun educational outreach about these
solutions, and we are working with various officials and organizations to implement the steps described in
the rest of this article.
One possible solution to reducing runoff from residents' yards is to hydro-seed the lawn. Hydroseeding is a process in which a lawn is seeded without negatively affecting the body of water that
lies next to it. Paper material embedded with seeds is sprayed onto a lawn through a pressurized
hose and eventually dries like paper maché. This process reduces the need for intensive
fertilization on a new lawn, is less expensive than a lawn material like sod and keeps runoff from
seeping into the lake.
It has been brought to our attention that many people are unaware of the harm invasive species
can do to a lake and how they may be partially responsible. Since many boaters do not wash off
their boat before launching it into the lake, a boat wash should be built at the State owned boat
launch. Boat washing should be encouraged for all boaters on Coventry Lake, no matter where
they put their boats into the water. This will reduce the likelihood that invasive aquatic plants
will “hitchhike” on boat hulls and propellers, making their way from other water bodies and into
Coventry Lake. We should be especially concerned about water vessels that are launched from
the public, state-owned boat launch since those boats can be brought in after they have been
exposed to aquatic life in other waterways. Many invasive aquatic plants travel from waterway
to waterway when they stick to the bottoms and sides of boats, as well as when they become
entangled in motors. A boat wash at the state boat launch would be an important step in
reducing the likelihood of invasive plants taking hold in Coventry Lake.
Also, as mentioned above, phosphorus fertilizers that many residents use can be harmful to the
lake. Educational brochures or programs including demonstration sites on Town lands and other
highly visible sites could be used to inform the public about organic and non-phosphorous
fertilizers that won't damage the lake’s ecosystem. These brochures and demonstration sites
should also focus on additional ways to manage run-off, including rain gardens and rain barrels,
infiltration piping, and making sure to regularly clean out catch basins.
In conclusion, from 1712 and for years to come, Lake Wangumbaug – Coventy Lake - has
proved to be an immense asset to the Town of Coventry. It is evident that Lake Wangumbaug
has been developed over centuries and will continue to develop throughout generations to come.
Due to its being a major attraction, especially in the 1900s, Lake Wangumbaug has helped to
build the Town of Coventry's rural character and personality. For this reason, the Plan of
Conservation and Development makes recommendations to sustain this character and maintain a
healthy ecology for the lake. With all the knowledge we have attained, we must understand the
pattern Lake Wangumbaug has been taking and recognize solutions that can be executed to
improve the lake’s quality. It is the C.L.E.A.N. Team’s hope that each person who uses, and
delights in, Coventry Lake will join us in taking steps to be PROactive caretakers of the lake,
because it is too costly to wait to be REactive. Please contact us at
[email protected] to find out how you can help.