Lake Zoar is a reservoir on the Housatonic River in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is formed by Stevenson Dam. The towns of Monroe, Newtown, Oxford, and Southbury border Lake Zoar. The lake was created by flooding an area named "Pleasantvale" or "Pleasant Vale", which had been part of Oxford and Stevenson.
Lake Zoar Authority
The Lake Zoar Authority is an organization for promoting safety on the lake and improving water quality. The members represent the four towns bordering the lake and meet on a monthly basis. Authority is granted through the Connecticut General Statutes, section 7-151a.
Notable events
September 7, 2005: A 37-year-old man named Frank Northrop died while water-skiing on the lake.
November 1986: Richard Crafts murdered his wife Helle Crafts in Newtown, froze the body, cut it up with a chainsaw and finally put it through a woodchipper from a bridge into the lake.
Recreation
Boating
There is a speed limit of limit daytime, from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Vessels are prohibited from approaching within on upstream side or on downstream side of Stevenson Dam. Activities including fishing, water-skiing and jet skiing are permitted.
Access
Each of the towns has a public access boat launch. The Southbury location is maintained by the state of Connecticut and is open to non-town residents. Additionally, there is canoe access from Kettletown State Park.
The Sand Bar is an accumulation of sand close to the center of Lake Zoar. It is a popular meeting destination for all boaters alike. The depth of the water above the sand bar varies upon the generation schedule of "First Light Hydro Generation." The depth varies from 6 inches of water at its most shallow point to a foot before receiving. The area stretches about a quarter.
Fishing
Lake Zoar is not stocked yearly with fish by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, but the Pootatuck and Pomperaug rivers feed into it are heavily stocked with trout, many of which eventually make their way into the lake.
Most fish from Lake Zoar are generally considered safe to eat in moderation, with the exception of the Northern Pike. In a 2008 study by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Smallmouth Bass varied between 0.35 and 0.58 ppm, suitable for one meal per month. PCB levels in the lake have fallen considerably since the 1980s.
