Sen. McLachlan: New Candlewood Lake Rules Will Boost Safety

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced that new regulations concerning the length of boats on Candlewood Lake will go into effect immediately.

Boats 26-feet in length or greater (both power and sail) are now restricted from Candlewood Lake unless they have been authorized for use by the Commissioner of the DEEP.

Sen. Michael McLachlan says the state’s new safety rules are important to the future of Candlewood Lake and to the economic and recreational activity it generates.

Authorization to operate will be given to oversized boats that have historically been used on Candlewood Lake. Owners of oversized boats who wish to continue to use them on Candlewood Lake will need to apply to the DEEP for an authorization decal for their boat, which will remain on the boat for life. That authorization remains with the boat, regardless of the owner. Marine dealers located in one of the five municipalities surrounding Candlewood Lake who have oversized boats in stock or on order may also apply for authorization decals for those boats. Commercial and governmental boats are exempt from this regulation.

Sen. Michael McLachlan issued the following statement: “Candlewood’s popularity over the years has led to big and powerful boats on the lake that can create whitewater like you might find on Long Island Sound. That’s why these new rules are so important to the future of the lake and to the economic and recreational activity it generates. We all enjoy Candlewood Lake and want to ensure that future generations can enjoy it as much as we have.”

“Restricting vessel length on Candlewood Lake will have positive effects on access, pumpout facilities, noise pollution, user conflict, and safety” said Susan K. Whalen, Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “The regulations will not have an impact on trailerable vessels which are under 26-feet in length and will mostly impact lakeshore residents and those that use nearby marinas.”

Additional Information

Through Special Act 10-3, the legislature of the State of Connecticut directed the DEEP to amend the state’s regulations in order to restrict vessel length on Candlewood Lake. Any questions regarding this regulation can be directed to Eleanor Mariani, Boating Division Director, by telephone at (860) 434-8638. Questions can also be emailed to Timothy Delgado in the Boating Division at [email protected]

Obtaining an Authorization Decal

Forms to apply for authorization of an oversized boat are now available on the DEEP Boating website. A limited number of forms have been supplied to the Candlewood Lake Authority. For the time being, all completed forms and supporting materials should be mailed to the Boating Division of the DEEP for processing at the following address:

DEEP Boating Division
P.O. Box 280 (333 Ferry Road)
Old Lyme, CT 06371-0280

Applicants should allow three weeks for processing of the application. Marine Dealers have until May 5, 2013 to request an authorization decal for boats that are in stock or on order as of March 5, 2013. All others have until December 2014 to request an authorization decal.