Margerie Lake Reservoir

Margerie Lake Reservoir is a 244 acre lake in New Fairfield, Connecticut. It is a source of drinking water for the Danbury area and is managed by the Danbury Water Department. It has a watershed of 2,942 acres.^[2]

Margerie Lake Reservoir
North shore of Margerie Lake Reservoir, 2023
Margerie Lake Reservoir
Location	New Fairfield, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°27′10.77″N 73°28′48.40″W
Max. length	8,600 feet (2,600 m)[1]
Surface area	244 acres (99 ha)[1]

Interactive map of Margerie Lake Reservoir

History

The area was originally a valley with a smaller body of water named Margerie Pond. The land was marshland that was also referred to as Margerie Swamp. The land was not suitable for development, but was a spot for foraging cranberries. Plans to dam Margerie Creek to create a reservoir started in 1905.^[3] Margerie Swamp was purchased for the purposes of creating a reservoir in 1929.^[4] Initially there were concerns about the potability of water in Margerie Creek, and opponents thought the project would be too costly.^[5] However, construction of the dam began in 1932.^[3]

Margerie Lake Reservoir Dam, a 735 feet long earthfill embankment at the south end of the reservoir, was completed in 1934. A larger earthfill dike was also constructed the north side.^[1] At its inception, the reservoir produced five million gallons of water per day. By 1992, that number was down to two million.^[3]

In December 2021, the town of New Fairfield was granted funds for the construction of a 2.5 mile walking trail along the lake.^[6]

The reservoir suffers from periodic algae blooms.^[7]

References

1. "National Program for Inspection of Non-Federal Dams. Margerie Lake Reservoir Dam (CT 00063), Housatonic River Basin, Danbury, Connecticut. Phase I Inspection Report". CORPS OF ENGINEERS WALTHAM MA NEW ENGLAND DIV. 1 December 1978. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
2. "Source Water Assessment Report" (PDF). State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. May 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
3. "Marjorie Reservoir: If These Walls Could Talk". Citizen News. Preserve New Fairfield, Inc. 24 July 2013.
4. "A history of the greater Danbury area". NewsTimes. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
5. "Recommends Margerie Site for Reservoir". The Danbury News. 3 December 1930.
6. Baker, Kendra (21 December 2021). "Funding approved for Margerie trail, War Memorial and other projects in Danbury area". NewsTimes. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
7. Perkins, Julia (9 September 2021). "Danbury's drinking water violated federal standards, but city says it's safe". NewsTimes. Retrieved 24 October 2022.