State Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams Votes for the Passage of Legislation Which Calls for a Longer Six-foot Drawdown Period of Lake Beseck in Odd Numbered Years

HARTFORD, CT – Yesterday, state Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams (D-Meriden, Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire) voted for legislation which calls for a longer six-foot drawdown period of Lake Beseck in odd-numbered years. House Bill 6384 “An Act Concerning Aquatic Invasive Species Effects On Lakes And Related Funding, Certain Group Fishing Events and Eliminating the Season Limitation for the Taking of Trout” passed the state Senate 36-0.

“I’ve heard from many Middlefield residents over the years about the need to change the drawdown schedule at Lake Beseck,” said Sen. Daugherty Abrams. “These changes will benefit residents, aquatic plant life and will improve the long-term health of Lake Beseck. I’m grateful to Middlefield, especially the Lake Beseck community for their stewardship of the lake, and my colleague State Representative Mike Quinn for working collaboratively to get this bill to the governor’s desk.”

This bill previously passed the state House of Representatives unanimously and heads to the Governor for his signature. HB 6384 does the following:

• Provides for a longer six-foot draw down period of Lake Beseck in odd-numbered years, extending the time its maintained from December 31 to January 31.
• Requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to report to the Environment Committee on
• (a) the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) fee revenue
• (b) grants from the Connecticut Lakes, Rivers and Ponds Preservation account.
• Increases the number of participants allowed under a group fishing license from 50 to 100 people.
• Prohibits the state from having a closed trout fishing season. *House Amendment “A” adds the group fishing license and trout fishing provisions.

A popular and necessary bill in Middlefield, this legislation received the support of many during the public testimony phase of legislative session. Amy Poturnicki, the vice chair of the Lake Beseck Environment Committee said, “This change will be instrumental in allowing the lakebed sediments additional time to de-water, increasing the likelihood of root exposure for aquatic plants to the necessary temperatures that will assist with effective management of the Beseck Lake system.”

It is important to note, on or before November 1, 2021, the state of Connecticut shall enter into an agreement with the town of Middlefield and the Lake Beseck Association regarding a schedule for annual water level drawdowns of Lake Beseck.