Diversion of Water Application No. DIV-201404187

Diversion of Water Application No. DIV-201404187

This is a joint application by CWC and UConn. NOTE: UConn is not only a school but also a water-servicing supplier. UConn processes

water for their usage and also sells water to commercial and residential customers in the towns of Storrs and Mansfield.

The application is requesting to drawdown 2 million gallons a day, that is 50% more than the current drawdown of 4 million gallons a day serving

90,000 customers in 56 Connecticut towns.

Fact: There are no new water sources going into Shenipsit Lake. The more water taken by CWC and possible future water servicing suppliers

(UConn), the lower the lake level will go.

Fact: The towns of Vernon, Ellington and Tolland own the original “Snip” lake bed. CWC was granted permission to take the “Snip water through

the Connecticut Legislation. CWC does not own Shenipsit Lake”.

Issues with Shenipsit Lake drawdown / Diversion Application

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• Property owners with wells in the Shenipsit Lake area are having problems now because of the fluctuating water level. The current CWC lake drawdown is 12’ from the seasons Spring to Fall. Any additional drawdown will make more wells go dry. The diversion application states there is a direct impact to some wells and others could be having problems now. But property owners could hook up 1300 ft away.

• Additional drawdown or drought could impact downstream from Shenipsit Lake putting public and private wells at risk. Vernon Water Sewer Treatment, Vernon wells and the Vernon Village Inc. will be in harms way.

Over drawdown will result in massive fish kills – Dissolved oxygen in Shenipsit Lake is about 5 ppm at 18 feet and drops to less than 3

ppm below 18 feet. -----------------------------------------------------------------

The Shenipsit Lake will visually change from a lake to a pond. The diversion application states property owners and sightseer’s will see

the drawdown visually, (aesthetics). -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Threat to the Wood turtle habitats. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Safe yield for Shenipsit Lake is 20 years old, calculated in 1995 and should be revised to today’s standards. It does not reflect today’s

climatic weather conditions of drought and global warming.------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recommendations to our Town Leaders and Citizens:

• We need to reject and stop this application on grounds it does not meet the regulatory conditions pursuant to Section 22a-371 of the Connecticut General Statute (CGS).

• We need a complete scientific report on the present condition of Shenipsit Lake, independent from a water company or water service suppliers, way to much conflict of interest, in the millions of dollars.

• We need a complete comprehensive evaluation on the effects and impact on any future expanded usage of our natural resource Shenipsit Lake and Hockanum River.

• We need to set safety limitations NOW on the “Snip” water levels to avoid damage to the lake and Hockanum River. These limitations should consider the current drought periods and future global warming.

• We also have to consider and look at the future growth of the current 90,000 customers or 300,000 users of the “Snip” water going to 56 Connecticut towns

 Diversion of Water Application No. DIV-201404187

---------------------------------------Written comments will be accepted if submitted to the Office of Adjudications via• e-mail (deep.adjudications@ct.gov)• fax (860-424-4053) • or mail (Office of Adjudications, DEEP Headquarters, 79 Elm Street, 3rd Floor, Hartford, 06106) by close of business on April 15, 2015.