Gardner Lake

Gardner Lake
Location of Gardner Lake in Connecticut
Postcard illustration of Gardner Lake's
iconic sinking house
Gardner Lake is located in Connecticut
Gardner Lake
Gardner Lake
Location in Connecticut
LocationSalem, Montville and Bozrah, Connecticut.
Coordinates41°30′44″N 72°13′36″W / 41.51222°N 72.22667°W / 41.51222; -72.22667 [1]
Lake typeNatural lake
Primary inflowsWhittle Brook, Sucker Brook
Primary outflowsGardner Brook
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length1.68 miles (2.70 km)
Max. width3,776 feet (1,151 m)
Surface area529 acres (214 ha) [2]
Average depth18 feet (5.5 m)
Max. depth36 feet (11 m) [2]
Residence time320 days[3]
Surface elevation381 feet (116 m) [1]
Islands1 (Minnie Island)

Gardner Lake is a natural lake lying at the junction of the towns of Salem, Montville and Bozrah in Connecticut, USA. Named after the Gardner family who owned a large portion of the surrounding land, the 529-acre (214 ha) lake has been expanded in size with the construction of a 168-foot (51 m) earthen dam. The dam raises the water level up 4 feet (1.2 m) to an average depth of 14 feet (4.3 m).[4] The area surrounding Gardner Lake has dozens of private homes, four campgrounds and a marina.[5] Three state parks are located around the lake: Minnie Island State Park, Hopemead State Park and Gardner Lake State Park.

  1. ^ a b "Gardner Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b "Gardner Lake" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. September 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Water-Quality Characteristics of Selected Public Recreational Lakes and Ponds in Connecticut" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey. 1995. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Gardner Lake State Park". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference day12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).