Membership

Membership is open to all area residents with deeded lake rights to Fox Hill Lake.

Dues
Annual Membership Dues are $100 for lakefront property owners and $50 for those with lake rights whose property is not lakefront.

Lake Rules

1. No motorized vehicles are permitted - no motorboats, snowmobiles or ATVs. Electric motors are allowed.

2. Fishing is permitted with proper licenses; please do not leave fishing line, sinkers, etc. in the lake as they are lethal to wildlife. Please practice catch and release fishing only. Do not catch or remove grass carp. These were stocked for weed control purposes.

3. When using beach areas, please leash your dog.

4. Please be considerate of your neighbors - the lake is a resource for all of us to enjoy in peace and tranquility.

Town Regulations

The Ridgefield Inland Wetlands Board (IWB) regulates activities that take place in or near wetlands and watercourses (watercourses include lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, bogs and streams).

A regulated activity means "any operation within or use of a wetland or watercourse involving removal or deposition of material, or any obstruction, construction, alteration or pollution of such wetland or watercourse." In addition, activities such as clearing, grubbing, filling, grading, paving, excavating, constructing, depositing or removing of material and discharging of storm water on land located within the "upland review areas" are regulated by the IWB.

These upland review areas vary in distance from a wetland or watercourse depending on the activity, ranging from as little as 15' to as much as 50'.

If you have any questions about whether or not an activity you plan to conduct on your property is a regulated activity, contact the Ridgefield Inland Wetlands Agent (also the Town Planner) Betty Brosius at 431-2766.

Water Quality & Weed Control

Fox Hill Lake has a surface area of about 26 acres, but its watershed is four times that size. In addition, our lake is in the watershed of BHC/Aquarian, the company that supplies water to 500,000 Connecticut residents, including those in Ridgefield on "town" water. BHC periodically inspects the septic systems of waterfront property owners. The activities of all area homeowners, even those without lake frontage, have an impact on the lake and downstream water quality.

The lake is highly eutrophic (contains lots of nutrients that promote weed growth) as a result of its densely developed watershed. The density of development, due to poor planning and uncontrolled growth, cannot be undone. However, as watershed homeowners we can do a lot to improve the condition of the lake simply by modifying our behavior at home. Some "dos" and "don'ts":

DO:

• Maintain your septic system - have the tank pumped every 2 years (or more frequently if needed); be careful what you put down your drains.
• Avoid septic additives, minimize water usage whenever possible (do laundry on several days instead of one, wash only full loads).
• Divert storm water from your septic tank and fields.
• If you use a water softener, be sure it is a non-discharging softener which prevents release of salty water into the ground water.
• If you have waterfront property, allow vegetation to form a buffer along the waters edge.

• Dispose of chemicals down your drains or in your yard.
• Over fertilize your lawn - test with a soil kit to determine the need for fertilizer, if any.
• Feed the Canada geese - their feces are a large source of nutrients that promote weed growth.

Additional Ways to Help

• Clean the spillway - our resident beaver likes to plug it up, so please help by keeping it clear of weeds and debris.
• Trim branches on roads to keep the town happy. The town maintains our roads although many of them are not "town roads." They ask that we keep the brush and tree limbs on our properties trimmed back from the road to minimize damage to their snow removal equipment.