Bantam Lake Protective Association

06/03/2026

🌊 Curious about water level and temperature? Check the BLPA site! Our sensor is live and you can find up-to-date information on the current conditions right on our homepage or click through to the dashboard to see historical conditions.

📈 The sensor tells us in real-time how far above or below "baseline" the lake level is. "Baseline" is set at a relatively aribtrary point as close to "normal" lake level as possible (aka an elevation of about 893 ft.)

🚦 You can also check the current Cyano Stoplight conditions based on the last sample. Cyanobacteria levels were slightly elevated at last reading, so the advisory is set to YELLOW for mild-moderate risk. The public should exercise caution and be on the lookout for blooms, avoiding contact if any are observed.

It's possible the YELLOW stoplight is an anomoly at this point in the season, similar to the one we saw last year around this time. We'll learn more when we sample again next week. Check our profile to stay updated and join us for an important meeting on June 20th, 9:30am at Morris Community Hall.

05/25/2026

05/06/2026

Our water sampling crew is back out for the season! These dedicated scientists take samples throughout the lake and watershed every two weeks from April - October. 💧

What do they test for?
➡️ The types of algae present.
➡️ The total cell concentration of Cyanobacteria.
➡️ Relative phycocyanin levels.
➡️ Secchi transparency (visual water clarity).
➡️ Oxygen levels & temperatures at the top and bottom of the water column.

All of this data helps them determine the risk of Cyanobacteria to the public and the general trend of nutrient loading in the watershed.

You can find the current stoplight status in our bio and get more information by following the CYANOBACTERIA STOPLIGHT link in our profile!

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04/22/2026

It’s the last chance to GIVE LOCAL! There are just a few more hours left of our give-a-thon and we’re so close to meeting our goal. A huge THANK YOU to those that have renewed their membership and donated. We have the best community here on Bantam!!

Deadline: TONIGHT April 22 (Earth Day!) at 7pm
Where: https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/bantam-lake-protective-association--

04/21/2026

"Mr. White looked up from his fishing on Bantam Lake one day in 1908 and said, 'Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing to preserve this lake and this countryside as we see it now?'”

Alain White (founder of the White Memorial Foundation) knew that Bantam Lake, the largest natural lake in Connecticut, is a true gem. He also knew that without proper stewardship, the lake and its surrounding land would face ecological consequences and lose its luster.

Today, the Bantam Lake Protective Association volunteers their time to test and treat the lake and the watershed, survey for invasive species, and educate the public about best practices for lake-smart living--all in service of preserving the water so our kids, and their kids, and every generation after can inherit a clean and vibrant lake.

Last year on the lake, we saw great clarity early on in the season and then had some severe cyanobacteria blooms in late summer and fall. Our work to tackle the nutrient pollution at the source is more important than ever.

Your contribution will help us to:
✅ Collect samples from the lake & watershed every season to analyze water quality and understand where phosphorus and nitrogen are loading into the lake.
✅ Survey the entire watershed to identify structural projects that will prevent erosion and further pollution.
✅ Fund an Alum Treatment Feasibility Study to understand how this treatment could safeguard the lake for many years.
✅ Share our research with the public, especially every household in the watershed and those who love the lake, so we can all stay informed!

If you love the lake, it needs your help! Every donation, no matter the size, is a step toward protecting the lake: https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/bantam-lake-protective-association--

04/21/2026

Give Local starts NOW and we've got a BIG goal this year: to reach 100% membership renewal. (Right now, we're at 26%)

Member dues & donations from our members are the single biggest source of funding for our organization, and they are vital to completing much-needed surveys and treatments in the lake.

Renew your membership by donating to BLPA through Give Local (a community 36-hr give-a-thon) and help us take those membership dues further!

Here are some of the prizes we're going for:

✅ Kick Start Prize: $1000 awarded to the organization with gifts from the most amount of unique donors between 7-10 AM on April 21. Gifts of ALL sizes help!

✅ Double Down: The first 6 organizations to inspire a single gift of $500 will see those gifts doubled. (The first 5 donors to donate $500+ will be given a BLPA swag bag!)

✅ Midnight Madness: Awarded to the two (2) organizations that receive a gift closest to midnight between 4/21 & 4/22.

✅ Rise & Shine: Awarded to the two (2) organizations that receive a gift closest to when the sun rises (6:00:00 AM) on April 22.

Donate here: https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/bantam-lake-protective-association--

04/19/2026

A big THANK YOU to the volunteers who spent a little bit of their sunny Saturday morning picking up trash around Morris in honor of Earth Day! 🌎☀️

Litter on the ground will find its way to the watershed, so we’re grateful for those who “leave no trace” and pick up after themselves.

➡️ Missed the clean up? There’s still time to get involved! This upcoming week is Give Local, a community 36-hr give-a-thon where we’ll be raising money for vital treatments & testing in the lake and its watershed.

Join our mailing list to get notified about when/how to give to get the most bang for your buck: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/yZgzyQa

04/14/2026

It’s as simple as that! Come join us THIS SATURDAY 4/18 at 9:00am at the state boat launch on 209/Palmer Rd for a litter clean up in honor of Earth Day! Bring the kids and show them (or let them show you!) how we can come together and make our town a little more beautiful 💙🌱

We’ll bring the supplies, just bring yourself! BONUS — bring your trash bags to the Morris Transfer Station 4/17-4/19 and be entered to win a prize! Each bag = 1 entry. Prize drawing on April 29.

01/03/2026

As our centennial anniversary comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your support of our mission to preserve the ecological health and natural beauty of Bantam Lake.

Over the past year, we have made significant strides in studying and addressing environmental issues in the watershed with the goal of reducing nutrient loading that contributes to blue-green algae blooms. Some of the treatments that were completed helped with overall water quality early in the season. However, we saw several algae blooms and weeks of red stoplight conditions in September and October. Our work is more important than ever and your involvement is critical to the work we do.

As we look ahead to 2026, our aim is to continue the important work of improving the water quality within both the lake and the watershed. In addition to water testing, treatment schedules and remediation plans, we have significant focus on education and awareness. With this in mind, we want to highlight some important initiatives you can look for in 2026:

✅ New and improved BLPA website will launch early 2026 to make it easier to access important information such as status of lake conditions, water quality data and analysis, watershed improvement projects and upcoming events.

✅ Our "Take the Pledge" initiative to empower local residents to do their part to protect the watershed. Small changes can make a big impact!

✅ Informational webinars, including: an analysis of the in-lake and watershed water quality data, what it could mean and how it will inform treatment decisions and plans for remediation efforts.

We're hopeful for the year ahead and grateful to have your support and attention.

Cheers to a new year!

12/12/2025

🎄It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

This commemorative BLPA 100 year anniversary pewter ornament will be the perfect fit on your tree!

Grab one from the Morris town clerk’s office or from the store on our website, where you’ll find a ton of other Bantam Lake merch that will look great wrapped up under the tree 😊 Happy gifting!