This was sent to me by a friend who lives in Mass:

"Lake Congamond Usage Fee
The Town of Southwick tried to raise the ramp fee at the state boat ramp at Lake Congamond by $10. This got derailed by the Office of Fishing and Boating Access as the extra monies over the already in place $5 fee were not going back to the ramp but directly to the Southwick Police Department.
Now the town is pushing for a “Lake usage sticker program” where every boat that uses Lake Congamond would be forced to buy a yearly sticker to the tune of $60. From what I understand there would be a one day provision for $10 also for Southwick residents who do not reside on the shores of Congamond they would be charged $20 and for lake shore owners there would be no charge. To do this Southwick has enlisted the help of Senator Michael Knapik. The “sticker program” would need a change in the Massachusetts state law which is where the Senator comes in.
The passage of such a state law would be extremely damaging to EVERY boater who uses the waters of Massachusetts. The Lake Congamond sticker program would set a precedent for every association and town out there to start their own program and next thing you know we are paying thousands of dollars just to boat on different waters within the state.
We have a chance to stop this before it gets started. As of yet Senator Knapik has not introduced any legislation. Please voice your opinion to Senator Knapik and let him know we do not want such a bill proposed and we vehemently oppose such an action. You can e mail Senator Michael Knapik at Michael.Knapik@masenate.gov or send a letter to his office address which follows;
57 North Elm Street
Westfield, MA 01085"

Fight for the Right...to Boat!

Barn.

Your going to see more and more of this type of action soon. Candlewood Lake may very well be next. In these tough economic times, municipalities are going to get creative on how they raise revenue, and this is one of them. They get to raise revenue with the advantage of keeping out of towners off their water.

Actually these guys would be Capitalists. a.k.a. you got to pay to play.

Commies would would take the lake from the private owners and re-distribute it.

I also live 10 minutes away and I couldn't have said it better myself! I also blame the convenient proximity to Springfield for the outrageous boating behavior I've seen on the water there.

If it's too crowded it's not due to the general public as parking is limited, once the lots are full, no more public. The issue is with the lake front property owners themselves.

Funny, but the package store on the south shore of the middle lake brags about being the best packy on the lake then the residents complain about the boozers.

THANK YOU....

bassman c-mond has a 25 boat limit for tourneys... and they'll allow more but the club has to day for an enconn officer to patrol the lake for the day if over 25

c-mond could save alot of boater problems by extended there speed limit hours. right now its 10mph till 10am (weekends) make it 20mph till 2pm... im assuming they cant water ski at that speed.

and i love the NO PWC rule in north pond, but when u get 4 boats wake boarding in that small area its dangerous. wish they'd make that whole area under speed limit

I do live 15 mins. away but I do fish it in the spring!,the problem is the BASSHOLES PREFISHING!!!!!.They come out with there 300hp boats cut us trout guys off drop there 100lb thrust trolling motors and start fishing 30 feet in front of me!! they think they own the lake.My fishing buddy is a turney fishermen and I`m trying to break him!!,A lot of my posts I right about BASSHOLES is because of this lake,they need to reduce the HP in the spring to 25 like Quabbin res.

I wished they would lower the speed limits.

But I'll say this, nothing throws wakes like those big pontoon boats,
and those big asssss pleasure boats.
Those Bass boat wakes don't even come close!!

OK - Time for my 2c - there are alot of valid point brought uphere so i'll just pick 'em in no particular order.
1 - if they are so concerned about safety - why is there a bar allowed to be on the water where you know for a fact that if someone came in on a boat, has a drink or two that they are now driving a boat on the water under the influence - no room for error there.
2 - water skiers are a (space) problem everywhere. this lake is relatively small compared to candlewood but i've never had skier problem on zoar or bantam as they have a specific ski area and for the most part they are courteous.
3- as for the ''bassholes'' unfortunately there are some out there and those few do seem to find a way of ruining the rest of ours reputation - personally if i accidentally hook a rope or a pole on a boat I will not leave that dock till i retrive the said hook...unfortunately i cannot controll those idiots - yes idiots who endanger people espescially kids by theire carlesness..as well as some of those same peoples language - but dont let those few inconsiderites be the mold on which you judge the lot...you will never see or hear anyone from my club or tbf act like that - if you do please let me know (pm me with you and contact info) and I WILL confront the individual and do my best to recitfy the situation..ran out of room here..sorry to babble

agreed rich..make that two boats