The Saugatuck Reservoir Clearly Illustrates The Reason For Governor Lamont’s Drought Advisory, Which May Be Temporary
The above photo shows how depleted the water in the reservoir has become in recent years due to drought conditions prevailing in Fairfield County. Other photos show the flow of the Saugatuck as it passes through Redding alongside Route 53 which runs south to Weston and then into Norwalk. The water line in years past reached the tree line, the trees on the “island” were barely visible when the levels were high and the sand, grassy areas and rocks were usually underwater.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos above show the Saugatuck River being little more than a little stream as it flows into the reservoir.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont declared a Stage 2 drought advisory for Fairfield, Middlesex, and New Haven counties on October 7, 2025, due to below-average precipitation. This advisory is a step up from the Stage 1 conditions that were previously in place across the state. The Nor’Easter forecast for this week may help raise the water levels in the Reservoir, however the rise in water in the Saugatuck River often causes flooding in Westport.
A Stage 2 advisory is considered an "incipient drought" and is intended to raise public awareness of emerging drought conditions. The severity can vary by location, especially for those relying on private wells. The governor's decision was based on a recommendation from the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup, following an evaluation of indicator data such as rainfall, surface water, and groundwater levels.
Drought conditions have slowed the flow of the Saugatuck in recent years. The website Snoflo.org reports the flow rate on Sunday, October 12, 2025 as being about 1 CFS, or 9% of normal. A water flow of 1 cubic feet per second (cfs) means that one cubic foot of water passes a given point every second. This is a low-to-moderate flow rate, equivalent to about 450 gallons per minute, and is considered slow-moving water for most rivers.
It remains to be seen if the current weather event will make any difference in the water level of the reservoir or the current drought conditions.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Google Earth photo (above, CENTER) shows where the Saugatuck River issues from Sugar Hollow Pond, its headwaters located at exactly 41°20'50.4"N 73°28'06.4"W[2] approximately 3 miles (5 km) southwest of downtown Danbury. Above, right shows a deeper, fuller flow as it enters into the reservoir, slowing the flow. The Saugatuck flows generally southeast, passing through the Saugatuck Reservoir (283 feet (86 m) above sea level), then turns south-southwest. In Westport, it broadens into a navigable estuary along its lower 5 miles (8 km) and enters Long Island Sound approximately 4 miles (6 km) southeast of Norwalk. Interstate 95 crosses the river near its mouth downstream from Westport center. The river is wadeable along much of its course and is a popular seasonal destination for trout fishing, with the state of Connecticut stocking the river annually.,
During the 19th century, the lower river became the site of warehouses and shipyards, as well as an important hub of maritime commerce. The town of Westport was incorporated out of the existing village of Saugatuck at the mouth of the Saugatuck River and several surrounding communities in 1835. Bridgeport Hydraulic Company Holdings (now owned by Aquarion) flooded the Saugatuck River Valley after 1938, removing the villages of Hull and Valley Forge to create the Saugatuck Reservoir.
The Samuel P. Senior dam was completed in 1941, with the reservoir filling in 1942, as stated by Wikipedia and Snoflo. he construction of the dam was the final step in a master plan envisioned by Samuel Palmer Senior for the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, which is now the Aquarion Water Company. The Saugatuck is the largest of the eight reservoirs that make up Aquarion’s greater Bridgeport water system. It holds about 12 billion US gallons (45,000,000 m3) of water.
Westport Artists Collective 6th Annual Riverside Trunk Show
On Sunday, October 5 the Artists Collective of Westport held its 6th Annual free Trunk Show, turning the Library’s lower parking lot into an art show from 11am to 4pm.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
35 artists participated by parking their cars in alternate spaces, opening their trunks and displaying and selling artwork from $5 to $500, and at last count, in spite of an exceptionally warm day, art lovers strolled thorough the show purchasing over 65 pieces of art.
These vivid, colorful works are by artist Michael Reed Ledner. Lerner says, “Painting is a way of looking, seeing and feeling. It can be a brief encounter. Or it be an extended exploration of painting that’s as challenging as climbing to the highest mountaintop. Painting is a visual paradise that has no boundaries of creative expression. Painting Breaths. The way to painting begins with that first brush stroke of color. The second,third continues the journey. The colors of paint on the brush leap and stick to the canvas. The colors are there for all to see and feel.” Lerner invites the viewer to “travel this journey with me to explore the visual world.”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Trunk Show is another great example of how the Town of Westport supports the arts through partnerships with the Westport Library, and the Westport Police Department. Attendees were treated to live music by Canyon Sharits, and a wonderful food concession provided by Gruel Britannia.
This was another fun and social event produced for the community by www.artistscollectiveofwestport.org
Also At The Show, Westport Book Sales
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting the Westport Library and adults with disabilities through their book sales and book donation center operations. Since opening, the Westport Book Shop has provided over 10,250 hours of paid employment and job and workplace skills training for more than a dozen adults and young adults with disabilities. In fiscal 2024, they donated $60,000 to the Westport Library.
To learn more about this great organization and how you can help them in their mission, visit Westport Book Sales Adventures.org:
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Danbury Battles Staples To A 0-0 Tie In Girls Soccer Match
The Wreckers Girls Soccer team was less than pleased with the result on Tuesday, however the Hatters were elated, high-fiving each other as they left the pitch to the cheers of the hometown fans. As it happens, tying the FCIAC 6th place, 7-2-3 Wreckers was an achievement for the Hatters, who are 11th in the conference with a record of 4-5-3.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Coach Barry Beattie told WestportLocalPress, “Danbury battled hard from start to finish. They deserved credit for their work ethic and energy in the game to keep us out. We matched their fight but sometimes couldn’t find the end product to finish off chances. Was a good game and well played from both teams. The tie was a fair result in the end I think.”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Wreckers Dominate Darien 31-6 In Saturday’s Game.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The stage was set on October 4th for the fierce rivalry between the Staples Wreckers and the Darien Blue Wave. One look at the field before the start of the game made it clear this was an important game as an almost endless array of photographers were perched on both sidelines awaiting kick-off, seeming to number the same as either team on the field
The Blue Wave was used to victories over the Wreckers whom they had defeated each game they played for more than the last decade. That streak came to an end of an unusually hot October day where the heat may have affected play. Not only did Staples end that losing streak against Darien
Coach Jacowleff, in his first year as head coach told WestportLocalPress, “I am very proud of how our program practiced for the entire week leading up to our game against Darien. Coming off of a highly emotional, come from behind, last second victory over West Haven, it would have been easy to take our foot off the pedal and not have a great week of preparation, but our player leaders did not allow for that to happen”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open galler
Jacowleff added, “Nick Weil had a tremendous game at Quarterback, standing tall in the pocket as Darien blitzed. He threw for 231 yards and 2 TDs and ran for the other 2 TDs. I can’t say enough about what Nick has meant to our football team and how big of an impact he has had.”
He credited his staff, saying, “Coach Connors and Coach Philpott had a great game plan in place to slow down Darien’s offense. We were able to limit Darien to only three first downs and 45 passing yards throughout the game.”
Several fans made good use of their umbrellas, not to shield them from the rain, but from the sun beating down on them on the 80º degree October day. One proud dad made sure his son was noticed, and another raised the American flag alongside the Staples flag from a mount on their car.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open galler
The Staples Cheerleaders were out in force as always, keeping the energy level high.
Another important game will be Friday’s matchup against undefeated Wilton where Staples homecoming crowd will be bringing that famous Wrecker energy to Coach Paul Lane Field. Kick-off is at 7:00 PM. The public is cordially invited to support their Wreckers.
In part because of their great record this season, Coach Jacowleff was recognized as the NY Giants Coach of the Week
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.