Newly Improved Lake Mansfield Boat Ramp Dedicated

Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, the Town of Great Barrington, and interested citizens met on a sunny morning at Lake Mansfield to formally re-open the Lake Mansfield boat launch after several months of construction work. After a brief ceremony Monday, Sept. 17, longtime Lake Mansfield Alliance and Task Force volunteer Christine Ward launched her kayak and then cut the ceremonial ribbon held by Ron Amidon, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.

Commissioner Amidon said, “Lake Mansfield is beautiful body of water and it’s stocked with fish. Now it has a nice little ramp for fishing, boating, and kayaking. He went on to thank State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli and State Sen. Adam Hinds for continuing to support funding for projects like this. He went on, “Outdoor recreation has a higher return value for the money invested than do many huge urban projects. So congratulations to you folks out here for being forward-thinking about outdoor recreation. The Berkshires are possibly way ahead of the curve and doing a good job promoting outdoor recreation.”

The Lake Mansfield Boat Launch improvement project was funded by the Department of Fish and Game through its Office of Fishing and Boat Access (OFBA). This project mitigates stormwater runoff that until recently carried sediment and pollutants from the gravel parking area and nearby roadways into the lake. Now the parking area is paved and stormwater is directed away from the lake into a bio-retention basin, where pollutants can settle out before water percolates back into the lake and groundwater. The boat launch also includes a new sign kiosk and native plants. 

Great Barrington Town Planner Christopher Rembold welcomed assembled guests and thanked those who made the project possible. He said, “This project started eight or nine years ago when Ron Dlugosz, a former town selectman and member of the Lake Mansfield Improvement Task Force, first learned about the OFBA partnership program. I then called OFBA Director Jack Sheppard, who’s here today, and we got the ball slowly rolling.” Rembold went on to thank Dale Abrams and Christine Ward for their vision. “Christine, Dale, and Ron recognized that recreational access is important as part of a long term plan to protect the health of Lake Mansfield. If more people can access the lake and enjoy the lake, the better chance that they will take care of the lake and work to ensure its long term vitality.”

Selectboard member Edward Abrahams said, “Lake Mansfield is a key recreation resource and we’re thrilled that we were able to partner with Fish and Game to make these improvements.”

Rembold added that the boat launch project is also part of the Town’s efforts to reduce nonpoint source pollution at the lake. “This project is also is a stormwater management device. Nonpoint source pollution is a major problem for Lake Mansfield, and this area was a major problem area in that regard. Now with this area completed, we will start the Knob Hill Road stormwater improvement project next month, and eventually see marked improvements for Lake Mansfield.”

Ward said, “Lake Mansfield is a unique resource. It’s very scenic and so close to downtown. But it is also vulnerable to runoff pollution. So we are glad to have this important boat launch project completed with the help of our State partners. And we look forward to the ongoing work in the watershed. Our collective long term vision is to continue to protect the health of the lake and ensure recreational access, while improving the safety of all those who use the area.”

The project cost about $42,000, well under the initial $50,000 budget. The Town’s Department of Public Works provided in-kind support by hauling gravel and materials to and from the site during the construction project.