The closing down of reservoirs is a time-honored tradition in the fair Commonwealth dating back over 100 years. At Quabbin, you can get a boat permit and a motored boat with a 25hp. At Assawompsett Complex, it's abutters-only and a 9.9hp restriction (even though the law SAYS same as Quabbin). I'm not sure about Quabbin, but there is NO contact with teh water at A/C. None. No kayak, no canoe, no piddle-board, no swimming. Because contact. But gasoline and motor oil is AOK. LOL
Now, here's the funny - all them restrictions to ensure that it's safe and de-9/11'd and such:
Rt 18/105 drives next to Assawompsett for a half-mile or more. Ditto for 140 and the old Norton Reservoir. So the claim of
A) Safety of the water system
and
B) Cleanliness of the water system
is complete bunk. BUNK! Hell, during the flood of 2009 (9? 10?), Rt 18/105 WAS Assawompsett Pond! The road was impassable. Forget run-off. The ROAD WAS IN THE POND. RIGHT NEAR THE PUMPING STATION!!!!!
If Mass wanted to, they could shut everyone out of every rezzi. But they have to do it COMPLETELY, all at once. Because there were other reservoirs with residences around them in the 1900's, the Commonwealth failed at their taking of the houses around Assawompsett. We got very secure rights to be there. But not rights TO the water. That is always tenuous.
But I concur - in most of the country, this is less of a big deal. And in this country - people were water-skiing on Assawompsett 40 years ago.