RWA’s Maltby Lakes Recreation Area, West Haven

Regional Water Authority’s (RWA) Maltby Lakes Recreation Area is situated in West Haven, a short distance from downtown New Haven. The recreation area offers approximately four miles of trails mostly on level to rolling woods roads. The western section includes a climb to the crest of Indian Hill and the northern section is more rugged. The forested habitats include stands of white pine and Norway spruce and stands of deadwood. The power line cut has mixed shrubs and brambles.

The lakes are dotted with islands that are a result of the phyllite outcroppings in the area. Phyllite is a metamorphic rock intermediate between slate and schist. All three rocks are formed by compressing lake bottom mud under thousands of feet of other sediments. Slate has clearly visible layering and schist has crystals visible to the naked eye. Phyllite has neither characteristic, but its resistance to erosion is one reason why the land around the Maltby Lakes is so hilly.

In the 1860s Caleb Maltby created the reservoirs for the Fair Haven Water Company as both a water supply and for recreation. The RWA finally realized his dream over 130 years later when they opened the area for hiking and fishing.

Common sightings include red-bellied woodpeckers, wild turkeys, scarlet tanagers, ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets and various types of warblers and thrushes. Migrating ducks can occasionally be seen in the lakes.

Maltby Lakes is located on Route 34 in West Haven and Orange, 1¼ miles west of Yale Bowl. Route 34 is a divided highway and the entrance is from the west-bound lanes.

Please note that access to RWA recreation areas requires a recreation permit. To obtain a recreation permit, contact RWA at www.rwater.com/recreation or 203-401-2654. Have a look at the field trips section of the newsletter for an upcoming walk at Maltby Lakes (using Menunkatuck’s group permit; individual permit not required for the walk). And check back with us after the walk at www.menunkatuck.org for photos and a list of sightings.