FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Lake Facts

How big is the lake?

According to the USGS Map, the lake is just under 1 mile long and about 3/8ths of a mile across at its widest point.

The total area of the lake is 82.3 acres according to the town of Lewisboro tax map #36 where the lake property is listed as Block #10810, lot #8 (owned by the Truesdale Estates Association).

The lake holds approximately 100 million gallons of water (see next FAQ for details and source).

What are some more facts about the lake?

The lake is marked on the USGS map at 501 feet above sea level.

The lake flows into a wetlands area south of Lake Waccabuc and the Twin Lakes. From there it flows into the Waccubuc River and then the Cross River Reservoir.

Where does the water come from?

The sky!

Actually, after the water falls from the sky, the lake draws mainly from the Pumping Station Aquifer in Ridgefield, CT.

According to the 2001 Engineering Report executed by Land-Tech Consultants

Quote:

The portion of this watershed contributing surface runoff to the lake is large (2,380± acres, 963 ha), relative to the size of the lake (83 acres, 33.6 ha) (Figure 1). The majority of this watershed is located to the east of the lake and contains the Pumping Station Swamp. The size of the watershed creates a watershed to lake ratio of 28.7:1. The amount of rainfall draining to the lake was calculated using a runoff value of approximately 55 percent of precipitation (CT DEP 1982), an annual precipitation value of 47.5 inches per year (Soil Survey of Putnam and Westchester Counties, New York, 1994), and 68.6 cm (27 inches) per year of surface lake evaporation. Therefore, the net amount of rainfall that drains to the lake is large, (1.6 billion gallons) annually or an average daily flow of 4 million gallons per day. Thus, on an annual basis, the lake, with a volume of approximately 99,150,000 gallons, shows a moderate turnover rate (hydraulic residence time) of 16.2 times per year or every 22 days.

See the entire report for more details.

Where is Lake Truesdale?

Lake Truesdale is located in the Village of South Salem, NY (10590). South Salem is in the Town of Lewisboro in the northeast corner of Westchester County. We are approximately 1 mile from Ridgefield, CT.

Recreation

Can I fish at the lake?

If you are a member of one of the associations (TEA or TLPOA) you can fish at several spots around the lake. There is no public access or public property around the lake.

Can I swim at Truesdale Lake?

If you are a member of one of the associations (TEA or TLPOA) you can swim at the respective beaches.

If you would like to become a seasonal associate member of the TEA, please click on the "Contact Us" link on the left-hand side and someone will be in touch to send an application form. Associate memberships are limited, contact us for details.

The TEA beach is on Truesdale Lake Drive.

Sailing & Boating

Do I need a permit to use a boat on the lake?

Boats must be registered with the Lake Management Committee. An application must be filled out and submitted detailing the type of boat, any serial number or name on the boat, as well as contact information for the owner of the boat. A blank boat sticker application can be found by clicking the "Boat Registration" link to the left.

Registration is only allowed for people who are deeded members of either TLPOA, TEA, or own non-affiliated property on the lake. <b>Associate members of TEA are not permitted to register a boat.</b>

Boats found on TEA or TLPOA property without stickers are subject to removal and sale.

There is no public access to the lake as all land around the lake -- as well as the lake bottom itself -- are privately owned. Members of the public at large are not allowed on the lake unless as a guest of a current lake right holder.

Truesdale Lake boating applications are available at this site. If you have questions, you can click on the "Contact Us" link to the left and we will pass on your request to Mark Patek who maintains the boat registry.

What types of boats are allowed on the lake?

Canoes, Kayaks, and small sailboats (mostly Sunfish) are the most common. There are also rowboats and a few pedalboats.

Gas-powered vehicles are not allowed to operate on Truesdale Lake. This includes snowmobiles in the winter.

Real Estate

Are there maps of TEA and TLPOA Boundaries?

Yes!

The Truesdale Estates Association (TEA) and Truesdale Lake Property Owners Association maps are in the Downloads are under Association Maps section.

The TEA link is here: http://truesdalelake.com/tea/

The TLPOA link is here: http://truesdalelake.com/tlpoa/

Are there rental properties around the Lake?

Most residences are year-round, but there are some seasonal and annual rental properties. Some are right on the lake and others have lake rights since they are within one of the two associations. See a real estate agent for current availability of rentals.

Can you recommend any Real Estate Agents?

My personal favorite is Gina Reback (914.232.5007) from Houlihan Lawrence in Katonah (Gina Reback Link). Gina sold us our house on the lake so I can tell you she listens well to her clients wishes.

Ken Sobel (www.kensobel.com) is around the corner from the lake and is the closest real estate office to the lake (less than 0.2 miles).

Pat Neville (www.patneville.com) has been both a lake resident and real estate agent for over 25 years. She has listed and sold many properties in the lake community. Her agency is Prudential Holmes and Kennedy in Bedford and her office phone number is 914-234-4590 (x107).

Laurel Genovese (763-9060) has been selling Real Estate with Houlihan Lawrence in South Salem since 1991.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to put them up with your endorsement quote attributed.

How do I know if a house I purchase has lake rights via TEA or TLPOA?

Since both the TEA and TLPOA assocations have houses that are not 'riparian' (or lake-side), this is a good question.

There has been much confusion about this, but the best way to verify is to do all four of these:
1.) ask the homeowner if they are a member of TEA or TLPOA.
2.) ask your real estate agent to verify this information.
3.) verify it yourself by contacting the TEA (PO Box 363, South Salem, NY 10590) or the TLPOA (PO Box 193, South Salem, NY 10590).
4.) Check the Map Section of the website to see the boundaries of TEA and TLPOA. The links are on the left side of the web page.

It can be confusing because the TEA invites up to 30 additional households to join as "associate members" during the summer season for a fee. The associate members do not have deeded lake rights nor are they allowed to vote in TEA matters.

There are also approximately 12 houses directly on the lake that are not part of either association.

If I purchase a house near the lake without lake rights, can I join an association?

Yes, please contact the Truesdale Estates Association either in writing at PO Box 363, South Salem, NY 10590 or click the Contact Us link to the left. Our associate membership coordinator will be in touch with details.

The TEA is limited by IRS non-profit organization law to 30 associate member families for the summer season.

Memberships are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with returning members given right of first refusal. Invitations to join are mailed in April for the following summer season.

Associate members are given access to the beach and dock area, but are not permitted launch boats into the lake and are not eligible to apply for permit stickers.

<b>TEA Associate memberships are not permanent, nor do they confer any deeded lake rights on the associate member or their property.</b>

The summer season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Beach hours are afternoon and weekend only until school ends for the year (usually the last weekend in June). During the remainder of the summer, hours are 11am-7pm.

What houses are for sale on or around the lake?

I would check http://www.realtor.com for this information.

Spring seems to be a popular time for home sales and at any given time there look to be 3-5 of the 300+ houses with lake rights for sale.

History

Who made Truesdale Lake?

The Truesdale Lake Property Owners Association (TLPOA), a private and exclusive club with 20 summer time residents, created the 83.3 acre Lake in 1927 by damming a stream and flooding a small pond and surrounding swamp.

The Truesdale Estates Assocation (TEA) was formed in the early 1930’s when the land on the west side of Lake Truesdale was purchased from TLPOA.

The primary water flow into the Lake comes from the swamp on Pumping Station Road in Ridgefield.

Why are there two associations?

There are actually four distinct groups of homeowners living on Truesdale Lake.

First is the Truesdale Lake Property Owners Assocation (TLPOA). This is the group that created the lake in 1927. Homes in this association are located primarily on the northwest and northeast portion of the lake.

Membership in the TLPOA is determined by whether or not the home gets its water from the TLPOA common well. Homes in this association are either riparian (lakefront) or close to the lake on adjoining streets. There are approximately 175 homes in the TLPOA.

Second, the Truesdale Estates Association (TEA) was formed in the 1930s. Membership in the TEA is determined by deeded lake rights granted at the time of the original development of five parcels of land in South Salem in the lake area.

The TEA land is not contiguous and not all on the lake. There are TEA houses on the southeast portion of the lake (including Truesdale Lake Drive and Salem Lane) as well as on Lower Salem Lane, Boway, Main Street, and Stewart Road. There are 134 landowners in the TEA.

TEA also invites up to 30 households from the surrounding community to join their beach as summer season members ("associates").

The third group of homeowners in the lake community are the unaffiliated Lake Shore Drive homeowners. These nine houses are riparian (lakeside) but are not part of either TLPOA or TEA. They are invited by the TEA to join as summer beach members at a reduced rate.

The fourth group of homeowners are in the Lovecross/Vreeland development association. These houses are located off of Boway and Hoyt Street where the main stream feeds Truesdale Lake. Three houses are on Hoyt Street, all on the East side of the street — #65 – #69. Five are on Boway – from just south of the stream that feeds the lake and as you head North on Boway. Each of these homes also own 1/8th of the sediment collection pond on the stream. All of these homes have deeded lake access via the paper road at the end of the Hoyt Street cul-de-sac to a small “beach” and dock.

Why don't the associations merge into one "Truesdale Lake Association"?

Good question! This is how I have come to understand the situation: Mainly because the TLPOA, in addition to being an association, also runs the Truesdale Corporation. This entity supplies water via a common well to the 170 odd households in the TLPOA.

In contrast, all of the TEA, Lake Shore Drive "no-mans land", and Vreeland properties get their water from individual wells.

The individual charters of the TEA and TLPOA delineate the properties which are on the association rolls. The formation of a single association would logically result in the dissolution of the TEA and TLPOA. Since there are land ownership issues, financial considerations, etc. with any merger, I don't see it happening any time soon or ever. The benefit for the associations is just not there.

On the other hand, if residents decide that lake management and upkeep creates a common good throughout the community, it is possible to form a "water/sewer/improvement district" with taxing authority. With this power, it would be possible to issue bonds and undertake major projects such as dam rehabilitation, dredging, and long-term stormwater runoff abatement and cleanup projects.

Even if this happened, some part of the associations would most likely continue in order to run the recreation and utilities.

If you have a comment, better information, or a more thorough understanding of this all, please use the "Contact Us" link on the left side and I will get your note. Be sure to include your email address so I can get in touch if I have any questions.

General

Can I purchase lake rights to Truesdale Lake?

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: Yes, you can purchase a house (or property) with lake rights. There are several properties in the TEA that are not buildable lots but carry lake rights. Two lots are for sale right now from the Town of Lewisboro for $25,000 and $33,000. The lots are not buildable (they are wetlands) but they were part of the original TEA subdivision and carry lake rights for TEA.

None of the associations on Truesdale Lake sell permanent lake rights independent of the properties where lake rights are in the deed or master deed. The house must have the lake rights to a specific existing association (TEA, TLPOA, or Vreeland) written in the deed for the house or included as a right inherited from a master (original) deed. See Downloads section for some deed information scanned in.

TEA offers seasonal associate memberships (non-permanent) for up to 30 households in the surrounding neighborhood. Click Contact Us link and request more information about TEA associate membership.

How do I participate in the website?

Individuals are free to add items of interest and comment on other posts. In order to do this, you must register at the site.

Once you register let me know (via the Contact Us link) that you would like to be a contributor and I will upgrade your account to enable this.

Registration is free and we do not sell any information to anyone.

Where did the lake get its name?

Two possibilities:

#1) From the hard copy "Lewisboro Ledger Answer Book" (could not find it on their new site):
Quote:

When was the town founded and by whom?

Settlers first appeared in the area now known as Lewisboro around 1720. According to legend, the first men to actually live in the area were William Truesdale and Samuel Tuttle. The men bought land from the Ridgefield Proprietors and headed west over the mountain ridge that separates the two towns. They attempted to tame the wilderness, which proved to be too difficult a task. According to the story, the two were killed by Indians and not a trace was left except the name Truesdale, which now graces a lake in the general vicinity of their land purchases.



#2) It was a family name from the 18th century. I believe they owned the land in the area.

See:
http://petjr.net/GENE/pafn15.htm

Excerpt: (note reference to Truesdale Lake at bottom)
Quote:

235. Jesse Truesdell

(Source: Carla Parrish):
Had extended service as an officer in the Westchester Militia. He waschosen 1st Lieut of the Middle Battalion from the northern district ofSalem, the commission issued September 13, 1775 (Council Aptmts, NY Hist.Soc., 1925, 159). Due to "certain non-acceptances" the Chairman of theCounty reported that Jesse was chosen Captain, November 17, 1775, andrequested early issuance of this commission (Calendar, NY Hist Doc, I,205). In 1777 his company, in Col. Thomas Thomas' Regt of Westchestermilitia, consisted of: 1 Capt, 2 Lieut, 1 Bens, 3 Sgts, 1 drummer and 32Pvt, and received £258 16 2 for service at various times between Augustand December 1777 (NY State Lib "Payroll" audited in Philadelphia 1786).On May 28, 1778 he was appointed Captain to command the North Salem Co.He served at various times as a Captain in 3d Regt. and in 4th Regt.under Col. Crane, his name being on the State Treasurer's pay books,between March 1779 and November 1781. He was a Major in 2d Regt., April12, 1782. After the war, as "Trusdal" he was appointed First Major, June24, 1786, under LtCol John Hyatt and a successor was announced to his vacancy March 25, 1787 (Council Aptmts 80).
In 1779, with others, he united to form a Congregational Church at Salemand was on the committee "to get preaching" (Hist Westchester Co., ScharfII, 523). On various occasions Rev. Silas Constant, pastor of thePresbyterian Church at Yorktown, NY stayed at Jesse Truesdell's home. In1790, living in North Salem, his family consisted of six. He was admitted as a freeman in 1805, first taxed in 1813, last in 1815. Hejoined the Danbury Church, June 03, 1810 on recommendation from the Ridgefield Church.
Following the Revolution Jesse Truesdell was a member of a Committee to dispose of properties held by convicted Tories (Westchester Deeds, L290.Also NYGBR LXXI 277). In this manner he acquired the lands of Benjamin Close in North Salem. His home, still standing, is near Truesdale Lake, now in the hands of a real estate corporation.

Who maintains this website?

The website is updated and maintained by everyone in the Truesdale Lake Community. This includes homeowners, associations, beach members, local organizations, and any other interested parties.

The webmaster is Robert Cummings. Robert is a Truesdale Lake resident. If you wish to contact him, please use the "Contact Us" form on the left-hand side of the site.

Thanks for having a look around and please feel free to contribute stories, photos, sounds, video, and time.

Who pays for this?

The web server is owned and operated by John Cummings & Partners, LLC.

The Lake website is hosted for free as a service to the community.

The computer hosting the site is located at the facilities of DreamHost.