Stansbury Lake a recreation hot spot for residents

Tara Sundberg’s four children love to go swimming in the Stansbury Lake. They especially like to jump from the bridge, which separates the clubhouse and the Millpond area.

“My 5-year-old [daughter] Emilee thinks jumping from the bridge is the funnest thing ever,” said Sundberg on Monday.

She comes with her kids at least once or twice a week so they can go swimming just off the boat dock next to the clubhouse.

“My kids would come here more if I would let them,” Sundberg said. “It’s free fun.”

That’s exactly what the developers had in mind for the planned community when they broke ground for the lake and park in 1969. The man-made lake, which reaches three miles of shoreline — including the inlets — flows through the community and surrounds the “Captain’s Island” area also goes into a natural lake on the northern edge of the park. The deepest sections of the lake are 11 feet and they average between 6 and 8 feet.

According to Stansbury Park Service Agency trustee Scott Totman, the park’s residents reap many benefits of having a lake nearby or in their back yard.

“Besides the aesthetics — it’s beautiful to look at — there is a micro-climate which keeps the air cooler,” Totman said. “You also don’t have immediate neighbors behind you.”

More than 300 homes border the lake and most have a dock or beach and a boat of some kind. Canoeing and sailing is popular on the lake during summer months when the air is breezy enough for sailors to pick up some wind. Paddle boats can be frequently found, especially with fisherman aboard.

“Paddle boats are really good, especially for seniors — they might not be able to walk around as much,” Totman said. “This gets them out.”

Stansbury Lake is a private lake and is to be used by residents and their bonafide guests. This is because the residents’ tax dollars help maintain the lake.

“If someone from Tooele or Grantsville brings their boat in they are using someone else’s money,” he said. “[Residents] have the right to keep it private.”

Likewise, some groups may use the lake if given special permission: law enforcement, Scouts, handicapped groups, sailing and boating organizations and some non-profit groups.

However, gas-powered boats are not permitted at any time on the lake. Electric motors are allowed if they have less than 30 pounds of thrust or 1/2 horsepower.

“[They cause] noise and pollution,” Totman said. “Even the guys in the little gas boats, oil comes out and contaminates the water.”

Stansbury Lake was built for people to use it, but they must do so safely. Sundberg always watches her kids while they’re near the water and they always have life jackets on. When they’re jumping from the bridge they have shoes on as well. That doesn’t limit them from having a good time.

“The pool is right there,” Sundberg said. “And they would rather swim here.”

She knows of lots of other people who use the lake recreationally.

“How many kids get this opportunity to live in such a safe community?” she said adding she grew up in Sandy and then lived in Taylorsville. After more than five years as a Stansbury Park resident, she never wants to leave.

Although Sundberg is always watching her kids, this past January her 10-year-old daughter, Madison, fell through the ice on Stansbury Lake and was saved by her friend Victoria Flores.

“Whenever we go swimming they’re told about water safety,” she said.

Nine months later, Madison isn’t scared of the lake, but it has caused Sundberg to educate her children on safety when the lake is frozen, too. Because they don’t live on the lake, she didn’t think falling through the ice would be an issue.

“It’s one of those things that make you think about what could have happened,” Sundberg said.

Totman also has concerns about people and the lake. The main problem is children under 16 years of age who are required to wear a life vest. Often, he said, they do not.

“That scares the daylights out of us,” Totman said.

He says that people using the lake need to be in compliance with the coast guard regulations, which are posted on their Web site www.stansburypark.org. However, despite complaints from a few private citizens about kids jumping from the bridge, there is no rule outlawing it. Being only about 5 feet deep, Totman is a little concerned about the dangers.

Another feature of the lake is the wildlife. A variety of fish live in the water including bluegill, smallmouth bass, crappie, perch and the most popular, largemouth bass. Since it’s a private lake, no fishing license is required. However people are required to have a Utah State fishing license if they want to fish in the Millpond.

Water fowl also call Stansbury Lake home. One can find pelicans, geese, ducks, egrets and once in awhile an eagle.

“You don’t find that anywhere else either,” Totman said. “People want to copy us. Nowhere else are you going to get property on fresh water.”

Other types of wildlife have come into the lake in recent years. According to Totman, the frog population has boomed in the last three years.

“We have a surviving population of turtles on the causeway,” he said. “This year we saw three little turtles. That’s a great sign to me. They’re reproducing so there’s food and the water’s healthy enough they can do what they’re supposed to do.”

Non-lake residents of Stansbury Park have a place to do recreational water activities and those who live on the lake have the same opportunities right in their back yard.

“There’s an overall ability to go out and have fun [on the lake],” Totman said. “To watch your kid paddle across the lake or play bumper boats — you can’t get that anywhere else. Also, it’s the solitude from just sitting and watching the reflection of the mountains on the water.”

Missy Thompson: missy@tooeletranscript.com