about a quarter. Fishing Lake Zoar is not stocked yearly with fish by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, but the Pootatuck and Pomperaug rivers feed into it are heavily stocked with trout, many of which eventually make their way into the lake. Fish species The lake contains the desirable Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Calico Bass (Black Crappie), White Catfish (Ictalurus catus), Brown Bullhead, Rainbow Trout, and the Common Carp. PCBs and fish consumption Until the chemical was banned in the 70s, the Pittsfield, Mass. General Electric Factory routinely dumped PCBs into the Housatonic. Trout, catfish, eel, carp, or northern pike from Lake Zoar are unsafe for consumption while yellow perch, calico bass, rock bass, bluegill, and sunfish can be eaten sparingly and bass should be avoided by high-risk groups. In a 2008 study by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Smallmouth Bass varied between 0.35 and 0.58 ppm, suitable for one meal per month. PCB levels in the lake have fallen considerably since the 1980s. Invasive species Four invasive plant species exist in the lake as of a 2007 study, including Eurasian watermilfoil, Brittle waternymph, Curly leaf pondweed, and European waterclover. As with all the Housatonic River impoundments south of Bulls Bridge, Zebra Mussels have invaded and colonized Lake Zoar. Hiking The Zoar Trail is a Blue-Blazed Trail in Newtown maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. References Monroe, Connecticut Newtown, Connecticut Oxford, Connecticut Southbury, Connecticut Zoar Protected areas of Fairfield County, Connecticut Protected areas of New Haven County, Connecticut Zoar Zoar 1919 establishments in Connecticut