Sherwood Forest Beaches
All beaches within Sherwood Forest are PRIVATE beaches for use solely by residents of the Sherwood Forest and their guests.
If you are a resident and have not yet applied for your free beach stickers, please click here to fill out or print an application.
As required by the Town of Becket Board of Health, the water at all Sherwood Forest Beaches is tested weekly during the summer months. Test results are posted on the Water Monitoring Results page.
Our Dams: Information and Repairs
$52,500 Grant for the Sherwood Forest Lake District
The Sherwood Forest Lake District in Becket is very pleased to announce that they have received a $52,500 grant from the Massachusetts Dam and Seawall Fund at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
The funds were granted to defray costs for the repair of the Lancelot Lake Dam, which is classified as a High Hazard level dam by the Mass Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, and is in poor condition. This award will support the planning and engineering phase of the project and return the dam to safety standards.
The grant application was submitted on behalf of the Lake District by Tighe and Bond, the Westfield Mass engineering firm hired to design options for the dam repair and to obtain the necessary permitting.
This grant, and another grant still in the application process, will significantly reduce the cost of the Lancelot Dam repair for taxpayers in the District.
"Living With Dams Know Your Risks"
is a publication from FEMA that has important and interesting facts on dam safety, risks, and emergency management.
It is available to you by clicking the image to the left
About
The Sherwood Forest Lake District was created on October 9th, 2010. Chapter 107 of the Acts of 2010 was approved by the Town of Becket, signed by the governor of Massachusetts, and positively voted for by the residents and land owners of Sherwood Forest. An elected prudential committee manages the Lake District. It is charged with all aspects of protecting and preserving the lakes, dams, and beaches in Sherwood Forest. The Prudential Committee creates the annual budget, which is funded from the Lake District Tax collected by the Town of Becket. All properties are taxed at a percentage of their real estate tax. A special opt-out provision was established for those proprietors who wanted to give up their rights to the lake.
Sherwood Forest was developed in the 1960s. At that time no provisions were made for long term maintenance of the infrastructure. After half a century there was a dramatic need to create a system to watch over the care and safety of the dams as well as the related areas. The Sherwood Forest Neighbor's Association, owner of these areas, did not have the authority to tax the property owners. This left SFNA in the difficult position of responsibility but without the ability to raise the necessary funds. Consequently the SFLD was created.
The SFLD has implemented both short and long term plans for the repair and maintenance of the dams to protect the Forest's lakes and beaches for all the property owners of Sherwood Forest.
Other Information
Licenses to fish in fresh water (inland waters) are required of anyone 15 years and over.
A person is required to keep his/her fishing license with him/her at all times while fishing and must exhibit their license for inspection by any warden, department employee, guide or landowner upon request.
Click the image on the right for the MassHuntFish online license application
Gallery
For our gallery of resident-submitted photos, please click on “Gallery”