Southernmost in the chain of Connecticut Lakes is the man-made Lake Francis. Built in the 1930s as an Army Corps of Engineers project for flood control, Lake Francis and its impoundment, Murphy dam, are located just north of the village of Pittsburg. Murphy Dam is a 'tailwater' dam meaning its discharged water comes from a depth in the lake keeping river water cool all summer and providing excellent trout habitat. There are two public boat launches on this lake; one along Rte 3 and another on River Rd. Lake Francis is home to brook, brown, rainbow, and lake trout as well as landlocked salmon.