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Cyanobacteria Advisory in Effect for Indian Lake
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/31/2018 5:26 PM
The City of Worcester Division of Public Health and the Department of Inspectional Services have issued a public health advisory due to laboratory results of high levels of cyanobacteria (blue-green) algae in Indian Lake. The lake has been ordered closed until additional laboratory tests show otherwise.
Individuals and their pets are encouraged to avoid coming in contact with the lake until further notice. The City will be working with environmental health specialists to monitor water quality and determine the length of the closure.
Cyanobacteria are microscopic and naturally occurring in all waterbodies with some species growing in waterbody sediments, while other cyanobacteria can move within the water. Growth of these naturally-occurring algae is aided by certain environmental conditions, such as warm weather, sunlight and excess nutrients in the water. Excess levels of nutrients can come from human related sources. Phosphorous and nitrogen-found in lawn fertilizers, storm water runoff, wild animal waste, and agricultural activities, are key nutrients that aid blue-green algae growth.
All recreational lakes and ponds in Worcester are monitored for cyanobacteria. The City will continue to monitor all bodies of water for any potential problems.
Health concerns from harmful algae blooms and their toxins vary depending on the type of exposure and the amount of toxin present. The following recommendations are being offered to avoid algae exposure until further notice:
- Do not swim in the lake
- Do not allow pets in the water
- Fishing is prohibited
- Do not swallow water
- Rinse skin off immediately after contact
Health Risks:
- Contact with these algae can cause skin and eye irritation
- Ingesting small amounts can cause gastrointestinal symptoms while ingesting large amounts may cause liver or neurological damage
- Inhaling water spray with algae in it can cause asthma-like symptoms
- Small children and pets are more susceptible to the effects of toxins than adults
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Weed Identification Workshop THIS WEEK! Sign up today for the Tuesday, September 4th Workshop!
There will be an Aquatic Invasive Plant ID and Management workshop on September 4th from 6-8 pm at the Bancroft School Field House on 100 Shore Drive. Please see link below for detail including how to RSVP.
Identifying and removing invasive plants is the best way to prevent weed problems in our waterways. Jacquelyn
Burmeister,
Environmental Analyst for the City of Worcester's Lakes and Ponds Program
,
will be giving an overview of the challenges with invasive weeds in Worcester's waterways. Tom Flannery from Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will help us learn how to tell the difference between invasive and native plants.
Weed ID Workshop
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Shore Park Concert Series a Great Success!
Two out of three of the summer concerts were able to move forward this summer without interference from Mother Nature! Attendees enjoyed the final concert on August 15th as The Housetones rocked the beautiful summer evening!
Many thanks to Park Spirit of Worcester and sponsors Saint-Gobain, National Grid, YMCA of Central MA and Mill Street Motors for this successful series!
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City of Worcester Park Stewards Help with Morgan Park
We are so grateful to have had the assistance of the City of Worcester Park Stewards this summer at Morgan Park!
The Park Steward Program strategy was introduced in July 2010 as a partnership linking neighborhood teens with neighborhood-based jobs. The model which has been improved upon over the years and is geared toward youth employment has proven very successful in employing, engaging and allowing for a safe summer work experience. Maintenance activities performed by the this staff will involve activities such as; trash-pick-up, tree planting, graffiti removal, park maintenance, landscaping, trail maintenance, painting, brush removal, and other related assigned projects. This year's program focused on the following locations; University Park, Hadwen Park, East Park, Bell Hill Pond, Newton Hill, Castle Park, and a mobile maintenance crew. Additionally, this year an Assistant Maintenance Director position was added to help manage the increased numbers of Park Stewards and maintenance demands in our City parks.
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The YMCA of Central Massachusetts, Bancroft School, and the Reliant Foundation are coming together to present the Shore Park 5K to benefit summer programming on Shore Drive. Our family-friendly event includes individual and team prizes, music, and a dog friendly environment for participants and their families. This is a chip-timed 5K run or walk race on a USATF certified course.
Learn More Online Shore Park 5k
Registration is NOW OPEN!
Race Day:
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Race Registration:
7:30 am
Race Start:
9:00 am
Location:
Shore Park, 115 Shore Drive, Worcester, MA
(Next to the Greendale Family Branch YMCA)
(Race held Rain or Shine)
Entry fees are $25 until August 10th, $30.00 until August 31st, $35 from September 1st-September 21st, and $40.00 during post-registration on race day.
Entry fees for children 12 and under are $15.00.
Dog gift bags for $10.00.
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Barrier Wall Update
MA DOT is currently scheduled to begin replacing the barrier wall between West Boylston Street and West Boylston Drive this fall!
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Volunteer Cyanobacteria Monitoring
Collaborative
Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative is seeking people to collect and analyze water samples at Indian Lake and back up at other sites as needed.
The Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (WCMC) is a citizen science program in which volunteers gather water samples using a plankton net once a month at Worcester waterways including Indian Lake, Patch Reservoir, Coes Reservoir, and Lake Quinsigamond. Volunteers then meet to examine the water samples under a microscope for cyanobacteria and microscopic critters.
Summary of the July results can be found here:
WCMC July
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Your Support is Needed to Improve Boater Safety
There are currently 2 important bills in the House Committee on Ways and Means that we ask for your assistance with. Both
H.1234, An Act Relative to Jet Ski Safety, and H.399, An Act Relative to Boater Safety to be known as the David Hanson Act, are designed to improve safety on the waterways which includes requiring boaters to pass an exam showing they are familiar with boating safety regulations.
The Indian Lake Watershed Association has been a longstanding advocate for safety on the waterways. We encourage each of you, by way of an email, letter or phone call, to express your support for boater education in the very near future.
Senator Harriette Chandler
State Representative John Mahoney, 13th Worcester District
[email protected]
State Representative James O'Day, 14th Worcester District
[email protected]
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Membership Renewals
It's membership renewal time and we hope we can count on your continued support! As you know, mailing costs are constantly going up which makes it increasingly challenging as a small non-profit. If you could kindly consider printing the membership form below and sending it in with your dues, it would be a great help.
Membership renewal letters went out in early August.
Not a member yet? We would be honored to have your support!
Membership Form |
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Monthly Neighborhood Watch
The Indian Lake Neighborhood Watch meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm at the training room at Harr Toyota, 100 Gold Star Boulevard. At every meeting we receive an update on the neighborhood crime statistics from the previous month from Worcester
Police Officer Lisa Carlson. Officer Carlson also shares other updates with the group including trends in crime around the city as well as important tips regarding general safety, home security and how to identify illegal drugs and drug use behaviors.
This meeting is also about quality of life issues in the neighborhood such as missing street signs, graffiti, illegal dumpting, pot holes, abandoned vehicles, abandoned houses, etc. The meeting is typically attended by one of the City of Worcester Code Enforcement employees who is also available to answer questions about city ordinances.
If you are unable to attend these meetings but would like to share information with the group or ask a question you can email
[email protected]
or Officer Carlson directly at
[email protected]
.
The next neighborhood meeting is Tuesday, September 18th at 6pm.
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*** PUBLIC SAFETY ***
Worcester Police Department
Emergency 911
Non Emergency
508-799-8606
Massachusetts Environmental Police
Dispatch: 800-632-8075
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Indian Lake Watershed Association, Inc.
PO Box 60244, Worcester, MA 01606
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