Indian Lake Watershed Association Update 7/21/2021 |
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Indian Lake Closed for Copper Treatment Thursday, July 22nd |
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Worcester – The City of Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks has contracted for the application of copper sulfate to Indian Lake and Coes Pond on Thursday, July 22.
This preventative treatment is unrelated to the closings of Shore Park Beach and John J. Binienda Memorial Beach at Coes Pond as the result of high bacteria levels. The treatment is a safe and effective way to control the growth of harmful, toxin-producing algae. The application of copper sulfate is a common practice to maintain a healthy lake, and poses minimal risk to humans and animals after application is complete.
The application is coordinated with the Indian Lake and Tatnuck Brook Watershed Associations and has been approved by the Worcester Conservation Commission.
On the day of the treatment, all individuals are advised to stay out of the water, discontinue boat use and fishing, and keep their pets out of the water. Indian lake Beach, Shore Park Beach and John J. Binienda Memorial Beach at Coes Pond will be closed for the treatment. The boat ramp at Morgan Park will also be closed. Indian Lake and Coes Pond are planned to reopen the following day.
For questions, please call the Customer Service Center at 508-929-1300.
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Personal Watercraft/ Jetski Update |
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The Worcester City Council is looking to enact a temporary ban on all personal watercraft aka jetskis due to the great number of operators that continue to ignore safe boating laws on Indian Lake.
At this time, public comment is expected to be accepted at the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 10th at 5 pm.
We will send more detail as it becomes available.
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Stop the Spread - Aquatic Plants |
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Last month, the City of Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks contracted for the application of a herbicide to Indian Lake to target the invasive aquatic plant Myriophyllum spicatum, also referred to as Eurasian milfoil. This application was a success and the new product that was used is anticipated to provide us relief from this plant for several years.
Recently an aquatic plant that has not been detected in the recent past was discovered in the lake - thin leaf pondweed. The great news is it is native to New England. The bad new is that it spreads very rapidly. This is on the radar of our Lakes and Ponds Program and they are working on steps to address it.
How do these different aquatic plants end up in Indian Lake? Often times, just a tiny piece can hitch a ride on a boat trailer, equipment or in a livewell. Remember to remove plants, mud and debris from your boat and equipment. Drain water from ballast, bilge, livewell, motor and bait buckets and dry all equipment for 5 days before entering a new waterway. YOU can help stop the spread of invasive species.
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Shore Park Closed Due to High Bacteria Count |
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The City of Worcester monitors E. coli bacteria regularly at Indian Lake. While it is not uncommon for beaches to experience higher than normal counts after torrential rains, we were fortunate that Shore Park beach and the city beach at the end of Clason Road had no issues over the last few weeks. However, as of July 20th, the count exceeded the limit at Shore Park, causing a closure which has continued today. Again, as it pertains to Indian Lake, the affected beach is only at Shore Park only.
We are hopeful this will quickly pass. Please watch the City's website and social media (which we will share to the Indian Lake page) for the latest information.
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Neighborhood History Project Takes Flight |
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This summer, rising WPI senior, Wayne Nolette, began an Independent Qualifying Project (IQP) to support the Indian Lake neighborhood history! Wayne has been working on evaluating the best way to archive information and a survey which will be sent out very soon seeking input and offering opportunities for involvement. Wayne is also starting to identify locations to highlight historical information around the lake.
We are very grateful for the opportunity to work with students and advisors at WPI for the benefit of the lake and the neighborhood!
Watch for more information coming soon!
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Little Indian - A Beautiful Oasis in the City |
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Little Indian Lake, located to the right of Forest Grove Middle School, is a beautiful oasis in the city. It is owned by the City of Worcester and the abutting residents. You can often find anglers fishing along the shoreline o Grove Street. This water body boasts amazing wildlife which is really a treat for those passing by... often nesting swans can be seen in the distance and turtles fill the logs along the water's edge.
The largest challenges that Little Indian faces is it is a shallow water with limited water flow. These often are contributing factors to weed growth and algae. Over many, many years, Little Indian residents and the ILWA have worked tirelessly to ensure that Little Indian remains a valuable resource in our city. That has included a seasonal lake management contract to ensure professional oversight.
For over 10 years, the city has committed to assist residents and the association with a contribution towards this invaluable management plan. Unfortunately, this year, the city was not able to make this commitment since the water body does not have true public access such as the main body of Indian Lake, Coes Pond, Lake Quinsigamond and Bell Pond.
We are grateful to the residents who have continued to contribute to the Little Indian management program and the ILWA board which stepped up to cover the additional cost of this year's contract. We are pleased to announce that SOLitude Lake Management has begun their regular visits.
We commend the City of Worcester for their unwavering dedication to the Lakes and Ponds Program since it began in 2016. There are many smaller lakes and ponds within the city who struggle with various management issues that effect quality of life for many residents. We remain very hopeful that the Lakes and Ponds Program will soon be expanded to include all of our waterways, including Little Indian, as they are all invaluable resources that we must preserve and protect.
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The Indian Lake Watershed Association is hosting "Fish Tales: Stories of Fishing in the Heart of the Commonwealth" to showcase local anglers, their catches, and their experiences citywide. Now through August 1st, anglers will have the opportunity to upload their fishing photos and stories that relate to Worcester lakes and ponds. During the second week of August, photos will be displayed at a public exhibit to showcase the opportunities at Worcester's Blue Spaces!
While it is already exciting to have the stories and photos on public display, many fun categories will give participants the opportunity to win some great prizes too!
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The Indian Lake Watershed Association is now accepting memberships and donations online! |
Please click on the following link to submit your membership and/or donation:
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Worcester Police Department
Emergency 911
Massachusetts Environmental Police Dispatch
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Indian Lake Watershed Association, Inc PO Box 60244 Worcester, MA 01606
#BlueintheWoo #IndianLakeWorcester #LittleIndianWorcester #IndianLakeDistrict
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