Indian Lake Watershed Association Update 3/12/2021
Angler Event Series: Worcester Fisheries History
Wednesday, March 18th at 6:30
Over the past several weeks, the Worcester Angler Event Series hosted three successful Ice Fishing Events: a virtual 'Learn to Ice Fish', and in person demonstrations at Cooks Pond and Indian Lake. The virtual event had over 50 participants! Led by Jim Legacy, MassWildlife Angler Education Program Coordinator, with the assistance of many key volunteers, individuals and families learned about ice safety, fishing gear and setting up tilts.

With this momentum, we look forward to our next event on March 18th, 'Worcester Fisheries History'. This virtual event takes a look at the fish population in Worcester's lakes and ponds over time. It will include data from formal fish surveys taken over the years as well as input derived from the local angler community. Registration is now open at www.wooanglerseries.com.

The Worcester Angler Event Series features 13 virtual and outdoor, fishing-themed events which will run through September of 2021. This diverse program includes opportunities for novice to advanced anglers, is family friendly and free. Programs include opportunities to learn how water quality issues can affect fish habitat and provides information on how each of us can help. For the full list of events, locations, and more details, please see the series website: www.wooanglerseries.com.
 
The events are sponsored and hosted by the Lake Quinsigamond, Tatnuck Brook, and Indian Lake Watershed Associations, Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation, and Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks Lakes and Ponds Program. Other collaborators include MassWildlife, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Lake Quinsigamond Commission.

Come and see why people are getting hooked on Worcester's Lakes and Ponds!
Spring has sprung at Indian Lake: Refill to begin 3/15
The annual drawdown at Indian Lake serves a very important purpose. It is a tool to help manage nonnative invasive plants without chemicals. The drawdown has been in place since the 1980's and has been a very effective tool for this purpose. 

Next week, the City of Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks will close the gates so that the lake can refill. If your property abuts the lake, please take the time to pick up any trash or debris along the waterline before the water rises. 
Alum Dosing Station to benefit Indian Lake continues to move forward
There are many exciting things happening with our Worcester waterways or 'Blue Spaces' but still many challenges.

Jacquelyn Burmeister, Senior Environmental Analyst for the Lakes and Ponds Program of Worcester's Department of Public Works & Parks, working with the city's Cable Services Division, created an educational series to help people understand these challenges and what Worcester is doing to manage them.

The latest segment of the 'Blue Space Minute' goes deeper into the Alum Dosing Station being installed at Indian Lake. This state-of-the-art technology is designed to address nutrients before they reach the lake. Excessive nutrients from the surrounding watershed is a key factor that leads to challenges with cyanobacteria blooms. Learn more about this technology and Worcester's Blue Spaces by following the Blue Space Minute series:

Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (WCMC) preparing for upcoming season... volunteers needed
The WCMC is gearing up for the 2021 season and is hoping to grow the program with both the number of lakes and the testing that we do. We are in need of more volunteers to help with this.

Volunteers meet once a month to bring samples to a central location and evaluate them under the microscope. If you have participated in the past, the process will look a little different this year due to social distancing guidelines. Yet we are excited to restart as this program as it has become an invaluable tool for identifying the presence of cyanobacteria in our lakes and ponds.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Jacquelyn Burmeister at burmeisterj@worcesterma.gov.

Neighborhood input on parks and personal watercraft
We have been notified by District 1 City Councilor Sean Rose that a review of challenges at the three city-owned properties on Indian Lake (Morgan Park, Shore Park and the City Beach at the end of Clason Road) which were of particular concern to neighborhood residents and parks visitors last summer in addition to communication relative to eliminating or decreasing the use of jet skis on Indian Lake, are projected to be on the City Council Subcommittee on Veterans' Memorials, Parks and Recreation Committee agenda in April. As soon as this is confirmed and meeting date is known, we will send a notification. Public participation will be welcome.
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: 
Indian Lake Watershed Association, Inc PO Box 60244 Worcester, MA 01606
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