Protecting Our Lake
Protecting Our Lake

Nonnative invasive weeds have been challenging New England waterways for many years. Unfortunately, there are very few ways to completely eradicate them, thus management and preventing their spread is crucial. 


A few of the nonnative invasive weeds that are common in Indian Lake and Little Indian are: Eurasian milfoil, European naiad, duckweed and phragmites (also known as common reed).


What can you do to help?

  • Clean boats and gear when moving from one water body to another.
  • Do not rake or pull on the weeds... breakage often contributes to their spread.
  • Avoid driving your boat or personal watercraft through patches of weeds floating in the waterway.

More information on Invasive Non-native Aquatic Species in Massachusetts can be found here:


DCR Invasive Non-native Species

City of Worcester to Discontinue Drawdown at Indian Lake

The City of Worcester opened the gates for a 3 feet vertical drawdown (as opposed to the 6 ft drawdown we have used the past 5 years) on November 2nd, 2021.This will be the last drawdown in the foreseeable future at Indian Lake.


The drawdown was established in the early 1990's as a tool to manage the nonnative, invasive plant, Eurasian milfoil, which had few management options at the time. Other options have since become available and ultimately the drawdown is not in the best interest of the lake long term.


As consistent communication has expressed since the start of the drawdown, the purpose was solely a tool for managing this invasive species. The original drawdown was only about 2 feet. It has varied between 4 and 6 feet vertical for the last 10 years. 


Previous to the establishment of the Lakes and Ponds Program, the drawdown was the only tool used for many years to combat Eurasian milfoil to avoid costly herbicide applications. In fact, new growth would be evident in early August each year. It would spread consistently until the winter drawdown knocked it back.


In the past several years, under the Lakes and Ponds Program, new growth of this particular plant was almost addressed through a variety of means including using underwater divers who suctioned out the invasive plants. In 2021, a new product was introduced designed to provide multi season relief from this invasive species without the use of repeated treatments.


Thus the need for the drawdown has diminished from a lake management standpoint and moving away from the drawdown is key to continuing to restore Indian Lake to optimal health.


We continue to recommend that residents consider removable docks as there are many factors that can affect the water level even when there is a drawdown in use.


Communication from the City of Worcester in regards to the drawdown change as well as a link to the public question and answer session can be found here:


Worcester Lakes and Ponds Program


Please note that it is against the law to tamper with the water level controls at any time.

What is Cyanobacteria?

 Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are devastating water bodies all over the country. There are numerous studies and researchers working to track these blooms and pinpoint ways to prevent them. 

There are hundreds of different types of algae and most are signs of a healthy water body, including cyanobacteria. However, too much is not healthy. Cyanobacteria can produce toxins that have been known to make people and pets sick when cell counts exceed normal limits. Researchers continue to study harmful algal blooms, what prompts a change in their behavior and the effects. After a cyanobacteria bloom in 2014 that closed Indian and Little Indian for the entire summer, the ILWA and city of Worcester, have embraced numerous approaches to regularly monitor cyanobacteria counts. 

Massachusetts Department of Public Health has guidelines for cyanobacteria. Should levels begin to rise, the city will engage a lake management contractor to apply copper sulfate to bring the count within an acceptable range. Because these numbers can change quickly, on a rare occasion, the lake will exceed the limit before an application can take place. If this is the case, an advisory will be issued until the bloom has passed. 

Monitoring is accomplished both through a contractor under the Lakes and Ponds Program and by volunteers through the Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative. This information not only helps with day to day lake management but the information is correlated and studied along with other lake statistics to help predict future blooms and create long term strategies to reduce them. 

It is best to heed the warnings and refrain from contact with any water body that has an advisory in place until the advisory is lifted. 

What's being done?

Monitoring

A cyanobacteria bloom in 2014 closed Indian Lake for the entire summer. It brought to light the need for regular cyanobacteria monitoring of all public water bodies to the forefront. Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines exist for how to proceed should a water body exceed the a cyanobacteria count threshold but  a comprehensive plan was needed to avoid exceeding these limit. 

By the end of 2016, the Lakes and Ponds Program was in place to monitor all 4 waterways with public access: Indian Lake, Bell Pond, Coes Reservoir and Lake Quinsigamond. Under the Lakes and Ponds Program, the cyanobacteria monitoring expanded data collection to look for other variables in the water makeup that can possibly provide more advanced warning of an impending bloom. This effort has helped create short and long term management goals that have already resulted in significant improvements to Worcester's waterways. 

Storm Water Management

Stormwater is one of the leading causes of water quality challenges in our lakes and ponds. Worcester's Department of Public Works & Parks (DPW&P) is committed to improving stormwater management throughout the city. This includes redirecting stormwater to rain gardens, installation of underground bio filtration systems to trap sediment and nutrients that would otherwise enter our lakes, regular maintenance/cleanouts of storm drains, upgrading dirt roads that previously sent silt into the waterways, replacing impervious paved areas with pervious concrete so that runoff can infiltrate into the ground and investing in comprehensive studies to identify and prioritize areas within the watershed that should be targeted for additional nutrient reduction controls.

In addition, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has been making many improvements statewide to manage stormwater which is great news for our lakes and ponds. In the past, rain and snow melt flows over impervious surfaces such as roads, washing nutrients, oils, trash and sediment into tributaries and nearby water bodies. MassDOT has developed an Impaired Waters Program which assesses and provides mitigation for water bodies near state roads.

Specifically benefiting Indian Lake, MassDOT recently installed 14 stormwater infiltration improvements along I-190 to treat discharges that lead to Indian Lake. MassDOT has projected these stormwater management tools will treat 45 acres of highway and remove 43 lbs of phosphorus per year from the stormwater!

WCMC

The Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (WCMC) is a citizen science program in which volunteers collect and analyze water samples to help discern when naturally occurring cyanobacteria populations begin to increase. 

What began as volunteers from a handful of local waterways has now expanded to over 20 lakes and ponds throughout Central Massachusetts!
 
The data is collected also helps representatives from the Lakes and Ponds Program establish processes for anticipating future cyanobacteria blooms.
 
While prior experience is not necessary, interest in water quality is a benefit. The program takes place the last Saturday of each month from May through September. Volunteers collect water samples and bring them to a central location where Lakes and Ponds Program representatives guide participants in using the microscope. 

More information can be found at: WCMC

Interested in helping? Please contact Jacquelyn Burmeister, City of Worcester
Senior Environmental Analyst
Lakes and Ponds Program
Department of Sustainability & Resilience (508) 929-1300 Ext. 2126 or via email at burmeisterj@worcesterma.gov. 

The State of the  Lakes

Each spring, the Lakes and Ponds Program presents the 'State of the Lakes', which is focused on water quality and initiatives in across Worcester's Blue Spaces. All residents and interested parties are encouraged to attend as the health of our recreational waterways is an important citywide initiative. The latest water quality monitoring results, challenges facing our recreational waterways, exciting initiatives for improving water quality and showcasing the water quality projects being done across the city are exciting elements of this important free annual event.


Find the most recent State of the Lakes at the following link: State of the Lakes



Worcester's Department of Public Works & Parks, working with the city's Cable Services Division, has created an educational series to help people understand what Worcester is doing to manage our recreational waterways. 


You can find the series at the following link: 

City of Worcester Blue Space

 How does alum help?

Alum (aluminum sulfate) is a nontoxic material commonly used in water treatment plants to clarify drinking water. In lakes, a low dose alum treatment is used to strip the water column of phosphorus. At higher doses, it is often used to inactivate phosphorus in the bottom sediments. This is accomplished by applying an aluminum salt to the lake which reacts with the water to form an insoluble aluminum hydroxide solid (floc). This floc falls through the water column removing phosphorus and then settles to the bottom forming a "blanket".

Phosphorus and nutrients provide food for the algae. Thus excessive phosphorus and nutrient loads can be problematic as they are the main contributing factor in recurring algal blooms. 

The practice of using Alum in surface waters has been around for 50+ years and has been utilized successfully on numerous projects in Massachusetts and around the country to lower phosphorus levels and reduce the frequency and severity of nuisance algae blooms.

Beginning in 2015, the ILWA began the season by applying a low dose alum treatment to Indian Lake to ensure that everything possible was being done to be pro-active after the cyanobacteria bloom we experienced in 2014. It has since served as a very successful way to manage nutrients short term with the Lakes and Ponds Program continuing this application at the beginning of each season since that time. . 

Ararat Brook (which enters near the intersection of Holden Street and Shore Drive) has long been noted as the largest source of nutrients entering Indian Lake from the watershed. The city of Worcester has made significant improvements to storm water controls throughout the watershed over many years. However, the brook remains problematic. Studies continue to be done to identify nutrient sources within the watershed with particular focus on Ararat Brook yet there has yet to be any particular issues that can be tied to the exact cause. 

In 2019, a proposal was brought forward to evaluate an Alum Dosing Station for the Ararat Brook inlet. In Wellesley, MA, this device has been pivotal to reducing nutrients and problematic algae blooms at Morses Pond, which is very similar in size and characteristics to Indian Lake. At Morses Pond, lake clarity has increased from approximately 5 feet to 16 feet throughout the summer. It has reduced the need for algaecides and reduced the cost of overall lake management. 

We are very grateful to District 1 City Councilor Sean Rose for taking the time to learn how valuable this tool will be for Indian Lake and quickly supporting the effort. Once installed, the station will automatically apply the alum as needed, seamlessly reducing the nutrients before they reach the water body. The Alum Dosing station will be a state-of-the-art addition to Indian Lake. Installation is expected in 2022.

A special thanks to Bancroft School and the Unitarian Universalist Church which were instrumental in providing land for the equipment and access for this project. 

Evaluating and moving forward new ideas in lake management is a huge win for the City of Worcester!

Bacteria Issues Prompt Call for Action

The beaches at Indian Lake have not seen frequent closures due to high bacteria counts for at least 20 years. They are tested daily by the Worcester's Department of Public Health. The few closures over the years could easily be tied to intense rain events and samples quickly return to expected levels. 

After two beach closures at the Shore Park beach due to high bacteria counts within the first week that it was scheduled to be open for the summer of 2020, the Indian Lake Watershed Association called on city officials to look further into the situation including:
  • Improved communication of closures due to bacteria so that all parties, including our association, are able to get the word out as soon as a high result is received.
  • A thorough analyses of the cause and a plan to address. 
  • Bacteria testing daily from May through September at the beaches and all inlets to Indian Lake; this data be analyzed to pinpoint any potential bacteria issues on a wider scale.
The city has been working to pinpoint issues that could be contributing factors. A stronger collaboration between the Department of Public Health and the Department of Sustainability & Resilience has improved communication and tracking bacteria numbers. New studies to pinpoint trash at the beaches which appear to be a major draw for Canadian geese and testing new tools to deter the geese from the beaches are just a few of the efforts that are being made to address issues with bacteria. 

A 3 part series of the 'Blue Space Minute' has been developed to educate residents on what is happening and how they can help:


GEESE POPULATION

Canadian geese have been known to be a major contributor to issues in and around in waterways. Geese droppings are washed into the waterways when it rains, leading to increases in nutrients and bacteria. If you live around Indian Lake, you have likely noticed that the geese population has increased exponentially over the last several years. In addition, the geese rarely migrate south as there is likely ample food to keep them here year round. 

The city of Worcester has a comprehensive geese management program which is detailed at the link below. It is especially important to note that it is illegal to feed the geese AND trash left behind at the parks and beaches, becomes a huge attraction for geese so it's really important to dispose of it properly. 

DASH-ing Away Invasive Weeds at Indian Lake

Worcester's Department of Public Works & Parks (DPW&P) Lakes and Ponds Division continues to evaluate new and creative ways to help manage non native, invasive plants that have  been a challenge at Indian Lake (and many others throughout Massachusetts) for many years. Aggressive non native, invasive plants can quickly spread throughout a water body, overpowering native vegetation. It can also leave a lake nearly unusable for recreation, which longtime residents may remember from the 1980's at Indian Lake when Eurasion milfoil filled nearly the entire water body. Unfortunately, at this time, there has been no way to completely eradicate non native species from a water body once they are introduced. Our annual draw down has been successful at managing the milfoil but the entire plant is not always removed and therefore residents often begin to notice the growth again in late summer. 


DASH is an acronym for Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. It is a manual method for removing invasive aquatic plants by the root for a more permanent reduction in plant density without the use of chemicals. Scuba divers with a boat-mounted suction device identify the underwater plants and remove them from the bottom sediments, being sure not to disturb native vegetation. This method has been used in both 2019 and 2020. 


Use of this method is most successful when the infestation is caught early and relatively small when identified, as large scale implementation of DASH is not feasible at this time. 

Advocating for our 'Blue Spaces'

For nearly 40 years, the Indian Lake Watershed Association (ILWA) has been advocating for Indian Lake, adjoining Little Indian and the surrounding watershed. Previous to 2014, the city of Worcester, not unlike most municipalities in Massachusetts, did not have a budget or staff dedicated to recreational waterways. Volunteer groups such as the ILWA, Lake Quinsigamond Watershed Association and Tatnuck Brook Watershed Association navigated challenges that began long before our time, undertaking advocacy, education and fundraising to tackle issues that were affecting their respective waterways to keep them serving as valuable assets to our community.

Often times, this advocacy was especially challenging because water quality issues are not often something that can be seen. A prime example is nutrients... they may wash in to our waterways from parking lots, fertilizers, detergents. Often times landscaping that serves as a filter to prevent these invisible organisms from reaching the waterways, have been removed. Development for many years failed to properly protect our waterways, causing sediment and more foreign materials to wash into our waterways. This is often referred to as nonpoint source pollution. The changes in the storm intensity as our climate changes has compounded many of the challenges. Rain events with more intensity don't allow the water to absorb as it would have years ago, washing more nutrients from the watershed into respective water bodies.

Indian Lake has a very well documented history of excessive nutrients. These nutrients, combined with a shallow, warm water body, were contributing factors to a cyanobacteria bloom in 2014 which closed Indian Lake for virtually the entire summer. 

Within a year of this event, the city of Worcester created a new program under the Department of Public Works and Parks (now under the Department of Sustainability & Resilience). The Lakes and Ponds Program would be focused on the city's recreational waterways, beginning with the four that offer true public access: Indian Lake, Lake Quinsigamond, Coes Reservoir and Bell Pond. Not long after, Jacquelyn Burmeister was hired as the city's very first environmental analyst focused on our recreational waterways. 

Jacquelyn's expertise, enthusiasm, professionalism and drive were quickly recognized as she began working hand in hand with the volunteer group that have looked after these water bodies for countless years. She has reviewed and analyzed years of historical information while monitoring existing conditions. Jacquelyn is fully engaged in developing short and long term goals for our waterways, employing new technology and ideas to keep raising the bar to preserve and improve these invaluable resources in our city. 

The ILWA commends the city of Worcester for acknowledging the importance of our Blue Spaces and we are excited for what the future brings for Indian Lake!


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