WORCESTER – Indian Lake will be slowly drawn down six inches during the winter of 2022-23, starting in early November. The water level will be reduced a few inches per day and the process will take about a week.
The water level drawdown is a lake management practice used to reduce the density of invasive aquatic plants, specifically Eurasian milfoil, by exposing them to the winter elements.
The lake will maintained at drawn down level throughout the winter. The water will be brought back up to its normal level by no later than April 1.
Previously, Indian Lake had a permitted annual drawdown of up to six feet which was approved by the Worcester Conservation Commission for the management of invasive vegetation.
Moving forward, and until it is determined to be necessary for the management of invasive plant species, the drawdown will be limited to approximately six inches in order to account for the wintertime accumulation of ice and snow.
Last winter, Indian Lake was drawn down three feet in the winter to allow for a smoother transition and enough time for preparations to be made to docks and waterfronts to accommodate the future change, while incurring reduced stress to the lake.
