Very Important Meeting

7:00 to 8:00 P.M.

PLEASE JOIN US for a short presentation outlining our accomplishments to date, our programs, and how we can work together to ensure the long-term health of the Lake Cochituate Watershed (LCW).  This meeting is a follow-up to our October 23, 2013 meeting (see highlights below).
Our goal is to build a community of concerned citizens and shareholders who wish to help restore the LCW.  Only a strong “association” of lake and woodland stewards can influence state and local agencies to restore this invaluable lake.
Come learn about the small steps needed to minimize storm water runoff and reduce invasives in our water and woodlands.  Positive action happens when we work together.  Please join us.  We need your points of view and your help.
Thank you.
The Lake Cochituate Watershed Council  lcwcs.orgFor more info, contact Pat Conaway by email: bpconaway@gmail.com, or phone: 508-740-9949.
**********************Key points from the October 23 meeting included:
1- All of the Lake Cochituate ponds are on the "most impaired" 303d list, which is kept by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The South Pond is in the worst shape. (Plus Fisk Pond, which feeds into South P)
2- Fiske Pond and Beaver Dam Brook, which feed into South Pond, are major sources of storm water, nutrients and other pollutants.

3- Weeds and stormwater are our main challenges.  However, our fundamental problem is that we're feeding the weeds.  Until we reduce nutrient rich runoff (including fertilizers and other chemicals), we'll continue to have to resort to costly and/or risky mitigation methods. 

4- We have numerous catch basins around the ponds that are designed to prevent the direct flow of rainwater and pollutants into the ponds.  However, many catch basins don't work effectively and are not maintained frequently enough.  What can we do about this?

5- We need to continue working with other groups such the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the town Conservation Commissions, and other groups (see below) to agree on a Whole Lake Plan that accommodates both the critical needs of Lake Cochituate and the interests of all who use and enjoy the ponds.  Over the last five years, we’ve come to understand each other better, and to understand the need to find common ground.