If Worcester, Massachusetts wants to keep using Indian Lake for recreation, then there needs be a concerted effort to reduce pollution. That is one of the main recommendations from a WPI study of the lake recently released by the Indian Lake Watershed Association.
To avoid increased chemical treatment of the lake, the association and the city have been using winter drawdowns, according to the association’s website.
However, findings of the study shows that attempts to kill invasive weeds in Indian Lake could actually be leading to their expansion.
The study “speculates” that the annual drawdown actually has a negative effect on the biodiversity that would slow growth of the invasive species.
The pondweed and milfoil both grow in cold weather, and the drawdown may be giving them an advantage over native species.