Introduction

   Who We Are


The Lake Singletary Watershed Association (LSWA), founded in 1982, is a volunteer organization consisting primarily of lake shore property owners and recreational users. For over 35 years the Association has been actively working towards the management, restoration, and protection of the lake.

   What We Do


For over 35 years the Association has been actively working towards researching and documenting the management, restoration, and protection of the lake.  As this may come to no surprise to you, managing, restoring, and protecting our lake costs money.  Our organization works very hard at raising dollars through membership dues, fund raisers, and state, local & government grants.  The money is then used to fund LSWA projects such as lake studies, water quality testing, dam replacement, weed control, algae control, storm water run off, etc... 


   Our Focus


In the short term, LSWA has been addressing the symptoms of eutrophication with in-lake management techniques. In order to achieve long-term results, however, the underlying problems need to be addressed at the watershed level. Since 1985, in-lake management has focused on controlling Eurasian water milfoil growth by the annual application of herbicides and a drawdown program. The lake has experienced periodic significant algae blooms and has been treated with algaecide. In 2005 another exotic weed, fanwort, was discovered in Lake Singletary. Fanwort is resistant to herbicides, but there is evidence that it can be successfully controlled with drawdown techniques. LSWA has always relied on its strong membership commitment to fund our in-lake management program and to perform studies for long-term water quality improvements. To achieve our goals LSWA has also successfully applied for and obtained grants to help with funding. For nearly a decade were fortunate though to take advantage of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management Small Lakes and Pond Grant Program. Unfortunately, in 2002 the DEM Small Lakes and Ponds Grant Program was terminated. We continue to request funds from both towns each year; however we must continue to rely on membership support, since we are typically are not successful with both towns every year. We also continue to investigate other sources of grants and funding.