Overview

Water Draw Down

  Introduction


Controlling the depth of a lake or pond is very important to its surrounding environment for many reasons, good or bad.  For example, too high of a level could cause flooding, unwanted shoreline erosion, and property damage to beaches, boat ramps, walls, docks, etc… while too low of a level could negatively impact aquatic and wildlife species, or dry up private wells.

Lake Singletary Watershed Association follows a detailed Water Drawdown plan specifically designed to meet the association’s goals and objectives as documented in the “Singletary Lake Management Plan” as well as meeting Town (Order of Conditions), State, and Government requirements. 

 

  What is Water Draw Down?


Water Drawdown is a controlled process that focuses on lowering the depth of a lake or pond.  This process is typically performed in the fall in preparation for the winter thaw and spring rains, which tend to bring water levels higher, and ideally, back to the lake’s normal level.

 

  Why is it Important?


Water drawdown is important for many reasons, and there are many advantages and disadvantages, each one having an adverse affect on the other.  Finding a happy balance between them plays an important role in the longevity of your lake’s survival, but this is not an easy task.

So why is drawdown important for Lake Singletary?  Through careful research LSWA has determined that the #1 reason for drawdown is to reduce or eliminate unwanted exotic species (weeds) by exposing them to the harsh winter freeze, thus reducing the cost & amount of weed treatment chemicals.

Other reasons include:

  • Control Unwanted Exotic Species

  • Reduce Cost & Amount of Weed Treatment Chemicals

  • Help Prevent Erosion and Property Damage

  • Provide Easy Access for Maintenance/Repairs

 

  Advantages/Disadvantages

Impact
Advantages
Disadvantages
Cost
No cost to implement
Reduces cost of weed treatment chemicals
None
Recreational None Limits boat ramp / beach access
Maintenance
Prevents property damage from ice and snow.
Allows easy access for repairs of walls, docks, beaches, boat ramps, dams, spillways, etc…
None
Aquatic & Wildlife Species
Low cost alternative for controlling unwanted species.
Negative impact on non targeted species.
Puts strain on species habit.
Eliminates or limits species populations.
Reduces abundance of benthic invertebrates that are essential to fish and waterfowl diets.
Consolidation of fish population into a more centralized area of deep water, making them more susceptible to over harvesting.
Oxygen in remaining pool can be depleted leading to a fish kill.
Environment
Ability to control varied depths
Reduces amount of weed treatment chemicals.
Helps prevent shoreline erosion.
Prevents flooding caused by winter thaw or spring rains.
Lake may not return to its normal level.
Level too low to support Irrigation supplies or shallow wells.
Impacts downstream resources.
Affects adjacent or up-gradient wetlands.

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