Lakes & Ponds Program

Ensuring that our lakes, ponds and watersheds are healthy for you and for our urban environment means closely monitoring pollutants that can damage the aquatic ecosystem. It also means planning for better ways to keep our blue spaces healthy for generations to come. That's why the Lakes and Ponds Program has launched Project Blue Worcester in 2025. Focusing on three major waterbodies and surrounding land and tributaries - the Tatnuck Brook, Mill Brook and Quinsigamond watersheds - we are identifying the volume of key pollutants, where they come from and how best to restore and protect our precious blue spaces.

Our Top Priority: Reduce Phosphorus Pollutants
Our biggest challenge is managing and reducing the flow of excess nutrients into our waterbodies. In particular, we are focused on identifying phosphorus pollutants such as excess fertilizer as well as sediments from decaying leaves and other organic litter that are carried into streams, rivers, ponds and lakes by rain runoff and snow melt. We are also investigating the impact of harmful bacteria from various sources. Phosphorus pollutants can contribute to overgrowth of cyanobacteria, which can sicken pets, irritate skin and necessitate beach closures. Excessive phosphorus can also accelerate the growth of invasive species, upsetting the intricate aquatic ecosystem and choking out recreational spaces.

A Roadmap for Best-Practices Restoration and Protection
Project Blue Worcester will create a plan with several goals and action steps, including:

• Water quality goals for phosphorus, bacteria and dissolved oxygen;
• Management measures to reduce pollution, such as conceptual designs for stormwater infrastructure improvements that meet or exceed federal and state guidelines;
• Public education to increase awareness and build stakeholder support for blue spaces.

Your Input is Needed!
Many thanks to all who participated in the public meetings in April! Please review the combined Project Blue Workshop Presentation Slides for all three watersheds, as well as the recording of the Mill Brook watershed meeting below.

To create the plans, we are asking community members to submit survey observations of instances of erosion, degraded culverts or storm drains, locations of congregating waterfowl, or other possible nutrient contributors. This Watershed Survey Guide includes additional additional details on the kinds of observations we are looking for, the survey form, and the watershed boundary maps.

Observations may be submitted through the links below, or you may email Katie Liming (limingk@worcesterma.gov).

• Tatnuck Brook Survey (Coes Reservoir, Patch Reservoir, Cooks Pond)
• Mill Brook Survey (Indian Lake and Salisbury Pond)
• Lake Quinsigamond and Flint Pond Survey

Please submit survey observations by June 1, 2025.

Sign up to receive text message alerts whenever beaches or lakes are closed for normal operations. Alerts will be sent if a beach closes for a bacteria exceedance, for lake cyanobacteria blooms, or for lake treatments that require the closure of the waterbody. Lakes included in this alert system are Indian Lake, Coes Reservoir, Lake Quinsigamond and Bell Pond.

Sign Up

Fish are important parts of the aquatic ecosystem, both affecting and impacted by water quality. Over time, fish populations have shifted in our local lakes and ponds. The following is a report that compiles available data on how and why these changes have occurred, synthesizing years of data by MassWildlife, local water quality data and surveys by resident anglers to track how fish populations have shifted, where they are now and why. Below is also a presentation that includes a summary of the report's findings, as well as the steps the Lakes and Ponds Program is taking to make sure our fisheries thrive.

• Read the Report
• View the Presentation
• Fish Consumption Guidance

In 2021 there was a collaboration between Tatnuck Brook, Indian Lake and Lake Quinsigamond Watershed Associations, as well as other state and local entities called the Angler Event Series. This was a series of events highlighting the connections between healthy waters and healthy fisheries, celebrating and sharing the unique fishing opportunities Worcester has to offer and bringing the sport of fishing to more people. You can watch the 2021 Angler Series Playlist videos.

Worcester's industrial history, as well as urbanization, poses challenges to maintaining the quality of the water in the City's lakes and ponds. Major threats to our waterways include nutrient loading and invasive aquatic plants.

Nutrient loading is the addition of nutrients to our lakes and ponds. An overabundance of nutrients promote the growth of algae and aquatic plants, which, in excess, can degrade the quality of water, lead to aquatic life dying and difficulty swimming, boating and fishing.

Nutrients enter our lakes in several ways. Runoff during rain events can carry nutrient-rich fertilizers and pet and geese waste into storm sewers or tributaries that empty into our lakes. Malfunctioning septic systems can leach nutrients into adjacent waters and sanitary sewers illegally connected to the storm water system can also contribute to the problem.

Invasive aquatic plants are generally introduced by accident. Seeds or pieces of the plant will hitch a ride on a boat trailer, boots or an animal traveling between waterbodies. These plants can rapidly reproduce and be difficult to eradicate.

• Learn More About Invasive Plants

Worcester's situation is not unique in the region, and is common to most urban areas. The City has taken proactive steps in the reduction of nutrient and sediment inputs into our waterways, as well as in the management of algae and aquatic plants.

• Informational Pamphlet on Harmful Algal Blooms

Watershed groups are nonprofit organizations of citizens advocating for our water resources. Check out the below links to learn more about what these organizations are doing to protect our waters:

• Indian Lake Watershed Association
• Lake Quinsigamond Watershed Association
• Tatnuck Brook Watershed Association

Major Bodies of Water

Bell Pond

This park is located at the summit of Bell Hill, also known as Chandler Hill Park. It features Bell Hill Pond, formerly known as Bladder Pond, which was Worcester's first reservoir/water supply in 1845.

Coes Pond

The area around Coes Reservoir (or Coes Pond) consists of 20.79 acres and incorporates five properties including the John J. Binienda Memorial Beach, Coes Park, Columbus Park, the former Fenton Parcel and the former Knights of Columbus.

Indian Lake

Indian Lake consists of 193 acres and attracts many visitors each year for a variety of recreational activities including boating, swimming, fishing, ice fishing and much more.

Lake Quinsigamond

Quinsigamond State Park sits on the shore of Lake Quinsigamond. Take a swim in the lake, or enjoy a picnic while watching the boats sail by.

• Coes Reservoir Study Report
• Coes Reservoir Study Report - Depth Contours
• Coes Reservoir Study Report - Technical Memorandum
• Newsletter Sign Up - Keep Up to Date with The Blue Space Splash!