Love our Lake campaign launching in 2024

Sharon residents will soon receive a new newsletter as part of the Love our Lake campaign kicking off this month to keep Lake Massapoag healthy.

The campaign, organized by the Lake Massapoag Advisory Committee (LMAC), aims to limit excess phosphorus nutrients through green stormwater infrastructure projects. These reduce drainage and runoff flowing untreated into the lake. The campaign will educate residents on how they can help.

The committee is also studying ways to reduce legacy phosphorus in the lake.

To address these challenges, the LMAC applied for and received two state grants, $75,000 from Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, and $40,400 from the Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning program, to develop a Watershed-Based Plan for a Resilient Lake Massapoag 2025-2050.

These grants enable in-depth study to guide specific plans to improve the lake’s water quality in the face of years of accumulated development and climate change impacts. Consultants for the project are the Neponset River Watershed Association and TRC Companies.

The LMAC is partnering with local stakeholders, schools, camps and community organizations, and will be reaching out to residents, businesses and stakeholders in a variety of ways.

The lake was closed for more than two weeks in July 2021 due to extensive cyanobacteria blooms, and local blooms have occurred repeatedly during late August to late October 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Community Center Beach has frequently had high E. coli levels, so the beach was closed to swimming in 2023 and again in 2024.

Invasive weeds are a third challenge, especially in shallow coves. More intense rainstorms, which are now year-round including December’s two tropical storms, all increase harmful excess nutrients in the lake.

A 1984 study predicted Lake Massapoag would be so high in phosphorus and nitrogen that water quality would become eutrophic – or choked with algae and weeds – by 2000, impeding safe recreational use. The Town took action and gained nearly 40 years of lake health, but there are new challenges from continued development, runoff of excess nutrients in the lake.

To join the Love our Lake campaign, go to Lake Massapoag website, www.lakemassapoag.net. On the site you can:

• Sign up for free yard signs showing your commitment to protecting Lake Massapoag. Signs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be delivered in the spring.
• Take the LMAC survey.
• Keep up to date on the project and latest water sampling data, learn ways to protect the lake, discover lake-friendly lawn care alternatives and find other ways you can help.

The Love our Lake newsletter will be sent to residents via town water bills, be available on the LMAC website at www.lakemassapoag.net and the Town of Sharon LMAC site at www.townofsharon.net/lake-massapoag-advisory-committee.

For additional information, watch the LMAC’s latest presentation, “Dive into Lake Massapoag,” on Sharon TV at tv.sharontv.com/CablecastPublicSite/show/13886?channel=1.

The LMAC welcomes opportunities to speak to any size group that wants more information.