Blog

$1.3 Million for Water Quality Improvements

6/13/2024

FOLQ is pleased to share an update related to the development at 200 Quannapowitt Parkway. Cabot Cabot and Forbes (CC&F), the developers of that property, have donated $1.3 million for water quality improvements that will directly impact the Lake. This donation was negotiated by the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt, in a signed and binding agreement. The funds will support new...

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Fish Consumption Advisory for Lake Quannapowitt

6/4/2024

FOLQ is sharing this important information, which was announced by the Town of Wakefield on May 28, 2024. The Basic Information A fish consumption advisory has been issued for Lake Quannapowitt by the MA Department of Public Health. The full announcement and very helpful additional information provided by the MA Department of Public Health can be found here. Why was...

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2024 Earth Day Cleanup at Gertude Spaulding Park

5/6/2024

Just in time for Earth Day, Friends of Lake Quannapowitt was joined by 16 volunteers from Weston & Sampson to help clean up the Gertrude Spaulding Park lakeshore and remove invasive species. Volunteers focused their efforts on removing ❌ Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), ❌ Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), ❌ Crownvetch (Securigera varia), ❌ Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and ❌ Orange...

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Position Explained: FOLQ Supports Town Meeting Article 16

4/22/2024

Dear Friends of Lake Quannapowitt, The Wakefield Planning Board recently voted against supporting the citizen petition request for a zoning by-law amendment for 50 Quannapowitt Parkway for a self-storage facility. The Friends of Lake Quannapowitt Board had considered options for this site, and the Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the amendment. As such, FOLQ sent a letter to...

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Bioretention Areas Improve Water Quality

3/14/2024

Have you noticed the two bioretention areas on the Lake? Bioretention areas, also known as rain gardens, are one way the Town of Wakefield and FOLQ are helping to manage stormwater runoff into the Lake. This bioretention area, at the north end of the Lake, takes in much of the stormwater runoff from the surrounding area before it enters the...

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Stormwater runoff and Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA

Stormwater Effects on Lake Quannapowitt

3/6/2024

In Wakefield, a lot of rain and snow (or “stormwater”) flows directly, untreated, into our town’s bodies of water. Any water that cannot be absorbed where it falls flows into the town’s drainage systems, which travels to our streams and wetlands, such as Lake Quannapowitt, Mill River, Saugus River, Mystic River, Reedy Meadow, Crystal Lake and many others. And if...

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