The winter drawdown on Candlewood Lake has started.  FirstLight Power Resources began the process last week to control the spread of Eurasian Water Milfoil. 

Spokesman Len Greene says this winter has been highly unusual to this point.  The historical amount of rainfall led to at or near flood condition river flows on the Housatonic in the fall.   That led to a delay in the drawdown in order to avoid making conditions worse downstream of the Rocky River station.  Mild air temperatures also impacted their ability to perform an audit required to establish the generation capacity rating at the station for the season.  FirstLight decided to forego the audit entirely and absorb the commercial impact to the company in order to conduct the deep drawdown. 

The targeted elevation is expected to be reached by the end of January. FirstLight will refill the lake to recreational elevation prior to the opening day of fishing season in early April.