As the 2019 boating season comes to a close, and the buoys are removed from Candlewood Lake.  The Candlewood Lake Authority says progress was made to control Eurasian Watermilfoil.  They credited the Sterile Grass Carp, the drawdown conducted by FirstLight Power, and the new Homeowner’s Guides, but cautioned that the work is over. 

CLA has started work on a new “Lake Management Plan” tailored for Candlewood.  The plan will outline where progress needs to be made,  goals of what that progress will look like in both the short and long term, and strategies to accomplish those goals.  These areas include the fish community, aquatic plant management for recreation, blue green algae, invasive species, water quality improvement, stormwater management, watershed land management, and community engagement and education.

The Lake Management Plan Committee includes representatives of each of the five municipalities around the lake, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, FirstLight Power Resources, and Eversource.  CLA officials say they're also engaging with a network of lake managers and limnologists who have undertaken relevant projects at their lakes, both locally and through the North American Lake Management Society. 

The Candlewood Lake Authority has long collected and analyzed lake data, creating strategies and action plans to address pressures facing the lake.  CLA officials say the management plan will be a “living document” so as scientific discoveries are made, the community continues to change and evolve, and the ecosystem in the lake changes, the plan will be kept up to date.