FirstLight has been delayed in beginning the annual drawdown of Candlewood Lake.

High water flows in the Housatonic River downstream of the Rocky River Pumped Hydro Station, particularly near downtown New Milford and below the Stevenson Dam in Monroe, required the company to store water in Candlewood Lake and prevented releases of additional water into the river from the impoundment. 

The Candlewood Lake Authority says there's continued flooding events from the end of December and first two weeks of January.  FirstLight says temperatures haven’t been consistently cold enough to impact milfoil growth as well, so the lake's owner doesn't believe they've missed an opportunity to impact the weeds.  

FirstLight will continue to draw the lake down, and eventually return to the recreational depth by opening day of fishing season on April 11th.