The Friends of Forge Pond

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The Friends of Forge Pond We are a non-profit organization helping maintain/preserve Forge Pond in Littleton/Westford, MA.

We are dedicated to protecting, preserving and enhancing Forge Pond (Littleton/Westford MA) and to fostering the mutual cooperation of its bordering communities. (For the other Forge Pond in Granby, MA, see https://facebook.com/forgeforever or https://friendsofforgepondma.org/)

10/10/2026

The Friends of Forge Pond has a permit to draw down Lake Matawanakee / Forge Pond this
winter. The drawdown will start on October 15, 2026, and the level will be restored to normal by the end of March 2027. The water level may be lowered by as much as 4 feet below the current level, depending on the weather, and it is expected to reach its lowest point by the end of November.

Drawdowns help control invasive plants. Freezing of the exposed lakebed inhibits these plants in an environmentally favorable manner. Results vary from year to year due to variations in weather, but a series of annual drawdowns helps decrease invasive plant growth, improving both the wildlife habitat and the recreational quality of the lake.

This drawdown is only part of what we all can do for the quality of the lake. For instance, it will help significantly if we refrain from fertilizing lawns, keep septic systems in good order, plant native vegetation along the waterfront, and build terraces and rain gardens to contain surface runoff.

The drawdown also provides an opportunity for you to repair your waterfront walls, docks and piers while the lake is low. We remind you that the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act requires you to contact your town’s Conservation Commission before such activity is
undertaken. Permitting can be slow, so it’s good to start early.

If you have questions or issues related to the drawdown, please contact us at
[email protected].

In addition to facilitating the drawdown, the Friends of Forge Pond coordinated this summer’s herbicide treatment that cleared the lake of many invasive weeds. We carried out the removal of 8 tons of invasive European water chestnuts from over 3 miles of Beaver Brook, and water chestnuts are a serious threat to Forge Pond. We also are spearheading an assessment of possible changes at the lake’s outlet to improve drawdown effectiveness.
We encourage you to support our efforts to improve the quality of the lake by contributing to the Friends of Forge Pond. Any donation amount will be greatly appreciated. The Friends of Forge Pond is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations can be made by check made out to Friends of Forge Pond and mailed to FOFP, P.O. Box 327, Littleton MA 01460.

Thank you for your support and cooperation!

Friends Of Forge Pond Board of Directors

With the help of all board members and several other volunteers, FoFP spent 4 weeks in july/august removing the invasive...
09/05/2026

With the help of all board members and several other volunteers, FoFP spent 4 weeks in july/august removing the invasive water chestnut from Beaver Brook wetlands upstream of Forge Pond (before they made their way down into the lake). We were alerted of their presence a few months ago so quickly worked to obtain all the necessary permits to allow removal (late july to early august is the prime time). NRWA (https://www.facebook.com/nashuariverwatershed) loaned us baskets, gloves etc to help with collection. Volunteers brougth their canoes and kayaks. Access to/Navigating some areas was quite challenging due to the low water levels. We picked over 500 laundry baskets full of the plant over the 4 weeks. Thanks to all who helped! We will have to return there next couple summers to scan again for more/missed plants as one plant can turn into 100 in no time. Let us know if you'd be willing to help with those efforts.

08/14/2026

The Westford Community Rowing organization is hosting their annual regatta on Forge Pond this Saturday August 15.

They, along with a few other teams, will be racing in the morning from 7:00 AM until Noon.

The races will be held in the main part of the lake, racing east-to-west. Some warm-up activities may be taking place in the south bay. The crew boats are very low in the water and wakes from power boats can make it very difficult for the teams. WCR is requesting that we refrain from using power boats for non-race-related activities on the lake before noon.

If you want to view the races or if you must travel in the vicinity of the crew boats, please wait for a break between races and then travel at a no-wake speed. If you are out to watch the races, they ask you to be careful not to drift onto the course and be alert for boats racing to veer off the course. Also, be aware there will be traffic in both directions -- racing in one direction and boats traveling to the start in the other.

The Westford Community Rowing organization provides a wonderful opportunity for the community. Thanks for helping them to put on a successful regatta.

07/18/2026

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

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This is to notify you that Forge Pond will be chemically treated [again] on Thursday July 23, 2026 to control the growth of invasive aquatic vegetation.

Observe the following limitations on Forge Pond / Lake Matawanakee, as a result of the treatment:
No Swimming or Boating on Thursday July 23
Do not use the lake water for irrigation July 23 – August 6

This chemical treatment is being conducted pursuant to a permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Orders of Conditions issued by the Littleton and Westford Conservation Commissions.

This treatment’s effect is quite specific and targeted to Eurasian milfoil, the predominant invasive plant in Forge Pond. It is intended to control milfoil's growth for several years.

For further information contact:
SOLitude Lake Management
590 Lake Street
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
508-865-1000

Friends of Forge Pond
[email protected]

This treatment is funded by Littleton Community Preservation Committee, Friends of Forge Pond, and Westford Community Preservation Committee.

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Why? The first treatment did not cover all areas of the lake so this is a second treatment of those other areas. (The final plant survey found much more plants and treatment needed than the survey done when we started the process (in Fall 2024). This required additional funding for more treatment (that FoFP ended up paying). But since the process was run thru the Towns, Westford had to approve the additional spending (that FoFP covered). We pushed as hard as we could but it did not get approved before the holiday weekend. So we had to do the treatment in two parts. Sorry for the inconvenience but we did not want to wait until next year to finish either.

07/03/2026

Hello Friends,

Will there be a boat parade to celebrate the 4th tomorrow? What time will it start?

See you there!

Hello Friends and Neighbors,Hope everyone makes the most of the lake this weekend for the big 250th 4th Celebration! Ha...
07/02/2026

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

Hope everyone makes the most of the lake this weekend for the big 250th 4th Celebration! Have fun but be safe!

Please note that AFTER the weekend...

Forge Pond will be chemically treated on Tuesday July 7, 2026 to control the growth of invasive aquatic vegetation. Observe the following limitations on Forge Pond / Lake Matawanakee, as a result of the treatment:

- No Swimming or Boating on Tuesday July 7
(any activity will disturb the chemical and reduce its effectiveness)
- Do not use the lake water for irrigation July 7 – July 21

For further information contact:
SOLitude Lake Management
590 Lake Street
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
508-865-1000

Friends of Forge Pond: [email protected]

This chemical treatment is being conducted pursuant to a permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Orders of Conditions issued by the Littleton and Westford Conservation Commissions. This treatment is funded by Littleton Community Preservation Committee, Friends of Forge Pond, and Westford Community Preservation Committee.

Friends of Forge Pond
Board of Directors
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Post: The herbicide is one targeted specifically to the milfoil plants and will not affect other native plants. The chemical applied is a "systematic" not "contact" herbicide. The latter acts quickly to kill the active plant but the plant will grow back next season. The former (that we are using) will work slower but get into the roots and kill the entire plant so it does not come back at all.

Don't motor too close to shore... It's great to see so many people out on the pond enjoying the summer and staying cool...
06/11/2026

Don't motor too close to shore... It's great to see so many people out on the pond enjoying the summer and staying cool. But if motoring around, please stay WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE. (State law says stay 150ft off shore.) But *more* importantly, there are many invasive weeds already just at the surface all along the shoreline. They reach out into 10-12 feet of water. See the below maps of where the weeds have been found and the pond depth chart. As you can see the plants can be a ways off shore. E.g., In front of my place, the weeds go out about 140ft. If you drive your motor boat thru these, you risk damage to your motor and chew up the invasive plants ...that causes them to spread faster by fragmentation! So stay well off the shore when motoring around the lake! (In the south and west coves there are weeds growing way out into the pond. So be careful and cognizant of where they are and don't motor through them!

Remember that invasive water chestnut we always talk about. We'll a Friend has alerted us to the presence of them in th...
06/11/2026

Remember that invasive water chestnut we always talk about. We'll a Friend has alerted us to the presence of them in the Beaver Brook wetlands, the primary inlet into Forge Pond. This is a picture of what was found. We have been scrambling to get the proper paperwork and notifications to allow us to remove them (from a protected wetlands area). We hope to have everything in place and be able to launch a group picking event in late June or early July Want to get them out before they drop their seeds (one plant can drop 10+ seeds) that can lead to rapid expansion ...if not carefully removed (seeds and all) before seeds are dropped.

If you have a canoe and interest in helping with this picking effort once it is planned, let us know!

03/17/2026

The drawdown was successful this year (got down 4.5+ ft plus a good freeze). The lake is already coming back up a lot (2.5+ ft) just from the rain and melting snow. (We have not even closed things at the dam yet.) We will be doing that in the next week or so as we need the lake back up to the regular level by April 1st. We are waiting for the ice to clear first. Abutters should make sure they have no winter items left on the exposed shoreline. ...it may be in the water already!

10/07/2025

Just a reminder that FoFP will be starting the annual drawdown of the lake level soon. Per the Order Of Conditions we must start by Oct 15th. But since we are already down a little over a foot from the nominal level, we will be doing the requisite start very minimally/slowly. Around the start of November we will notch things up so we can be drawn down by Dec 1st. Of course unpredictable excessive precipitation can always mess with the best laid plans :-). So start thinking about getting the boat out or making sure it does not end up beached hard as the water goes down :-).

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Littleton, MA

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