Addressing the problems of the water already in the lake presented the most serious scientific challenge, and perhaps the most spectacular success. Our limnologist, Robert W. Kortmann, Ph.D., designed a unique "hypolimentic withdrawal" system to help contain the lake bottom phosphorus in the deep layer of the lake. Over the years, we’ve installed new Kortmann-designed Layer Aeration systems and we’ve continued to update and upgrade our systems in ongoing efforts.

There are four layer aeration systems or “aerators” in Lake Waramaug. The first two were installed In 1989, suspended in deep water along the Route 45 in Washington Bay. In 2015, the other two aerators were installed near the tip of Arrow Point.

In 2016, with the guidance of one of LWTF’s consultant limnologist Bob Kortmann, LWTF converted the no longer used Frost Hypolimnetic Aeration system to a Zooplankton Farm. The purpose of the Zooplankton Farm is to re-establish a large-bodied, native in-lake zooplankton population.

We work throughout the year to keep Lake Waramaug clean, clear and swimmable. Even when ice covers the lake, there is water sampling and monitoring we can do to predict how the lake will behave in the following summer and fall.

When it comes to protecting the health of Lake Waramaug, the story does not start at the shoreline. It starts miles away in the Watershed where various forms of pollution, including stormwater runoff and erosion, begin their journey to the lake. We’re working on implementing greater protection strategies and protocols in Lake Waramaug’s watershed.

We worked successfully with the towns to develop zoning regulations within the watershed which would: 1) limit building too close to the shoreline, and 2) limit the percentage of impervious surfaces in developed properties throughout the watershed. Impervious surfaces, which include driveways, walkways and athletic facilities in addition to roof areas, reduce the natural filtering effect of the soil and create harmful water runoff into the lake.

The Lake Waramaug watershed—the geographic area from which water eventually drains into the lake—is of vital significance to the quality of the lake's water. Housing development, the use of fertilizers by farms and in homes, commercial waste, the purchase and planting of invasive aquatic species and other activities can be seriously detrimental to the lake, even miles away from the shoreline. Consequently, our initiatives focus on the entire area.

We’ve reviewed and compiled a significant number of reference materials with information about wake boats and their effect on the lake.

We installed a new piece of in-lake hardware near the Washington Dam! The staff gauge was installed to provide an accurate, instant measurement of lake elevation. The goal of this new staff gauge is to allow us to monitor lake elevation instantly and create a historical record.

The Residential Canada Geese population are an increasing problem for lake residents and water quality. The decreasing severity of winters is making migration obsolete. Traditional methods of geese deterrence are not as effective because this year-round population behaves differently from the migrating population; however, there are still some tips and tricks that can be used to deter geese.

To protect the lake from the negative water quality effects of land development, we offer the three towns bordering the lake (Warren, Washington and Kent) construction inspection assistance. We also provide advisory soil scientist services to all the residents in the Lake Waramaug watershed.

We’ve undertaken a multi-year effort to inventory all the catch basins, outfalls and other stormwater structures around Lake Waramaug. We are cataloging the structures’ location, condition and how they are connected. Using the catch basin database, we can identify pollutant hot spots near the lake, and attempt to create management strategies.

We developed programs for fish stocking (primarily brown trout) and zooplankton seeding which would be beneficial to the water quality. In one case, we reversed a long-standing practice of stocking alewives that was determined to be having adverse effects.

Invasive plants such as Eurasian Milfoil, Curly leaf pondweed and Water Chestnut, as well as Zebra Mussels and some fish, have devastated nearby lakes and present an ongoing threat to Lake Waramaug. We developed a plan for prevention, early detection and an immediate response to these threats, including the support of a program to require inspection of all motorboats being launched on the lake that may accidentally introduce invasives picked up elsewhere.

We installed four submersible mini-Dot® temperature / dissolved oxygen data loggers into Lake Waramaug. Strung together in a line, each logger was placed at a different depth and collects hourly water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentrations year-round. This data will help us prepare for and combat the negative water quality effects of climate change. 

Lake Waramaug is only as clean as its watershed. Every person’s actions, from the lakeshore to the top hills of Warren, dictate the health of the lake during fall, and how the lake will behave the next year. Here are some tips on what you can do to help protect Lake Waramaug during the Fall.