Every five years, Greenwood Lake’s water level is drawn down approximately five feet. The drawdown occurs during the winter months and is a joint effort between many agencies in both New York and New Jersey. Some may not know, but our lake is part of an intricate system of dams and reservoirs, which ultimately provides water for places as far south as Paterson, New Jersey.
Drawing down a waterbody is no simple task, and there are certain drawbacks and cautionary measures that must be considered. However, this process is vital and has countless benefits to our area. First, the drawdown allows lakefront property owners to perform necessary maintenance of their shoreline as well as the opportunity to clean the lake of debris and non-native plant species. Without certain repair work to shorelines, we run the risk of increasing direct penetration of sediment and runoff. Those factors, among many others, cause weed and algae growth as well as aid in deteriorating the quality of our lake.
Residents plan many years for the lake to be drawn down. Similarly, the Village plans for such a drawdown. Every year that the lake has been drawn down, the village performs critical lake maintenance projects. For these reasons, and many more, the Village Board unanimously endorsed the drawdown planned for winter of 2020-2021. We are encouraging members of the community, whether you own lakefront or not, to attend the community forum and voice your support, objection, concerns and suggestions. The meeting will take place at the American Legion, at 40 Mountain Lakes Ln., on Mon., Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
The above column, written by Village of Greenwood Lake Mayor Jesse Dwyer, has been published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Warwick Valley Dispatch.
