Lake Quannapowitt

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Lake Quannapowitt
Lake Quannapowitt.jpg
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Lake Quannapowitt
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Lake Quannapowitt
Location Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.
Coordinates 42°30′54″N71°04′43″W / 42.51500°N 71.07861°W / 42.51500; -71.07861 [1]
Type Reservoir [1]
Primary outflows Saugus River
Basin  countries United States
Surface area0.397 sq mi (1.028 km2)
Surface elevation79 ft (24 m) [1]
DamLake Quannapowitt Dam [2]
Settlements Wakefield

Lake Quannapowitt is a lake in Wakefield, Massachusetts. It is one of two large lakes in Wakefield, the other being the man-made Crystal Lake. The lake is named after Quonopohit, [3] the Naumkeag Native American man who signed a deed to the town that would become Wakefield in 1686. [4] The lake is located off Route 128 in Middlesex County. In 1991, the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt (FOLQ) was founded, which is a non-profit organization intended to protect and bring public awareness to the lake, as well as its nearby public areas. Large amounts of tar were found in the lake in 1999, a by-product of gas manufacturing from coal. [5] The lake is emptied by the Saugus River.

Contents

As of 2016, two former beaches remain closed to swimming, due to the presence of arsenic, which was introduced into the lake in the early 1960s to handle aquatic weeds. [6] Swimming in the lake is still discouraged as of April 2024, especially during algae blooms in the summer months. [7]

The lake has active populations of warm-water species of fish. [4]

A view of Lake Quannapowitt from its southeast shores facing towards the town common on 07-18-2011. Wakefield common 2011.jpg
A view of Lake Quannapowitt from its southeast shores facing towards the town common on 07–18–2011.
This wood and granite structure, colloquially known as "the Bandstand," was built in 1885 on the Lower Common in Wakefield and overlooks Lake Quannapowitt. Wakefield Bandstand in the Summer.jpg
This wood and granite structure, colloquially known as "the Bandstand," was built in 1885 on the Lower Common in Wakefield and overlooks Lake Quannapowitt.

The town common of Wakefield abuts the southeastern shore of the lake. Located nearby the lake shore within the common is a gazebo locally called "the Bandstand."

Saugus River
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Lake Quannapowitt
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Lowell Street, Wakefield
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Main Street, Wakefield
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I-95/MA-128
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Beaverdam Brook
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I-95/MA-128
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Salem Street, Wakefield
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Water Street, Wakefield
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Mill River
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Hawkes Pond Brook
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US-1
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Oaklandvale Brook
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Prankers Pond
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Central Street, Saugus
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Elm Street, Saugus
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Hamilton Street, Saugus
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Saugus Branch Railroad
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Lincoln Ave, Saugus
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Salem Turnpike, Saugus / Lynn
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Newburyport/Rockport Line
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Pines River
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MA-1A General Edwards Bridge
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Lynn Harbor

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References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Quannapowitt
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Quannapowitt Dam
  3. Simcox, Alison C. (2011). Lake Quannapowitt. Douglas Heath. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub. ISBN   978-0-7385-7389-2. OCLC   679919768.
  4. 1 2 Perley, Sidney (1912). The Indian land titles of Essex County, Massachusetts. The Library of Congress. Salem, Mass. : Essex Book and Print Club.
  5. "Cleanup of lake funded - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  6. "Issues Background". northcoastal.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  7. "FAQ". Friends of Lake Quannapowitt. Retrieved 2024-04-22. Swimming is not recommended. Rinse pets off immediately if they encounter an algae bloom. Algae blooms in summer (green scum) will cause the lake to be posted by the Board of Health cautioning about swimming and contact with the water. These blooms may produce toxins that could make people and pets' sick.

See also