Volunteers hauled 1,260 pounds of trash from Lake Cochichewick on Oct. 3. That is nearly double last year's 760-pound total, after low water levels exposed debris along all seven miles of the North Andover reservoir's shoreline.
The annual cleanup drew members of the Friends of North Andover Trails, the North Andover Historical Society, the North Andover Improvement Society, the North Andover Garden Club, Brooks School students and faculty, Country Club members, Rolling Ridge and local businesses including Amazon, according to the town's weekly newsbrief. Members of the public also showed up.
The town said the jump in weight does not necessarily mean more trash had built up. Low water gave volunteers access to stretches of shoreline normally underwater, allowing them to cover all seven miles for the first time. Crews also cleaned Stevens Pond and surrounding roadways.
Staff from the North Andover DPW, the Water Treatment Division and the Conservation and Planning Departments organized logistics for the event.
Lake Cochichewick is the sole drinking water source for North Andover's roughly 28,000 residents. The 560-acre reservoir is the largest lake in Essex County, according to the town. About 40 percent of its shoreline is conservation land, including Weir Hill, Osgood Hill, Half-Mile Hill and the Stevens Estate. The areas volunteers reached on Oct. 3 are normally underwater.
The town imposed a mandatory ban on all non-essential outdoor water use on Sept. 15 under Town Bylaw Chapter 185 after the lake dropped low enough to trigger restrictions. That ban prohibits outdoor spray irrigation, vehicle washing and pool filling until the lake recovers.
Smolak Farms donated apples and cider donuts to fuel the volunteers. The town said the treats were devoured.
Boating season at the lake ends Nov. 1. All stored boats must be removed from the North Station and Hatch racks by that date.
