Low water levels at Lake Cochichewick have exposed years of accumulated shoreline trash. Four North Andover groups plan to haul it out on Saturday, Oct. 3.

North Parish Church, the Friends of North Andover Trails (FONAT), the North Andover Garden Club and the North Andover Historical Society have committed volunteers to a town-wide cleanup at Stevens Pond Parking Lot. The event runs until 11:30 a.m., though the start time differs by source: North Parish Church lists 9 a.m., while the town's Facebook post says 9:30 a.m.

North Parish Church's Climate Justice team is helping coordinate the effort. Volunteers should email [email protected] so organizers can give the town a headcount and receive cleanup area assignments.

The town described the event on Facebook as a community effort to keep North Andover's water source clean.

Why the lake is so low

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's water resources page. It sits within a 2,700-acre watershed that includes about 800 property parcels.

The lake's water level has dropped low enough to trigger mandatory restrictions. The Town of North Andover imposed a ban on all non-essential outdoor water use on Sept. 15 under Town Bylaw Chapter 185. Outdoor spray irrigation, vehicle washing and pool filling are all prohibited until the lake recovers.

As we reported Sept. 1, the Water Department activated restrictions earlier that month. The town then imposed the mandatory ban on Sept. 15.

North Parish Church called the low levels historic, though no official measurement has been released showing exactly how far the lake has fallen. About 40 percent of the shoreline is conservation land, including Weir Hill, Osgood Hill, Half-Mile Hill and the Stevens Estate. The exposed areas now accessible to volunteers are normally underwater.

Volunteers can email [email protected] before Saturday, Oct. 3, to sign up.