CPWL
Citizens for the Preservation of Waterman Lake
Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the family of Norman Lemieux, who passed into eternal life on April 11, 2026.
A long-time resident and friend of Waterman Lake, he will be missed by countless neighbors, friends, and family.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a Mass of Christian Burial for Norman on Tuesday, April 21st at 10:00 AM at St. Raymond’s Church, 1240 North Main St., Providence.
Happy Spring CPWL Members,
The Executive Board and Dam Committee members are pleased to provide you with this update on the repair of the ongoing seepage issue along the main dam as identified in RIDEM’s Notice of Violation in 2014.
After sending the RFP for the repair out for bid, the Executive Board voted to award the bid to Providence Grass. Under the supervision of GZA Environmental, Providence Grass began construction the week of March 9th, 2026. If all goes to plan, the repair will be completed in three weeks. As the record snows melted, the lake came up quickly. We are dropping water levels to the seasonal norm to ensure maximum safety while the repairs are being made.
Once the repairs are completed, we will start to fill the lake up for our summer enjoyment.
Get your tickets today for the 2026 Spring Gala!
February 2026
Dear CPWL Members,
As we approach our 2026 boating season, the members of the Executive Board, Dam and Fundraising Committee want to encourage each of you to support CPWL’s Annual Boat Sticker Campaign.
In the last three years, our lake water quality has been under attack by Cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae) and invasive weeds. When our lake water test results come in too high for Cyanobacteria, the State puts out an advisory notice – shutting down the lake for recreational use until levels return to normal. If Cyanobacteria goes untreated, the levels may never go down to a safe level, resulting in the lake being shut down for the remainder of the boating season.
In the last two years, CPWL has invested about $18,970 to have our lake water surveyed, tested, and treated for Cyanobacteria and invasive weeds. Unfortunately, there is no fix to permanently remove Cyanobacteria or invasive weeds, just best practices and management.
This is why we need every property owner to pay their annual dues, for which you will receive an annual boat sticker to display on your boat. For all of you who are leasing dock space out to boaters, personal watercraft, or visitors, it’s imperative that you have each of them purchase an annual boat sticker from CPWL. The cost is $100. Annual Boat Stickers can be purchased here.
The financial burden to keep our lake’s water quality at its highest standards and the maintenance of the dam, can not and should not be placed on the shoulders of a few paying dues members. This financial burden needs to be shared by all who use and enjoy our lake!
By our calculations, there is a minimum of 165 boaters & personal watercraft renting or visiting the lake per season. If each of them purchased an annual boat sticker, CPWL would raise $16,500 annually. This money would go towards treating the lake for Cyanobacteria, invasive weeds (as needed) and dam maintenance. This is a win for all who enjoy our lake!
Sincerely,
Robert M. Eaton, Jr.
President of CPWL
January 26, 2026
Dear Members of CPWL,
As many of you know, CPWL’s Executive Board has been working with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) over the last 15 months to address a Notice of Violation (NOV) issued by RIDEM to CPWL back in November of 2014 for unsafe conditions.
Through the services of GZA Geoenvironmental, Inc. and two generous donations from the Gregson Foundation – Patty Nugent, on January 16, 2026, RIDEM approved CPWL’s repair application.
The repair application and plans titled “Seepage Improvement Project” address the unsafe condition related to the 2014 NOV by installing a toe drain.
The approval letter and a full set of the approved plan titled “Seepage Improvement Project” have been posted in the document section of the website. We encourage you to take a moment to review these documents.
We are currently seeking contractors who have experience working on earth dams to bid on this project. If you know of a contractor, please have them reach out to me via email reaton@cpwl.org by February 10th, 2026.
Our goal is to start this project this Winter and complete it by spring of this year.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Eaton, Jr.
President of CPWL
Maureen A. (Paolino) Welch, 69, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in Englewood, Florida
Maureen and her husband Stephen were long-term residents of the lake.
Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. from the Tucker-Quinn Funeral Chapel of Patrick Quinn Funerals and Cremations, 643 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Visitation will be held Monday, January 19, 2026, from 4-7pm.
We’ve posted the 2025 Fall Newsletter from the Stormwater Innovation Center for those interested in following the activities of this important RI organization. The Stormwater Innovation Center is a collaborative initiative between the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, The Nature Conservancy, and the City of Providence Parks Department. Dedicated to improving water quality and stormwater management across Rhode Island.
Learn More about the Stormwater Innovation Center
Drawdown of the lake will begin Saturday, November 1st. Water will drop about 12” per week, until we are at a level of between 60” and 72” below the spillway. We anticipate this level will be maintained until March 25, 2026, when we will begin to raise the water level.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email cpwl@cpwl.org
Sincerely
CPWL Executive Board
Please join us for a memorial boat parade on Sunday, August 31st at 2 pm to remember and honor Nancy Batty, Theresa “Terry” Danty, and Margaret “Ruth” Lemieux, three amazing longtime residents of Waterman Lake who passed away this year.
We also extend this tribute to others in our community who have died this year—whether known to us or not, their memory has left a lasting ripple on the water and in our hearts.
They are gone but never forgotten, and we celebrate them with this memorial boat parade in their honor.
Santa is headed south for some summer fun! We will meet at the marina around 5:30 PM and start the parade around 6 PM. Remember to deck your deck with lights, decorations, and plenty of mistletoe! It’s time to row, row with some ho, ho, ho!
