1981: The ladies of the lake, four women (Bonnie Porter, Noel Spence, Maureen Hannigan, Gloria Faugno) were concerned about the lakes and wanted to do something about it. They formed the clean lakes task force (CLTF), focused on getting grants and funding to protect the lakes. There is consensus that they are credited with being the original founders of a lake association organization.

Primary Concerns: water quality, weeds and the Spencer Wastewater Treatment Plant (SWWTP), a boat marina, dredging the canal and a proposed campground at the south end of South Pond (on south shore drive).

The hot issue was the SWWTP. built on an old dump site, with piles of waste material stored on site, leaking lagoons and seepage into cranberry brook. this is the only waste water treatment plant activly discharging directly into a river flowing to a recreational body of water.

1986: CLTF: instrumental in getting a diagnostic feasibility study completed.

1989: QQLA formed

1990: the organizations merged and forms into QQLA

1991 – 1993: QQLA saw their phosphate removal bill passed (removing phosphates from laundry detergents.

1991:  In August the flow barrier construction was completed

1996: On September 26th the QQLA incorported with Joe Klimavich as president.

1997: Hand pulling milfoil

1997: First official spring cleanup.2004: Explosive algae bloom north pond

2006 – 2007: MA DEP study: reports on nitrogen and phosphorous loading limits

2006: Weeds were so bad, QQLA cuts weed channels for boaters on north pond.

2008: QQLA pushes MA DEP and US EPA forSWWTP< Lawyers, sampling, testing, monitering, money all money, all aimed at reducing discharge into Quaboag pond .   

2010:  Weeds were so bad you couldn’t go ten feet in a power boat without stopping and backing up to get the weeds off of the propeller.   

2012: Explosive algae bloom: Emergency meeting on north pond 9/12/12.

2023: SWWTP rehab starts

2025: SWWTP upgrade completed (44 years after concerns were first identified by CLTF)

Imagine our lakes without this continued effort. There's still work to be done, so get involved and make a difference!