Community Engagement Requests
Read More

Understanding Winchester's Watersheds

Watershed Overlay Map


The Highland Lake District encompasses more than just the shoreline — it includes the surrounding land that directly impacts the lake’s health.

Use this map to understand where regulations apply, whether you’re a lakefront property owner or live elsewhere in the watershed.

[INSERT HL and TOWN MAP HERE]

What Is the Watershed — and Why It Matters

A watershed is the area of land that drains into a shared body of water. For Highland Lake, that includes over 4,000 acres of interconnected ecosystems — streams, wetlands, roads, and neighborhoods — all funneling water (and whatever it carries) into the lake.

Key Features of the Highland Lake Watershed:

  • Inflow: Taylor Brook, Sucker Brook, Crystal Lake
  • Outflow: Mad River, part of the Farmington River system
  • Land Use: Mix of residential, forested, and recreational
  • Ecological Importance: Aquatic life, native plants, migratory birds