2010 LAKESMART PROGRAM
We are now well into our third year of participating in the LakeSmart Program. In the first two years we completed 23 evaluations and 2 re-inspections and three properties are certified as LakeSmart (one each year) with several others close to meeting all requirements. Look for the signs on the shoreline of certified properties.
By qualifying your property as LakeSmart certified, you are becoming a solution to the problem. Each year your association pays to have pond water tested to check our water quality. In the last two years test results have not been as good because of higher then normal rainfall. (See reports on this website.) While this was only a two year bleep in the wrong direction it tells us we need to be better land stewards and protect our pond. With everyone doing their share we can avoid having phosphorus levels increase and dissolved oxygen levels reduced. In 2010 many water bodies throughout the state are experiencing algae blooms because of the warm weather and lower than normal rainfall. THESE WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IF SOIL FILLED WITH PHOSPHORUS WAS NOT REACHING THESE WATER BODIES!!
We have some changes as to how we are doing evaluations in 2010.
Officers of WPA voted to pay for evaluations for members of the association so they can have a walk-over of their property to learn the best land practices for their property. Participants will be given brochures on how to best accomplish recommendations plus a list of plants you can choose to add to your land. We are also continuing the LakeSmart Grant program which pays for 50% of the costs up to $300 ($150 cost sharing). Officers have authorized 7 grants for 2010.
The following website will give you a list of fact sheets covering Best Management Practices (BMP) for shorefront properties: http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/docwatershed/materials.htm . Go to section titled Conservation Practices for Homeowners. You can also go to the LakeSmart section of the Department of Environmental Protection for more information about the program: http://www.maine.gov/depblwq/doclake/lakesmart.
We need you to sign up now and join the 50 others already participating in the LakeSmart program .We will add you to our list and advise you of the evaluation dates coming up. Contact Orville Lind (Tel: 562-8363) or Dave Clement (Tel: 562-4611) for more information and a copy of a LakeSmart brochure.
PLEASE JUMP ON BOARD AND HELP PROTECT OUR POND!!!!
2010 LAKESMART GRANT PROGRAM
Worthley Pond Association members are eligible for a grant when they make improvements to their property which is recommended by a LakeSmart evaluator. These improvements are necessary to reduce or eliminate the flow of water entering Worthley Pond off one’s land. These waters carry phosphorus laden soil and often pollutants which reduce the quality of water we now enjoy.
To qualify for a grant, a landowner must submit receipts to the Association for materials and labor involved in the improvement. Property owners will be reimbursed for 50 % of their expenses up to $300.00 (thus a maximum grant amount of $150.00). For 2010 the association officers have authorized 7 grants. This is a one time grant and the first 7 applicants will be accepted. Owners can reapply next year if they do not receive one in 2010 but work must be done in same year grant is applied for. Currently members can only receive one grant.
This program replaces and enhances the former Buffer Zone grant the association has made available for the last several years.
2009 LAKESMART PROGRAM
We are now well into our first year of participating in the LakeSmart Program. Late last Fall eight property owners were the first to have pre-evaluation/tech visits to learn what they could do to reduce water runoff from their land and avoid polluting our beautiful pond with its higher than average water quality. All owners learned of improvements they could undertake to qualify their land as a LakeSmart property.
By qualifying your property as LakeSmart certified, you are becoming a solution to the problem. Each year your association pays to have pond water tested to see how our water quality is doing. Last year’s test result was not good because of the higher than normal rainfall. While this was only a one year bleep in the wrong direction it tells us we need to be better land stewards and protect our pond. With everyone doing their share we can avoid having phosphorus levels increase and dissolved oxygen levels reduced.
This summer we have lined up several dates for technical evaluations for landowners to learn how to make their property LakeSmart certified. These dates are Tuesday, June 23rd, Monday July13th, Monday July 20th, Thursday July 23rd and Friday July24th. Dates in August and September will be added as needed.
To get some ideas on what you can do, the following website will give you a list of fact sheets covering Best Management Practices (BMP):http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/docwatershed/materials.htm . Go to section titled Conservation Practices for Homeowners
We need you, the waterfront property owners, to sign up now to take advantage of this free watershed survey of your property!! Contact Orville Lind (Tel: 562-8363) or Dave Clement (Tel: 562-4611) for more information and a copy of a LakeSmart brochure. This year the tech evaluation is free but who knows if it will be next year.
PLEASE JUMP ON BOARD AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FREE TECH EVALUATION AND HELP PROTECT OUR POND!!!!
2009 LAKESMART GRANT PROGRAM
Worthley Pond Association members are eligible for a grant when they make improvements to their property which is recommended by a LakeSmart evaluator. These improvements are necessary to reduce or eliminate the flow of water entering Worthley Pond off one’s land. These waters carry phosphorus laden soil and often pollutants which reduce the quality of water we now enjoy.
To qualify for a grant, a landowner must submit receipts to the Association for materials and labor involved in the improvement. Property owners will be reimbursed for 50 % of their expenses up to $300.00 (thus a maximum grant amount of $150.00). For 2009 the association officers have authorized 7 grants. This is a one time grant and the first 7 applicants will be accepted. Owners can reapply next year if they do not receive one in 2009 but work must be done in same year grant is applied for. Currently members can only receive one grant.
This program replaces the former Buffer Zone grant the association has made available for the last several years.
Please send your paper work with your name and address to Worthley Pond Association, P.O. Box 230, Peru, Maine 04290.
Camp Road Legislation Approved
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 4:21 PM
Subject: Camp Road Legislation Approved
All,
I’m pleased to report that all three camp road bills have been enacted by the Maine Legislature! They should be on Governor Baldacci’s desk for signature this week.
Thanks to all who worked on getting these passed. In particular, I want to thank Representative Bob Duchesne, who went the extra mile to get the bills introduced after the deadline and was a sponsor and strong advocate for all three bills; and Senator Richard Nass, who came to the three different committees and provided strong supporting testimony. Thanks also, to Maggie Shannon and Betsy Bowen, for putting in long hours in and outside the committee rooms in order to speak in support, and to my colleagues here at DEP, Wendy Garland, Kristin Feindel, Bill Laflamme and Barb Welch, who have also been key to getting these through, and will be working now toward their effective implementation.
Here are the bills, with links to their summaries, including text and amendment language:
LD 1307, An Act to Provide Limited Immunity for Road Association Directors, Commissioners and Volunteers http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280032389
LD 1311, An to Enable Municipal Assistance for Purposes of Protecting or Restoring Public Waters
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280032393
LD 1315, An Act to Amend the Private Way Laws with Regard to Road Associations
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280032397
Don
Don Witherill
Director, Division of Watershed Management
Bureau of Land & Water Quality
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
17 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
tel.: (207) 287-7725
fax: (207) 287-7826
e-mail: donald.t.witherill@maine.gov
