Lake Smart Is Here
By Dave Clement
In mid-August the association application to participate in Lakesmart was accepted and we are well on our way.
So what is Lakesmart??? This is a program to show shore lot owners how to reduce and control surface runoff so it does not enter Worthley Pond. It is a voluntary education program that starts with an evaluation of your property to see where improvements can be made. Any improvements are suggested and not a requirement!!
Evaluators from the Oxford County Soil Conservation District walk over your property and give you a brief report on what can be done. A multitude of “tricks of the trade” are suggested for your consideration. They look at 4 areas on your property: Road, Driveway, and Parking Areas; Structures and Septic System; Lawn, Recreation Areas, and Footpaths; and Shorefront and Beach areas.
Here is the way it works. You are asked to fill out a form prior to the evaluator’s visit. It is best if you can be present so you can interact with the evaluator asking questions and understanding any recommendations. The pre-evaluation form is used to help prepare for the evaluation and in cases where a landowner is not able to be present.
You are certified in each of the above categories as you meet the criteria. Most likely you will already be qualified in some of the areas evaluated. That was the case with the first ones done in September. Once you meet criteria in all four categories you are awarded a certificate and sign for your property designating it as a Lakesmart property.
The officers are going to look at adding a Lakesmart Grant program to help defray costs of doing some of the projects. Rules and how the grant will work will be on the web page.
What do I do??? Contact me, Dave Clement at 562-4611 or 474-1581, expressing your interest and I will be glad to answer any questions. I have brochures explaining Lakesmart. I can also be reached at my E-Mail address: magram@gwi.net. If you are one of the 25 owners who signed up at either of the last two annual meetings you are already on the list.
We will be planning several days of evaluations during the summer of 2009. Your participation is needed so we can reduce phosphorus, contaminants and other harmful items from reaching our pond and degrading its water quality. We are lucky to have outstanding water quality, far above most ponds in the area but….we need to keep it that way.
For the sake of Our Worthley Pond please take the time to contact me and sign up for this very worthwhile program.
CAMP ROADS
An inquiry to the Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection provided the following information to help clarify concerns of a law that is to be implemented in 2010 regarding camp roads. Don Witherill (contact info at end) states that it is not a new law, but a change in its applicability.
This can also be found on the web at: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/38/title38sec420-C.html.
Maine Revised Statutes
§420-B§420-D
Title 38: WATERS AND NAVIGATION
Chapter 3: PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF WATERS
Subchapter 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOARD
Article 2: POLLUTION CONTROL
§420-C. Erosion and sedimentation control
A person who conducts, or causes to be conducted, an activity that involves filling, displacing or exposing soil or other earthen materials shall take measures to prevent unreasonable erosion of soil or sediment beyond the project site or into a protected natural resource as defined in section 480-B. Erosion control measures must be in place before the activity begins. Measures must remain in place and functional until the site is permanently stabilized. Adequate and timely temporary and permanent stabilization measures must be taken and the site must be maintained to prevent unreasonable erosion and sedimentation. [1997, c. 502, §1 (AMD).]
A person who owns property that is subject to erosion because of a human activity before July 1, 1997 involving filling, displacing or exposing soil or other earthen materials shall take measures in accordance with the dates established under this paragraph to prevent unreasonable erosion of soil or sediment into a protected natural resource as defined in section 480-B, subsection 8. Adequate and timely temporary and permanent stabilization measures must be taken and maintained on that site to prevent unreasonable erosion and sedimentation. This paragraph applies on and after July 1, 2005 to property that is located in the watershed of a body of water most at risk as identified in the department's storm water rules adopted pursuant to section 420-D and that is subject to erosion of soil or sediment into a protected natural resource as defined in section 480-B, subsection 8. This paragraph applies on and after July 1, 2010 to other property that is subject to erosion of soil or sediment into a protected natural resource as defined in section 480-B, subsection 8. [1997, c. 748, §1 (NEW).]
This section applies to a project or any portion of a project located within an organized area of this State. This section does not apply to agricultural fields. Forest management activities, including associated road construction or maintenance, conducted in accordance with applicable standards of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission, are deemed to comply with this section. This section may not be construed to limit a municipality's authority under home rule to adopt ordinances containing stricter standards than those contained in this section. [1995, c. 704, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 704, Pt. C, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 704, §B2 (NEW). 1995, c. 704, §C2 (AFF). 1997, c. 502, §1 (AMD). 1997, c. 748, §1 (AMD).
Data for this page extracted on 02/22/2008 12:50:05.
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
Milfoil
By John Shea
Milfoil is an ugly word and the lakes and ponds infected with it are an ugly mess.
As of this writing there is no cure, the only hope of not having MILFOIL in Worthley Pond is prevention. Milfoil must be physically introduced to a body of water. Only you and I can help stop the infestation of this plant by Volunteering to help. We all need to protect our investments.
Milfoil can be introduced by a number of carriers. For example, Planes, birds, boats, motors, and fishing gear to name a few ways.
We can not do much about the birds and planes, but we can make an effort to keep our pond clean. Our Worthley Pond Association has a program called courtesy boat inspection. This program can prevent this fast growing plant from being introduced into our pond. We have no guarantees but our only possibility is a pro active approach. We need your help.
In 2007-2008, we had some 30 plus volunteers for our CBI program on Worthley Pond. The program covers two hour shifts, 7 days a week and were two hour shifts per day 7-9 A.M and 4-6 P.M. We need more volunteers to fill the shifts. If we have enough people, we would only have to take a shift a month, so ask you neighbors on your road, four people make a once a month deal.
The present volunteers have been asked to return in 2009. We hope all will say yes. So if you have not volunteered please give a little of your time to help with the CBI Program for our pond. If you help, you are helping keep Worthley pond the clean beautiful pond we have all come to love and enjoy as well as protecting your investment.
Milfoil is all around us today. It is in lakes such as Lake Auburn, Shagg Pond, Bryant Pond, Thompson Lake and 24 other ponds and lakes around the state. The latest spotting of milfoil is in the Belgrade Lakes. What a shame to ruin one of Maine’s natural resources. So please volunteer to help with the program.
To Volunteer just contact any officer of the Worthley Pond Association or John Shea, Tim Placey or Kathy Hussey and they will get you the necessary information.
Shutterbug…..
Written by Kathy Hussey
As most are likely aware, my husband, Bill and I reside at 47 Lapointe Road – on Worthley Pond, and that we tour the pond in our boat several times a week – weather permitting.
Since I work at the Town Office, I am in contact on a regular basis with the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and Code Enforcement Officer and somewhat frequently with the Plumbing Inspector.
In the past, I have taken numerous pictures of properties and they were printed in the 2007 Town Report. This summer ending, many of our leisurely tours around the Pond included my camera. Code Enforcement Officer, Jack Plumley viewed these photos. We discussed that the majority of pictures of properties on the Pond taken by the Assessor, were taken from the road as opposed to the water. He encouraged me to continue with my efforts to update the property files at the Town Office, as these photos may be useful to him as Code Enforcement Officer. Planning Board members supported the idea as well.
Thus, the shutter bug in me has continued throughout the summer. I have photographed many of the camps and cottages…… and anything else that might be of interest, while trying not to intrude on anyone’s privacy or offend anyone. I need to take stock of those properties that have been done and make a list of those that I haven’t……so that when spring (2009) arrives, I can proceed.
Photography is a passion that I have long endured. Even when the “project” is completed, you may see me around the Pond looking through my viewfinder!
NAVIGATIONAL BOUYS
By Peter Brawn, Bouy Tender
Starting next spring, after ice out, Worthley Pond will have navigational buoys
installed that are in accordance with the "Maine State Aids to Navigation System."
The buoys, 5 inches in diameter and six feet four inches tall will be placed on the
pond in 8 different identified areas to mark trouble spots such as rocky or shallow
areas.
The buoys and anchor blocks have been purchased from the Maine Bureau of
Parks and Lands at a cost of 45 dollars each. The State of Maine participates in a
nationwide uniform marking system to insure that waterway markers will have the
same meaning nationwide.
We at Worthley Pond feel that we should participate in this system in order to be
onboard with the rest of the states. The buoys will be placed by Peter Brawn once
the ice leaves the pond next spring. Dave Clement, Tim Placey and Peter Brawn
have identified a number of trouble areas where these buoys will be placed. Once
the buoys are installed, if you are aware of other areas that should be marked
please contact either Peter Brawn at 767-2293 or Tim Placey at 562-7840.
