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McWain Pond study cites erosion trouble spots and proposes remedies

April 26, 2007 - McWain Pond's ailments have been identified, and treatment may soon be underway.

Speaking before Waterford's board of selectmen Monday, watershed specialist Jeff Stern, of Fiddlehead Environmental Consulting, in Norway, presented the final report of the McWain Pond Watershed Survey.

The volunteer project, which was conducted in the spring and summer of 2006, identified a total of 95 erosion troublespots near and around McWain Pond in need of attention.

Stearns report to selectmen was the next step in the process of applying for matching grant funds to assist both the town and private landowners in correcting the issues.

"It was really a great project," Stern told selectmen. "What we were looking for were erosion problems. There can often be stuff that happens far away from the lake, still within the watershed, that can affect it. We found a total of 95 sites, but the good news is that most of these, the majority of these, won't cost a whole lot to fix."

According to the report, seven sites were identified as having "high" impact on the pond. They include three locations on the McWain Hill Road, two on Mill Hill Road-mostly a requiring culvert work - a crushed culvert at Camp Waziyatah, and a lakeside residential home with inadequate shoreline vegetation.

The report also lists 32 "medium" impact sites within the watershed, primarily at residential and commercial campsites, with some locations identified on private and town roads.

The remaining 56 sites are considered "low" impact, typically requiring mulch, gravel, additional vegetation, or managing roof water runoff.

Overall, the worst damage to the lake, according to the report, is occurring in "sector four," or the southeast portion of the pond where 40 erosion sites are in need of attention.

On the reverse side, "sector one," at the northwest side of the pond has the least trouble spots with three identified sites.

Chairman of the selectmen John Bell asked Stern how many of the sites have already been fixed.

"First we identify the sites, then start fixing them," Stern explained. "We've identified the problems. Now were seeking money to fix the problems. That's what we're going to do now."

Stern says that the application deadline for grants to assist the project is May 25, and asked the board to approve, in principle, matching funds should the grant be awarded.

"We could fix a lot of the major problems in report with the grant. The town has a long history of helping these kinds of projects, and we'd like to ask if the town would be able to contribute," Stern said. "Basically, we apply for grant money, but will need to have matching funds. Usually it's a 50 -- 50 split."

Stern went on to highlight town contributions which have helped pay for other erosion management projects in recent years.

"The town has a history of willingness to protect its resources," Stern said. "If the lake is totally overwhelmed with algae it will impact the town's economy."

The analysis of the lake bottom core found a high percentage of organic matter in the sediments, indicating excess algae growth.

Excessive water runoff, caused by development and unchecked erosion within a watershed, carries high levels of phosphorus into area lakes.

"Phosphorus attached to soil in runoff can be bad news for lakes. Phosphorus is a plant nutrient common on land, but naturally limited in Maine's lakes and ponds, and is a favorite food of algae," the watershed report states "sometimes algae growth explodes into choking blooms, but more often it results in small, insidious changes in water quality that, over time, damage the ecology, aesthetics and economy of lakes and ponds."

The McWain Pond report also quotes a study conducted in 1996 by the University of Maine which concluded that for every 3 feet of decline in water clarity, lakefront property values can decline as much as 10 to 20%.

Selectmen approved Stern's request to go forward with the grant application.

The overall cost of the project has not been determined, but Stern said he hopes to receive somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000 in matching grant funds.

Copies of the McWain Pond watersheds survey, which includes helpful erosion prevention tips for residential landowners, are available at the Waterford town office.



This article appeared in its original form in the Advertiser Democrat, April 26, 2007


Lakes: McWain Pond
Regions: Sebago


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