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Lakes Environmental Association partners with other groups and individuals to identify and fix erosion problems

July 01, 2007 - This summer, the Lakes Environmental Association is going to be working in multiple watersheds to help fix erosion problems and identify sites for future corrective action. The heavy spring rains that washed out many of the roads and ditches in our area proved that much work still needs to be done to protect our lakes. Currently we have projects on Hancock and Sand ponds, Highland Lake, Long Lake and Island Pond.

On these waterbodies, LEA is partnering with organizations, lake associations, and municipalities to tackle these daunting tasks. However, the LEA's most important partners are the watershed landowners and citizens.


Hancock and Sand ponds get federal matching grant

During last year's survey of both watersheds, numerous erosion sites were identified and prioritized based on impact to the ponds. Starting this spring, LEA, the Hancock and Sand Pond Association, and Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District will begin utilizing a live federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to correct the worst of the sites.

This grant will help pay up to 50% of the costs to fix the problem areas on public and private roads, residential property, and state and town land. This cost-sharing incentive will only be available during this two-year grant period, so it is a good idea to act quickly, while funds are available.

Last year, LEA met with the Denmark Road Commissioner to look at a few town road problems and several landowners have already expressed interest in having work done on their property.

In addition to correcting individual sites, the project will also focus on education and long-term maintenance, both of which are needed if we are to prevent erosion problems from occurring in the future. To help accomplish this goal, there is already a workshop scheduled on gravel road maintenance, which will take place June 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Sebago Town Hall.

A half-day workshop will focus on proper grading techniques and a type of grader called the "front runner." This tine grader hooks up to a plow mount and can be rented from the County Soil and Water Conservation District at a very low cost by people who take the course.

Island Pond volunteers document erosion sites

The Island Pond Survey kicked off on May 5 with about 25 people patrolling the watershed to document existing erosion sites. That morning, the group met at Camp Fernwood Cove to receive training and survey materials. Volunteers learned how to document erosion sites, identify the source of the problem, suggest possible solutions and rate the site by its environmental impact as well as the cost to fix it.

After the training, they broke up into four teams, and to each assigned a different portion of the watershed. The teams then spent the rest of the day identifying and documenting erosion sites. Volunteers are expected to finish surveying their sectors by mid-June.

This fall, technical staff will review the work and make any corrections or additions necessary. The final survey report should come out this winter and may serve as a stepping stone for future implementation work correcting some of the high priotity sites identified. The project, which is a joint effort of the Island Pond Association, LEA and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, is being led by Fiddlehead Environmental Consulting.

Long Lake projects will gain help from YCC

Taking on a watershed the size of Long Lake is no small task. To help us tackle Long Lake, we have recruited Youth Conservation Corps, YCC, to implement common conservation practices within the watershed. YCC is a group of local high school students, led by a college-age crew leader and overseen by a technical director.

The crew will be working on a variety of projects, including installing waterbars and infiltration trenches, cleaning out sediment basins, and planting vegetation to protect from erosion. This crew will help drastically reduce the cost of water quality projects by providing free labor.

There is usually more of a demand for work than a YCC can get to during their six-week season. If you are interested in participating in this program, call the LEA before the limited season books up.

The YCC will run for the next two years as part of a Federal 319 grant from the EPA, which Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District and LEA are both working on together. This project will also focus on several large road sites and two public beaches previously identified. To help correct these sites, up to 50% of the total cost of the project will be provided to the recipients.

Highland Lake funding extended for one year

There is still much work to be done in the Highland Lake watershed, but this is the last year that funds will be available for the lake. This project was scheduled to end in the early spring of 2007, but we have received a one-year extension to help complete the grant and correct more sites.

Although numerous sites have been identified and many landowners have taken advantage of free technical assistance, only a handful of sites have been fixed. After the first Highland Lake Grant ended in 2000, many people contacted LEA looking for funds to help fix erosion problems on their property, but after the grant ended there was no longer any money available to help them carry out the work.

With strong public interest in the lake, LEA was able to team up with Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District to get another grant for the lake in 2005. When this current project ends, it is highly unlikely any more federal money will be available.

So don't miss out on this opportunity to correct an erosion problem on your property and have half the total cost of the project paid for through the grant. The road, driveway, path and planting projects that can help improve water quality within the entire Highland Lake watershed qualify for funding.

This article appeared in its original form in the LEA Lake News, Summer 2007 edition

Lakes: Hancock Pond, Highland Lake, Island Pond, Long Lake
Regions: Sebago


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