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Naples: Water at the Fore

October 19, 2007 - NAPLES - It is perhaps fitting that in a town defined by its lakes, water has been central to many issues that face town leaders and voters. Monday, selectmen heard about a fight at Sebago Cove (Muddy River) against intrusive milfoil that has gotten so out of control '"you can almost walk across it," one resident suggested.

They also again looked at the problem of uranium in the water at the town office, thought about testing the water again, and maybe changing the way water is supplied to the municipal building. Since water testing results for uranium tend to vary, selectmen will test the water again, after running the pipes for awhile. Then they will see what the recovery time is, with a followup. Elements tend to collect in the water when it is not in constant use.

The town well is fed by an aquifer, which underlies most ofthe downtown. Uranium over federal guideline levels has been detected at the fire station, too, and a smaller remedial system has been designed for that building. The town office's "public water supply" also feeds the old Grange and a nearby church, and the historical society. The church might have to go it on its own if, as Selectmen Bob Caron suggested Monday, the water use in the town office and Grange is reduced to providing water for flush toilets. With no sinks or taps, the town wouldn't qualify as a public water supply. The cost of fixing the municipal building plan is about $20,000 - that cost would cover at least five years of collection and treatment and disposal. The staff already drinks Spring water. Perhaps sanitary wash could be provided as soap.

"I can't justify the 20-some-odd grand remedy, considering how little water we actually use," Caron said. There are kitchens at the town office and Singer Center (Grange) as well. They would ¦have to be discontinued, if water use is limited to sanitary.

Sebago Cove. Ed Lapham and several of Save Sebago Cove's 10-member board of directors approached selectmen to inform them of the nonprofit group's organizational efforts, and see what help the town might provide. Property values around the cove, now threatened by milfoil, amount to many millions of dollars.

Lapham said the workers at the Lakes Environmental Association, DEP and Portland Water District, along with those working on the milfoil issues at Little Sebago, have been an "amazing help," so far, to the fledgling group. But more resources are needed - if not direct appropriations, then even in the form of storage, perhaps, or as a loan of equipment, or as backup support for grantwriting, Lapham said Monday.

Lapham said the LEA's demonstration project on the Songo River, while successful, deals with a milfoil problem only a third as bad as what's on Sebago Cove. He said he realized that LEA's resources were limited, as well, but wondered if some of the town funds directed through LEA, might be funneled to the Sebago Cove project. Peter Lowell of Lakes Environmental, who has provided "daily support," Lapham said, told The News that the main emphasis of his group has been placed in the Songo River area. A Libra Foundation grant provided a suction harvester. Dozens of volunteers, including divers, have emplaced mats and pulled the invasive plants. But that project has eaten up hundreds of hours of time and whatever meager dollar resources the group has been able to devote to milfoil.

"We look at the Songo River as sort of a pilot project," Lowell said. "Our effort there is a model. But there is no way the LEA has the resources to fund the needs of the groups that are tackling issues on their own lakes. We will help any way we can, just as we continue to do at Sebago Cove. Technical assistance, advice, pointing toward resources. The problem is huge."

Lapham said he at least hoped to get the LEA's suction harvester to test-drive the cove for a couple of days in the future. The Sebago Cove group has organized fundraising, and ought to get its 501-c-3 status this week, Lapham said. Mats have been put down in the watercourse already. A donated pontoon boat has been fixed up. Funds are being raised.

Wendy Callanan said, "When we moved here three years ago, the cove seemed clear in front of the house. Right now, you can take a lawnmower to it. It's frightening!"

Lakes: Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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