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Maine DEP Takes on Algae Problem in Washington, Maine

August 06, 2010 - WASHINGTON -- This year more than ever, shorefront owners in Maine have noticed a green tinge to their lakes.

It's algae, and Kathy Hoppe, an environmental specialist with the state Department of Environmental Protection, said soil that washes off yards, driveways and roads carries with it nutrients that feed the tiny organisms.

In hopes of preventing soil erosion, the department will hold two public workshops -- including one at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Evening Star Grange, 31 Old Union Road, Washington -- meant to help people form road associations to help solve the algae problem.

Hoppe said her department chose locations for the workshops based on clusters of interest from people who want to form road associations. She said DEP also will conduct two workshops next year.

Washington is concerned with two bodies of water, Crystal Lake and Washington Pond, she said.

"Year after year, the DEP assists local (lake) associations with watershed surveys documenting pollution sites in lake watersheds," she said. "And year after year the biggest, most common problems are related to roads. If we are going to improve or protect the water quality of our lakes, we need to address erosion issues from our roads."

Kristin Feindel, also with the DEP, said some of the most challenging roads to fix are those that are privately owned with or without a road associations.

Feindel said these roads are particularly problematic because there is no formal organization to raise the funds needed to get the work done.

"The single largest pollutant to Maine lakes is soil and the greatest source is private unpaved roads," Feindel said, adding that it is not hard to form a road association, but it takes time and commitment.

Hoppe said DEP has had reports of algae blooms from one end of the state to the other. Data from the Volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program will calculate how many have been affected by algae blooms, but she said that won't be available until the end of the season.

Hoppe said Maine had an early ice-out and that has given lakes more time to warm up and plants to grow.

"The nutrients have probably been there, we've just been overfeeding our lakes, a diet high in nutrients," Hoppe said. "So when we got the longer season, the plants grew better.

"We don't want plants to grow in the lakes. We want our lakes clear so we can see to the bottom," Hoppe said. "We're trying to help people protect our lakes,."

To attend the free workshops, contact her at Kristin.B.Feindel@maine.gov or 287-5586.

by Mechele Cooper, Kennebec Journal, August 6, 2010

Lakes: Washington Pond
Regions: Belgrade


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