July 2020 Newsletter from the 30 Mile River Watershed Association
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It's summer, so even in these challenging times, we’re still hard at work keeping our waters clean and healthy – inspecting boats for invasive species, collecting water quality data, conducting LakeSmart visits, surveying for invasive aquatic plants, and more.
It takes all of us working together to protect these lakes and ponds we cherish.
How can you get involved
?
- Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear anytime you go to another lake to prevent the spread of invasives.
- Pay attention to what happens to the soil on your property when it rains.
- Learn more about the plants that do and do not belong in your lake.
- Request a LakeSmart visit to get tips for your property.
- Enter our photo contest to share the beauty of the places you love.
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Program Spotlight: LakeSmart
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30 Mile is a regional coordinator of LakeSmart, a statewide program led by Maine Lakes. This education and reward program helps lakefront homeowners manage their properties in ways that are lake-friendly and protect water quality. The program is free, non-regulatory, and voluntary.
How does it work?
First, a homeowner requests a free site visit. Trained volunteers then perform a property assessment
to help homeowners understand what is working well and what could be improved
. Homeowners receive individualized suggestions for keeping pollutants in stormwater and septic systems out of lake waters.
Sites that score well earn the coveted LakeSmart Award and distinctive signs that can be posted at the waterfront and driveway, identifying the homes of good stewards and illustrating what lake-friendly living looks like.
30 Mile currently works with volunteer teams on Androscoggin Lake, Parker and David Ponds, and Lovejoy Pond. We hope to soon have teams that cover every lake and pond in our watershed.
Pictured Above: 30 Mile’s Lidie Robbins and Androscoggin Lake volunteer Patt Koscinski conduct a LakeSmart evaluation on Pocasset Lake this week.
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Online Now
:
2019 Water Quality Monitoring Reports
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Enter Today! Summer Photo Contest
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Do you take a lot of photos on the lakes, ponds and streams that make up the 30 Mile River Watershed?
Share your favorites with us for a chance to win!
The categories are:
Fun Times, Watershed Wildlife, Flourishing Flora and Spectacular Scenes.
The deadline to enter is
August 31st
.
Learn more and enter
here
.
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LakeSmart Tip: Lakes Like Less Lawn
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As a general rule, lawns don’t protect lakes like native vegetation. Rainwater easily flows over lawns, and the tiny grass roots cannot hold soil together. Significant erosion often occurs over lawns even when no soil loss is noticeable. When nutrient rich soil reaches our lakes, there can be major consequences to lake health, like turning the lake green with algae. Fertilizers and pesticides applied to lawns also end up in the lake, feeding algae.
Native vegetation like trees, shrubs, ground covers and perennials, such as those shown above, better protect the lake. These plants have deeper root systems that hold soil in place, absorb more runoff, and filter out more pollutants. Native species are best because they are adapted to local conditions, requiring little maintenance once established, so you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy the lake. Plus, they provide important habitat and food for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
Here are a few tips as you make the transition to native plants:
- Prioritize the area closest to the lake where the impact is the greatest.
- Allow an area to fill in naturally with native plants by no longer mowing.
- Mow your lawn using the highest mower setting and leave clippings to mulch in place.
- Stop fertilizing your lawn.
Check back each month for a new LakeSmart tip! Let us know if there is something you would like to see covered by emailing
lidie@30mileriver.org
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Voices from the Watershed
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Environmental Activism
by Maggie Stokes,
30 Mile Courtesy Boat Inspector
"...The simple act of inspecting your boat before and after launching is a form of environmental activism. The phrase “environmental activism” is large and can seem overwhelming, but unpacked, it’s a series of simple concepts and acts one takes to speak for their environment. The simple definition is “a person who advocates for, or works towards, protecting the natural environment from destruction or pollution” (The Free Dictionary).
Taking simple initiative to inspect your boat for any plant or critter is one way that you’re advocating for the environment. That action is saying, “I care about the lake and the different ecosystems that operate in it.” Other forms of environmental activism that boaters can take include donating time to be a volunteer inspector on our lakes, giving money to (or taking a larger role in) your lake association, and practicing proper Leave No Trace protocols, and cleaning up trash wherever you see it. Being an environmental activist must include the understanding that not all folks will see the fragility of the environment from your eyes, and with that, one must hold the maturity to educate others..."
Read the full story
here
.
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Sunday, August 2nd - Sunday, August 9th | Register
here
This event supports
the Greater Minnehonk Lake Association
Saturday, August 8
th, 10 AM via Zoom | Register
here
Saturday, August 15th, 11 AM via Zoom | Register
here
Fridays at 4 PM | Register
here
Saturday, October 3rd, 8:45 AM - 3:30PM | Register
here
Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center
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These are challenging times and we know that for many, giving right now may be difficult. If you can,
please consider a
gift today to support our ongoing work.
If you have already made a gift this summer, we
thank you!
Contributions of all sizes make a difference in helping us achieve our mission
to work as a community for clean and healthy lakes, ponds and streams in our watershed.
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Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
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