PLEASANT POND CONSERVANCY NEWSLETTER June 2004

THE MISSION OF THE PLEASANT POND CONSERVANCY

The purposes for which the P PC is organized is to preserve and promote conservation of Pleasant pond, its wildlife, wildlife habitats and natural environment and to promote the natural, social and recreational benefits of Pleasant Pond among its members and the surrounding community.

News From Around The Pond

There is a 14-lot subdivision on Pleasant Pond Road currently going through Planning Board process. Three lots within this subdivision that were to drain towards pond will be diverted for run-off to drain towards the back of the subdivison, away from the pond. The developers are working hard to preserve the quality of Pleasant Pond on this project due to its high-risk designation within the Turner Comprehensive Plan.;, .

Another subdivision with at least one lot within the watershed on Rt. 219 is in the works.

Turner Planning Board has been monitoring run off from development on and around the golf course towards Pleasant Pond. Inspection of this property has been done yearly by the Planning Board to determine the drainage impact on the pond, and this will continue to happen to determine if I when a retention pond needs to be installed. The Pleasant Pond Road is being prepared for pavement sometime in July.

 Per Jim Catlin, Town Manager, the dam will be repaired late this summer or early fall by K & K Construction.

Welcome to the Harold and Ann Smith, our newest residents on Pleasant Pond.

Condolences to the families of Paul Dowe and Paul Varney.

Boat parade on July 4 - boats to meet on the south end of pond at 3:00 p.m. as usual. However, the floating store will not be available this year. If anybody wants T-shirts, hats, etc., please contact Cindy Anderson at 224-2215 or Arthur Grant at 212-4273.

Be LakeSmart for the Sake of Your Lake!

The summer of 2003 saw the rollout of the lakeSmart Program. lakeSmart is aimed at changing the increasingly common, suburban landscaping practices around lakes to a more natural, lake-friendly environment.

The introduction of lakeSmart education and recognition program was a big success. There were three very informative workshops this summer presented by Roberta Hill, Scott Williams and DEP staff. They were held in Newport, Orono, and Auburn. Many participants requested to be evaluated for a lakeSmart award. Others who heard about the program also requested visits to their property.

 During a lakeSmart visit a trained individual, such as a Soil and Water Conservation District employee, uses a standardized checklist to look for potential sources of pollution to the lake. The greatest pollutant is soil which can be moved downhill to the lake with the rainwater (AKA stormwater). Rain turns into polluted stormwater as it flows over the many impervious surfaces that are created when we alter the natural landscape to live by the lake. Impervious surfaces include roofs, driveways, parking areas, patios and most lawns. lawns often are so compacted that stormwater runs off. In fact most lawns are designed to shed rainwater. These impervious surfaces often greatly increase the amount of water that comes off our properties and into the lake.

In addition, there are a lot more pollutants that collect on the lawns, driveways, parking areas, and patios. - eroded soil, fertilizers, pesticides, oils and other contaminants from our cars, or lawn mowers. These are just waiting for the next rain or snowmelt to be washed away - into the lake.

So yes, LAKES LIKE LESS LAWN! lakes like natural uneven topography with an abundance of trees, shrubs, ground cover and duff. lots of vegetation, also called a "buffer", is most important along the shoreline. Duff is all the twigs, leaves, pine needles that our culture believes is messy and needs to be raked up. Vegetation and duff slow down the flow of the rain and allow it to sink down into the ground to recharge your well or the local aquifer. Think about framing your view of the lake with native plants that attract wildlife and provide privacy for your family. Most people come to the lake to relax and see nature not rake and mow the lawn.

Part of the lakeSmart visit is spent walking the property to determine the course stormwater takes down hill and if it converges in certain areas causing erosion. If the evaluator finds a problem, for example a well-traveled section of lawn that leads straight to the lake, allowing soil, fertilizer or pet waste to wash into the lake, the evaluator will recommend changing the path to a more curved design or installing water diversion bars to reduce the pollutant load to the lake.

There are other types of pollution that are considered in a lakeSmart visit. Do you regularly maintain your septic system by pumping every 3-5 years and keep the leaching field free of woody growth? If you have a home heating oil tank, is it protected from falling ice or snow? Do you use fertilizer or pesticides? PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THESE VISITS ARE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND NOT FOR ENFORCEMENT. Join the growing list of LakeSmart Award winners. To date we have three award winners and many more property owners who have received recognition in one or more categories.

The LakeSmart checklist consists of four categories:

1. Driveway and parking areas

2. Structures and septic system

3. Lawn, recreation and footpaths

4. Shorefront and beach area

Here is how it works. If a property scores 67% or better in a category, the owner receives a recognition certificate for that category. If a property scores 67% in each category, the owner receives the LakeSmart AWARD, a wall plaque engraved with their name and the lake's name. AWARD winners also have the option of posting one or two LakeSmart signs on their property. Award winning names will be submitted to local newspapers to help spread the word.

Here are the property owners who have been recognized in one or more categories: . Mr. and Mrs, Tom Hannula on Sebasticook Lake for driveway and parking areas, and structures and septic system. . Mr. and Mrs. Louis Cloutier on Pushaw Lake for structures and septic system. . Vincent and Gibby Griffin on Branch Lake for structures and septic system, and shorefront and beach area. . Jack and Pat Zinke on Taylor Pond for structures and septic system. . Mr. and Mrs. Norm Cole on Sebago Lake for shorefront and beach area

CONGRATULATIONS!

What can you do to get LakeSmart?

Want to schedule a visit to see if you qualify or what you can do to become LakeSmart? Call Christine Smith at Maine DEP 287-7734 or email christine.p.smith@maine.qov (please include LakeSmart in the subject)

Web Pages that Connect: Info for Water Enthusiasts

 There is a lot of information on the "web" that is just a "click" away. Besides local pictures and info @ ppcturner.org, there are many other sites in the state and nationally that are of interest to those of us who enjoy lakes. Below is a list of some of those sites: 

www.ppcturner.org                                           Our own web page complete with pictures

www.turnermaine.com/home.html                      Town of Tumer Maine homepage

www.state.me.us/dep/                                       Maine's Environmental Protection Agency.

www.state.me.us/government/agencies.html       Index of all agencies in Maine.

water.usgs.gov/wsc/management.html                Watershed management.

www.naco.org/links/watershed.cfm                   Links to watershed issues.

www.mainecola.org                                            Maine Congress of Lakes Associations

A more complete and updated list can be found at our site (http:/ /ppctumer.org). Feedback is welcome. Suggestions and comments can be emailed to ppconservancy@cs.com.