Watershed Survey

 Watershed Survey and Watershed-Based Protection Plan are Completed

September 28th, 2017, the McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Association (MPSLA) conducted a watershed survey of the developed land areas within the McGrath Pond and Salmon Lake watershed.

Results of the survey have been compiled into a watershed survey report. The survey focused on all developed land (with permitted access) that drains to or has the potential to drain to the lake, carrying storm water and other pollutants of concern. Survey results indicate that a significant portion of NPS sites are located on residential properties and are associated with access to the shoreline. The spirit of this voluntary survey is to work cooperatively with landowners, road associations, and towns toward a common goal of protecting and improving water quality. Results of the survey are compiled into the watershed survey report which includes a comprehensive listing of the problem sites identified. A brief watershed survey fact summary is available here. Click here to see the 2017 MPSLA watershed survey report.

The Watershed-Based Protection Plan is available, and will allow the lake association to apply for state and federal water quality protection grants to address high priority problems identified in the survey. Three additional parts of the plan are the Appendix B, Appendix C which contains detailed problem sites, and Enlarged Maps from the plan.

As a result of our MPSL watershed survey, there is money available to help lake residents in shore-front remediation. There is a Remediation form (download pdf) that is required to be filled out and returned to the LakeSmart coordinators.

WHY SURVEY THE WATERSHED?

The previous McGrath-Salmon Watershed survey was conducted in 1998 — almost 20 years ago. The Maine DEP’s recommended frequency for watershed surveys is once every five years because land use can change quickly in a heavily populated watershed like ours. Moreover, having a recent Watershed Survey is necessary to apply for state and federal grants to protect and improve water quality. The McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Watershed was long overdue for a survey.

The purpose of the Watershed Survey is to identify nutrient-runoff (erosion) problem sites.  The MPSLA will work with property owners to find ways to minimize erosion at sites identified in the 2017 survey.  Those who choose to take corrective action may do so, accessing free programs such as Lake Smart and the Youth Conservation Corps, or working with their road associations.

As rainwater runoff flows over driveways, bare soil, grass, and other surfaces, nutrients such as phosphorous adhere to water molecules and flow into the lakes.  Once in the lakes, nutrients that don’t flow out eventually settle to the bottom as sediments. Lakes like ours can become nutrient-rich, support lots of algae growth, and turn green.  In the worst cases, the water gets slimy, and when the algae die, the lake water stinks!

Salmon Lake, by virtue of the nutrients in its water and its 60-foot depth, harbors regions of oxygen-starved waters near the lake’s bottom. This can bring phosphorus that was deposited in the bottom sediments over many years back up into the water column.  This happens because the lack of oxygen in the deep water breaks the chemical bond that held the phosphorus in place. For the last three years, phosphorus from bottom sediments has combined with nutrients flowing into the lake from streams to bring about late-summer algae blooms, and Salmon Lake has turned a dull green.  Salmon Lake has serious problems. Residents on Great Pond should also be concerned, since the  excessive nutrients from Salmon Lake flow into Great Pond and contribute to its condition.

Click to read the MPSLA Watershed Survey plan details.

All of us who cherish McGrath Pond & Salmon Lake appreciate your help in meeting our financial goal. Remember, this is to support work that will let us locate erosion sources of nutrient runoff and partner with road associations and landowners to mitigate it. It also puts us in a position to apply for state and federal grants to protect and preserve our lakes. THANKS!

The McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Association is a 501(c)3 organization, and all contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Your check can be made payable to MPSLA and mailed to PO Box 576, Oakland ME 04963. Thank you.

 






If you wish to donate via PayPal or credit card, use the Donate button on the right:

In addition to money, we need VOLUNTEER HELP. There’s lots to do!
Call Christie at 465-2227 or email mpslassociation@gmail.com.

The camps on Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond support our watershed survey:

MPSLA has support for the watershed survey from:

  • the Norcross Wildlife Foundation
  • the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP)
  • the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA)
  • the Belgrade Lakes Association (BLA)
  • the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.