Watershed Roundup

April 2024 Newsletter from the 30 Mile River Watershed Association

Photo: Paddle Trek 2023 taken by Trisha Cheney

New full time position!

Development & Operations Coordinator

30 Mile is growing rapidly, and we’re looking for someone extremely organized and detail-oriented who will provide key support for our team. The Development & Operations Coordinator will work across multiple areas of the organization including development, financial management, administration and more.

Learn More & Apply

Vienna and 30 Mile partner to secure funding to address undersized culverts

In early 2024, 30 Mile supported the Town of Vienna by developing and writing a grant proposal for the town to seek funding to address key culvert crossings on town roads that have repeatedly been suffering from severe washouts and road failures. These washouts are a significant threat to water quality in downstream lakes, so addressing them is a priority for 30 Mile. Our proposal was successful in securing a $49,875 grant from the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (MIAF) through Maine DOT. This funding, matched by $2,625 from the town, will be used to hire a professional engineer to complete the scoping, design, and required environmental permitting necessary to upgrade three stream crossings on Jesse Ladd Road, Kimball Pond Road, and Trask Road in Vienna.

In March, 30 Mile again assisted Vienna by writing a proposal for the town's first ever Climate Action Grant through Maine’s Community Resilience Partnership. If awarded, this grant will bring another $50,000 to the town –funding an engineered design at a fourth high-priority culvert crossing, project management and grant seeking by 30 Mile, and the minimum cash match required to apply for additional funding to support the construction of these costly culvert upgrades.

Photo: A massive washout on the Trask Road in Vienna after flood waters over-topped an undersized stream crossing during an intense rain event in December 2023.

LakeSmart needs volunteers for

David Pond, Lovejoy Pond, and Pocasset Lake

We are now gearing up to support another year of LakeSmart in the 30 Mile River watershed. 30 Mile is a LakeSmart HUB support center and provides technical assistance and training to teams of trained volunteers on Parker Pond, Flying Pond, Minnehonk Lake, and Androscoggin Lake. We are in need of new volunteers interested in delivering LakeSmart on David Pond, Lovejoy Pond, and Pocasset Lake.

Volunteer LakeSmart evaluators attend two online training sessions and an on-site training on their lake or one nearby, where they learn to identify signs of erosion, assess a property's ability to prevent run-off and inputs of pollution, and make simple recommendations for improvement to the landowner.

Two free training sessions next month are designed for new volunteers, and also open to current volunteers as a refresher. Both training sessions will be recorded and uploaded to our website following the live presentations.

New Evaluator Basics: Lake Science Introduction, How LakeSmart Works, and an Overview of the LakeSmart Property Evaluation

Tuesday, May 7 at 4 pm. Register here.

Installing and Using Survey123

Join Becky Schaffner, GIS Coordinator at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, to learn how to use LakeSmart’s electronic data entry system, Survey123. Tuesday, May 14 at 5 pm. Register here.

Once both virtual training courses have been completed, the next step in the process is to attend an on-site training with 30 Mile staff who will walk through two evaluations on lakeshore properties with your group. Questions? Please contact Whitney at whitney@30mileriver.org.

Question of the month:

Is riprap the best way to stabilize my shoreline?

A natural and stable shoreline is a complex ecosystem that sustains fish and wildlife, and protects the entire lake. Native vegetation along the shore acts as a buffer against polluted runoff flowing from developed spaces around the lake – intercepting and slowing runoff, extracting nutrients and other pollutants, reducing sedimentation, and preventing shoreline erosion.

All of the vegetation in and near the water forms an important ecosystem that is critical for not only the integrity of your shorefront, but for the wildlife that rely on it for survival and the overall health of your lake. Aquatic plants provide food and shelter for fish, birds, and other animals. Tall plants like bulrush and sedges, and large woody debris like the trunks of fallen trees, reduce the energy of wave action to minimize erosion and help maintain water quality.

Human impacts from shoreline development, and increased boat wakes from recreational use, can cause shoreline erosion and disrupt this valuable habitat.

Until recently, the most recommended and implemented action to address shoreline erosion was to install riprap, or angular rock, to armor and protect the shoreline where it meets the water. Riprap has been commonly used for shoreline erosion due to its relative ease of installation. However, recent research suggests that riprap shorelines are more often NOT effective in preventing erosion long-term and can have significant negative impacts to overall lake health. Why not riprap? Read more here.

Attention Wayne voters:

Special vote impacting Androscoggin Lake

A Moratorium Ordinance focused on Campgrounds and RV parks within the town of Wayne has been proposed by citizen petition. A town-wide vote on this moratorium will be held on April 16th, 2024. Read the full text of the proposed ordinance here and watch the public hearing here. This process was initiated due to great concern over the impact of Jellystone Park Augusta on Androscoggin Lake. If the Moratorium Ordinance is approved, plans for new or expanded campgrounds will be put on hold for at least six months while the town’s regulations concerning campground/RV Park uses are reviewed and updated.

We encourage all Wayne voters to participate in this process. Androscoggin Lake is already a lake at great risk and has suffered from lake-wide algal blooms two of the past three years. Any new development that could harm the lake’s water quality should be very carefully considered.

Photo: 2021 algal bloom

Building renovations have begun!

We are excited to share that construction has begun on our new center for watershed protection in Mt. Vernon village!

In March, the garage got a new roof, and this spring, interior construction will begin, with renovations of both floors of the garage. We are planning to move our full operation there this summer. We will keep you updated on our progress.

Upcoming Workshops and Webinars

Mark your calendars! With so many great workshop opportunities this spring and summer, we are excited to launch a dedicated area on our website to promote events in and around the watershed: upcoming workshops & trainings.

Workshops happening in April:

April 11th | Shoreline Stabilization Practices for Inland Waters Workshop

April 25th | Gravel Road Workshop

Learn More & Register

Registration is Open for Live Plant I.D. and Plant Paddle Workshops in June

Join us for one or both workshops led by LSM and co-hosted by 30 Mile and Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed. To learn more about either workshop and to register, visit our new upcoming workshops and trainings page!

Check out 30 Mile's new store!

30 Mile's online store is your go-to place for cozy gear, camp games, and other unique gifts that feature the lakes and ponds of the 30 Mile River Watershed. Our new store has something special for everyone. All proceeds directly support 30 Mile's work across the watershed.

Shop

Support 30 Mile! Your gift today will make a difference in protecting our lakes from phosphorus pollution, invasive species, and other threats. Find the giving level that works for you.

Donate Today

www.30mileriver.org