We’re very thankful for the year-round beauty of our watershed and for our community that works together to protect it. All of us here at 30 Mile wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

With gratitude,

Lidie, Sara, Silas, Sonya, and Kim

30 Mile Open House

December 6th, 4:30-6:30 PM

Mt. Vernon Village

Stop by to see us at 6 Seavey Corner Road for our first holiday open house! We will have lots of holiday gifts available. The Mount Vernon Community Center will have their annual tree lighting festivities from 5-8 PM, including carols and visits with Santa. Sadie’s at 16 Main Street will have light refreshments, music, and horse drawn wagon rides.

Wayne Stroll

December 6th-7th, 9 AM-3 PM

Wayne Village 

Shop local businesses, including many talented artisans, potters, crafters, and bakers; enjoy delicious food; and take a horse drawn wagon ride. Come visit us at the Place House at 15 Memorial Park Lane, where we will have a variety of gifts for sale. Learn more here. 

On November 13th, Androscoggin’s water clarity continued to show improvement with a reading of 2.99 meters (9.8 feet). Since October 30th, according to the Maine DEP standards, the lake has no longer been experiencing a lake-wide algal bloom, although scum accumulations are still being observed along the shoreline. Our staff are continuing to monitor past our regular season to track the bloom’s status. Please refer to our Androscoggin Bloom Latest Updates webpage for additional information, guidelines, and updates. 

On November 10th, we participated in the Wayne Presents! Androscoggin Lake Algal Bloom forum. Our Executive Director, Lidie Robbins, shared updates on our ongoing efforts to understand the blooms and the data and analysis needed to identify management solutions. Other speakers included Ted Tucci, ALIC's President, sharing ways the community can get involved and ALIC’s 2026 action plan, and Matt Scott, retired DEP lake expert, discussing other lakes that have struggled with algal blooms.

Approximately 150 attended the event (in-person and online). The program was followed by a comments/question-and-answer period. We have shared answers to these questions on our website here.

We’ve been out for some late-season monitoring despite the chilly temperatures. This extended monitoring has been utilized for Androscoggin Lake to keep a close eye on the status of the recurring algal bloom. 

This year marked our 5th season of managing the invasive variable-leaved milfoil infestation in Androscoggin Lake. Through consistent survey, removal, and control, we’ve successfully been able to prevent the plant from spreading to other parts of the lake. Highlights accomplished for the season included completing a lake-wide survey with the Androscoggin Lake Association’s Eyes on the Water team and the implementation of benthic barriers – tarp-like mats that smother plants and the light they receive.

Last month marked the end of our regular field season, where our vital volunteers invested their time to help us fulfill our mission. This month, we would like to recognize our Water Quality Monitoring and LakeSmart volunteers. Thank you for your dedication!

Water Quality Monitoring

This year, 30+ dedicated volunteers assisted 30 Mile’s staff with monitoring water quality in 13 lakes and ponds. Together, we completed more than 114 sampling events! Over the winter, we will work to complete data analysis and reporting, then update our water quality report webpages for each lake and pond. In the meantime, check out the dissolved oxygen/temperature profiles and clarity readings we collected this season here. 

Through our monitoring program, we collect extensive data to track the health of our lakes and ponds. We measure water clarity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, chlorophyll, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, and color. We monitor bi-weekly, May-October. There are roles for both trained and untrained volunteers to support our program. Volunteers who complete training and annual recertification with Lake Stewards of Maine become certified to collect data themselves. Other volunteers assist with on-water transportation. If you’d like to learn more, please contact Sara at sara@30mileriver.org or (207) 860-4043.

2025 Volunteers: 

Androscoggin Lake: Patt Koscinski**, Leslie Burhoe, Buddy Cummings, Allen & Cynthia Unrein

Basin Pond: Steve Smith-Erb, Bill Young 

David Pond: Bob Harradon, Steve Smith-Erb

Echo Lake: Gary Phillipp**

Flying Pond: Randy Oakley, Len Roe

Hales Pond: Steve Foster

Kimball Pond: Kathy DiPhilippo*, Libby & Allan Harville

Lovejoy Pond: Ron & Deb Aseltine, Ted & Mary Becker, Mark Robinson

Minnehonk Lake: Jane & Carl Rogers

Parker Pond: Ken Tillman**, Gerry Tinguely, Bob Weimont

Pocasset Lake: Deb Duplisea*, Bruce Atkins, Will Jennings, Brian Moore 

Tilton Pond: Lori Beaulieu** 

Whittier Pond: Sheri Shunney*, Ned and Kay Van Woert*

*Certified Volunteer Monitor - Secchi Disk Transparency

**Certified Volunteer Monitor - Dissolved Oxygen/Temperature and Secchi Disk Transparency

LakeSmart

30 Mile is a regional LakeSmart “HUB” support center for this statewide program. LakeSmart would not be possible without our partner lake associations, and their volunteer coordinators and evaluators doing the work on the ground. This year, LakeSmart teams in our watershed completed 21 property evaluations, delivering LakeSmart education property-by-property and shore-by-shore to create a conservation ethic across the lake community. Contact Sara at sara@30mileriver.org or (207) 860-4043 to learn more and join a current LakeSmart team or start one for your lake!

Androscoggin Lake: Cynthia Giguere-Unrein (coordinator), Buddy Cumming, Patt Koscinski, Allen Unrein, John Yindra

Flying Pond: Cindy Ripley (coordinator), Diane Araps, Ellen Ellis, Beth Trehu, John Zacker

Minnehonk Lake: Jan Arminio, Jenny Small

Parker and David Ponds: Deb Cayer (coordinator), Susan & Gerry Tinguely

Just a few simple, easy-to-do maintenance practices on your camp road can help keep it functioning properly during storm events and save you money in maintenance and repair costs.

1. Remove debris from ditches and culverts
2. Clean waterbars, rubber razors, open-top culverts, and other installed water diversion Best Management Practices (BMPs)
3. Grade and crown your road 

To learn more about how these practices can help limit erosion that harms water quality, visit our full article here.