September 2024 Newsletter from the 30 Mile River Watershed Association

Photo by Josh Robbins

Maine Public series on climate change and Maine’s lakes features 30 Mile staff

At the end of August, Maine Public aired a four-part series called “In Hot Water,” examining the impact of climate change on Maine lakes. Parts 1 and 2 featured 30 Mile staff members Lidie Robbins and Whitney Baker, and Board member Buddy Cummings. Listen to the series here:

Part 1: Climate change is overheating Maine's pristine lakes

Part 2: As lakes warm, pollution threats grow deep below the surface

Part 3: Maine's warming lakes incubate damaging invasive plants

Part 4: Climate-driven storms add runoff to Maine lakes, degrading water quality

Photo: Maine Public’s Peter Maguire talks with volunteers Allen Unrein and Buddy Cummings while out on Androscoggin Lake.

We’re hiring! 

Land Use Manager

We are seeking applicants for the position of Land Use Manager to oversee and implement our watershed management and land use-related programs. The Land Use Manager must be passionate about protecting our lakes, while having the technical and project management skills and experience to support our extensive and growing programming. Project areas include watershed management and planning, road and stream crossing management, septic systems management, landowner technical assistance, and LakeSmart. For more information, visit our website.

Question of the Month: 

What’s happening with our building in Mt. Vernon?

Construction is underway at our building in Mt. Vernon Village! We are currently focused on Phase I: renovating the barn. The first floor will include a new bathroom, storage, and new stairs to access the second floor, while the second floor will hold our offices and meeting space. Renovations will include new windows, plumbing, wiring, insulation, sheetrock, and flooring. We plan to move in late this fall. 

What is happening with the old house connected to the barn? Once we have Phase II designed and permitted, we will be tearing down the old house and replacing it with a structure that looks very similar to what is there now. Before making this decision, we consulted with several engineers, architects, and builders, and unfortunately, the old structure had very little that was worth saving, so renovating it would cost far more than building new. 

If you are interested in volunteering on this project, please sign up here. This fall we will be looking for volunteers to help with painting, inside and out. 

Photos: (1) New energy efficient windows upstairs will give us great views of Minnehonk, the Village, and the Mill Stream. (2) Board member Kirstie Ludwig tests out paint samples.

“Lake-wide algal bloom” status ends and

milfoil control work resumes on Androscoggin

On September 5th, Secchi Disk Transparency (water clarity) had improved to 2.78 meters (9.1 feet), officially ending a month-long “lake-wide algal bloom” on Androscoggin Lake. The Maine DEP defines the threshold for a “lake-wide algal bloom” as falling to 2 meters of water clarity, and a “harmful algal bloom” (or HAB) at 1 meter. Clarity had improved to 3.9 meters (12.8 feet) by September 12th, but on September 24th it had fallen back to 2.93 meters (9.6 feet). Please remain cautious of any algal scum that may be concentrated on the shoreline, as the type of cyanobacteria that caused this bloom can release toxins that are harmful to animals and humans, under certain conditions. 

The improved water clarity and visibility allowed our staff to get back out surveying the Inner Cove for invasive variable leaf water milfoil for the first time since August 3rd. On September 19th, we placed a benthic barrier over an area where plants had regrown after being removed earlier in the season. Benthic barriers are tarp-like mats that cover the plants on the lake bottom, smothering and preventing them from photosynthesizing, thereby killing the plants and their roots. Benthic barriers are most effective when left out for at least 60 days, and because that brings us well into November, we plan to retrieve this barrier first thing in the Spring.

Photo: Staff member Silas Mohlar and our diver, Adam Turner, install a benthic barrier over an invasive milfoil patch in Androscoggin Lake.

Volunteer CBI finds invasive milfoil

on entering boat

In July, Stephanie Flanagan, a volunteer Courtesy Boat Inspector (CBI) with the Echo Lake Association, found a suspicious looking plant fragment on an entering boat that had last been in Messalonskee Lake, a known infested waterbody. She collected the sample for further identification, and it was confirmed to be variable leaf water milfoil, the most common aquatic invasive species in Maine. This close call is a perfect example of why CBIs' work is so critical as the "first line of defense" in aquatic invasive species prevention. Thank you Stephanie, and to all the CBIs who protect our lakes from invasive species! 

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