Protecting the Pierce Pond watershed for thirty-one years Threats from Afar Winter 2020 newsletter—volume 9 When conserving land isn’t enough

—Jerry Bley submerged aquatic plants that, when introduced into a lake or pond, can quickly The Pierce Pond Watershed Trust expand to create dense beds and mats. has excelled in conserving land over the past 30 years, success- According to the Maine DEP, milfoil fully eliminating development infestations, “have the potential to be rights in the Pierce Pond devastating with dense mats impairing watershed. Today, our full efforts boating, fishing and swimming.” Hydrilla (an are focused on acquiring lands to invasive native to Africa, Australia, and parts greatly improve stewardship of of Asia) is a prolific weed that forms stems up the watershed. to 30 feet long which can dominate freshwater ecosystems quickly. All three can reproduce However, even when we achieve from fragments created by boats, swimmers, our objective of owning most or animals. DEP states that “the introduction watershed land, there will be of one single fragment of this plant can result many threats from afar – most in the infestation of an entire lake. Once A Variable-Leaf-Milfoil-Infested Lake in Maine notably those posed by invasive introduced into a lake, they are virtually and introduced plants and impossible to eradicate.” animals that have the potential to disrupt the watershed’s natural When asked about the vulnerability of Pierce ecosystems. To better understand Pond and other ponds in the watershed, DEP’s today’s and tomorrow’s threats, McPhedran noted that the watershed has the we spoke with two experts; following factors working in its favor that Biologist John McPhedran of the reduce the risk of invasive species infestation: Invasive Aquatic Species Program  Most reports of aquatic invasives have been of the Maine Department of within the southwest quadrant of the state on Environmental Protection (Maine ponds that are far more accessible than Pierce DEP), and Assistant Regional Pond. However, McPhedran notes that there Fisheries Biologist Elizabeth has been a documented report of variable-leaf Thorndike, who is based in the milfoil in Big Lake in Washington County. Maine Department of Inland Grand Lake Stream, with its renowned Fisheries & Wildlife (Maine landlocked salmon fishery, flows into Big IF&W) Region D Office in Strong. Lake from West Grand Lake. Known threats in Maine  The most common aquatic invasives favor Under Maine law, eleven plant shallow areas (<20' deep), so would not likely species have been designated as thrive in most of Pierce Pond. invasive aquatics: introduced  Pierce Pond has limited public boat-access foreign plants that can grow points. Travelers to the most utilized boat rapidly, displace native species, access site, Lindsay Cove, must pass the and disrupt ecosystems. The most gatehouse, where the keeper is trained to notable invasives on this list are Northern Pike, Torsey Pond, Readfield, Maine inspect incoming boats and educate users. Once a non-native fish species is illegally introduced, that two types of milfoil – variable- water is forever changed. leaf milfoil and Eurasian milfoil –  Many of the boats used in Pierce Pond and along with hydrilla. All three are the outlying ponds are rental boats from continued on page 7 page 2 Winter 2020—Volume 9 Pierce Pond Watershed Trust Message from the President

Board of Directors We are entering our 31st year with a new first came to their Abbe Island camp in the name, a name that clearly and unequivocally 1940s, and Anne and other members of the President: Carl Freeman, Hampden, ME expresses our mission and focus: the Pierce extended Abbe clan have enjoyed Pierce Pond 1st Vice Pres: Bud Meader, Rochester, NH Pond Watershed Trust. Nearly half of our ever since. members took the trouble to send a postcard, 2nd Vice Pres: Eric Saunders, Cumberland, ME The Board of Directors, recognizing the e-mail, or call to share their opinion and importance of the next generation to the Treasurer: Mike Peluso, Oakham, MA comments, and 94 percent of those preservation of our watershed, approved a Secretary: David B. Soule, Jr., Wiscasset, ME responding voted in favor of the new name. new $5 youth membership for those 17 People on both sides of the issue submitted and under. Directors: impassioned comments. Some felt that the Charles Burnham, Strafford, NH history and spirit of “Maine Wilderness We were able to accelerate trails renovation Watershed Trust” should not be abandoned, work thanks to a generous match-grant Anne Dougherty, Plymouth Meeting, PA but most felt strongly that our name should opportunity from Glen and Linda Grigerek, Benjamin Gale, Middleburg, VA reflect our mission, which is “to protect the and the generosity of members who stepped up with qualifying gifts to meet the match! A Jack Gibson, Norridgewock, ME wild character, natural resources, and scenic beauty of the Pierce Pond watershed, and total of 31 members donated gifts of $1,000 or Chas Gill, Bowdoinham, ME preserve traditional public recreational use of more to be used for future care and Christina Jackson, Yarmouth, ME the area.” Some members told us that they stewardship of the watershed, thereby enabling us to obtain a $50,000 grant for trail Lisa Langburd, Poland, ME would have joined a long time ago if they’d renovation and construction. known that Pierce Pond was our focus. By far Gene McKenna, Bowdoinham, ME the most common comment Last summer’s (2nd Annual) Ann Messinger, Portland, ME was “Yes! Change the Trail-Clearing Day was once Jim Norris, Winthrop, ME name!!!” So we are now again a great success. Loyal “doing business as” Pierce volunteers showed up on July David Peppard, Eddington, ME Pond Watershed Trust, while 27 armed with tools, work Derek Pierce, Portland, ME Maine Wilderness Watershed gloves, and bug spray to clear Jane Podkaminer, Jamesville, NY Trust remains our legal and blaze a rerouted trail from name, preserving the validity Upper Pond to Kilgore Pond. Advisory Committee of pre-existing legal The old trail to Kilgore John Cashwell, Bangor, ME instruments. Special thanks follows a low, wet route. The are owed to Allison (Peluso) new route is on high-and-dry Andy Cobb, North Anson, ME Mathieu for designing our ground that makes for a really Gary Cobb, N. New Portland, ME new Pierce Pond Watershed nice hike. This trail is the first segment of a planned five-mile Greg Drummond, Highland Plantation, ME Trust logo in a way that both updates and maintains loop trail that will link Upper Yasmin Fahr, New York, NY consistency with our Trail-Day Volunteers, July 2019 Pond, Kilgore Pond, King Robert Haynes, Skowhegan, ME previous MWWT logo. Pond, Split Rock Pond, and Middle Pond. The loop will use a combination Larry Valentine, Norton, MA Other recent developments include the of existing trails, rerouted trails, and the Roland Ware, Portland, ME following: woods road along Pierce Pond, as well as some new sections of trail. The loop trail will We have been offered the donation of a Contracted Services be the first of its kind in the water-shed, strategic one-acre parcel of land from the Jerry Bley, Readfield, ME providing a high quality hiking route that Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust Coordinator connects numerous watershed ponds. (MATLT). It is adjacent to the Appalachian Kyle McCaskill, Lisbon Falls, ME Trail corridor as well as to Harrison’s Camps. The continued and growing support (both Administrative Manager financial and physical) for our trails We have completed much-needed repairs to development activities reflects the generational Otter Pond Cove Road to ensure that people changes taking place within our membership. can drive to Otter Pond Cove and the Otter Pierce Pond Watershed Trust Our anglers are being joined by family- Pond Mountain trailhead. Also, Bud Meader PO Box 5660 and his crew cleaned and renovated the oriented members seeking different ways to Augusta, Maine 04332-5660 caretakers cabin. enjoy the watershed and the ponds. Their (207) 835-4535 involvement is strong and growing, and they In 2019 we were pleased to welcome a new are part of the future of the Pierce Pond [email protected] director to the Board, Anne Stallman Watershed Trust. www.piercepondwatershed.org Dougherty. Anne’s grandfather, Charles Abbe,

[email protected] Pierce Pond Watershed Trust page 3 longer than we expected. It grew dark, and Rediscovering Paradise we were becoming nervous. Suddenly we Pearning —Kyle McCaskill came over the hill and saw the water. “Holy —Sarah Corbett (reprinted from New York smoke,” I said, “This place is absolutely Magazine with permission) I caught up with Ben Gale recently and asked him beautiful.” When I got out of the car, I had a why he has always been so supportive of the Trust. sudden flash, and was flooded with memories. Each July, a very small group of friends and This is what he told me: I knew this would be my new paradise. I spend seven days together on a remote, When I was little, my I joined the Maine Wilderness Watershed miles-long pond in Maine. (I don’t know grandmother Blossom Trust during that first visit to Pierce Pond. I why it’s called a pond as opposed to a lake.) in Florida had a told them I sat on a charitable foundation that To get there, you drive about two hours on gardener—a man might be able to help. I wasn’t able to get the highway, then another hour on country named Eddie Pierce, back to Cobb’s until 1996, but I never forgot roads, then 20 minutes down a dirt logging who taught me how to that special place, and was able to procure the road, and then you catch a boat to this fish, drink beer, smoke first grants for the Trust in 1993 and 1995. I place — an old Maine fishing camp, cigarettes, laugh at dirty have visited the Pond nearly every year from though none of us fish. There’s no Internet jokes, etc., and became 1996 until now. Additional grants have and no cell service there. We stay in little like a second father to followed over the years. I love Pierce Pond so cabins and spend our days on one of a me. We fished together much that I have directed as much Foundation series of tiny, uninhabited islands reached by canoe, sitting by the water in folding Ben Gale at 18, with from the time I was funding as I could to the Trust. I knew every Eddie Pierce five years old until I penny would help. I have also volunteered as chairs, surrounded by tall trees, with not a was 50, when he died. a Director on the Board since 2005. sound around us — no airplanes overhead, no cars or even roads for miles. We are He’d built a small cabin on the water, near From the beginning, I have urged the Trust to truly disconnected. We read books and play Salerno—no plumbing, electricity, television, raise the funds to buy the watershed lands. I cards and start cocktail hour at 5 p.m. and or phone. We fished on the moon: we’d fish have provided whatever I could monetarily to sleep better than we do all year long. from moonrise till dawn, and then sleep help achieve that goal. I’ll never forget the Nobody has a phone to check or an email during the day. It was paradise. However, peace and splendor of to return for seven straight days. We’ve Eddie hadn’t owned the land he’d built his my youth that was done it for more than 20 years now, and cabin on, and in the 1970s the cabin was bulldozed down. Over every year — as the technological noise has bulldozed by the landowners. and over I’ve said, “If you want to protect a increased — it’s mattered more and more I first visited Pierce Pond in August of 1989, place, you have to to have seven days of true silence and with my wife and adult children. We had own it.” Maybe that community with close friends. (Even our spent a week in Bar Harbor before heading up explains my peculiar teenagers love it. And each year we literally to Cobb’s Camps. The road was dirt all the and fortunate history pray that nobody builds a cell tower on one way from N. New Portland, and it took a lot with Pierce Pond. of the surrounding mountains.) Anyway, about this time of year exactly, all didn’t see any. We did see a Canada jay, of us — each one of us a working Counting Loons another elusive bird on her lifetime list. She professional, overburdened, maxed out, was happy. I haven’t seen another Canada and thoroughly sick of winter — starts —John Abbe jay since. doing something we call “pearning.” It’s In July of 1974, our Aunt Ellie McPherson Back then, I remember really only one pair of basically “yearning for the pond.” It’s trying to summon the feeling of taking a joined us for our annual trip to Pierce Pond. loons, usually on Lower Pond. Fast forward midday nap on your beach towel on the She was an amateur birder from the Midwest, to winter, 2018. I was checking out the Maine pine needles, just listening to the breeze in and had never seen a loon. Before the trip, Audubon website and saw an article about the she asked us all about loons, and she and my annual loon count. I was intrigued, and sent the trees and the loons calling on the pond. It’s longing to be unreachable and fully mom would spend cocktail hour trying to off an e-mail. They responded that they would present in exactly one place in one specific imitate loon calls. love to have me count loons at Pierce Pond. moment. It’s about the deepest and most We arrived at Lindsay Cove, and Ellie saw her Instructions were given, and I waited for July. specific form of longing I know. first loon that night while fly fishing on the south shore. She was impressed with how continued on page 5 long loons can stay underwater, and how big YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS! they are. She heard loon calls overnight and Our Work Depends on You. realized that the cocktail-hour calling hadn’t even been close. Send your gift to PPWT, PO Box 5660, Augusta, ME 04332, call us at (207) 835- The next day, Aunt Ellie made us kids take 4535, or visit piercepondwatershed.org her out in the boat to look for loons. We and set up a recurring monthly gift! www.piercepondwatershed.org page 4 Winter 2020—Volume 9 Goar, Dudley C. Lund, Jo-Ann and David Podkaminer, Joshua (as of 12/31/19) MWWT Member List Goldman, Miriam MacNary, Don & Julie Post, Benjamin and Sharon-Lake Goode, Andrew Madden, Betsy & John Powell, Nancy & Blaisdell, Phil INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY Cook, Floyd A. Goode, Joanne Mahoney, Louise Purcell, Edward MEMBERS Coombs, Colby Goolden, Sandra Manthorne, Bill and Jean Pyne, Lawrence Corbett, John and Katharine Abbe, Dudley & Elisabeth Gould, Bill & Gail Marchant, Doyle Rappaport, Charles Corbett-Paterniti, Sara and Mike Abbe, Hannah Guibord, Russell Palmer Marden, Judith Ray, Carolyn Couture, Edward J. Abbe, Jeff and Judi Gurley, Bruce Marshall, Bruce & Linda Reed, Sarah Cozine, James & Betsy Abbe, John Haines, Terry & Fran Massey, Donna Lee Reneson, Chet Cronin, Mervell and Anne Abbe, Susan Hall, John W. & Priscilla D. Matherson, Richard, Steve & Robey, Jeff & Abby Daboll, Roger and Barbara Allen, Louise Hallett, Lucius & Carol Tyler Roelle, William & Shari Danker, Paul & Christine Allen, Richardson B. Hardesty, Vaughn & Phoebe Mathieu, Allison Salmon, Richard, & Mary Jane Dart, Lawrence and Darlene Ames, Calvin and Cathy Harmon, David & Mary Mathieu, Daniel, and Thomas Reed Davis, Joanne Anderson, Clifford John Hashem, Sr Daniel F. Potter Sands, Robert, & Susan Firlotte Anderson, Eric S. & Schneider, Davis, Richard & Sheryl Haynes, Adam, & Gennifer Matt, Dennis Saurman, Thomas Geraldine DeLorenzo, Michael Giuliano Matteson, Paul & Nancy Sawyer, Peter Anderson, Robert & Dorothy Demaso, L. William & Marie Hemkes, Dorothy McCaskill, Kyle Schenkel, Andrew and Randy Anderson, Ronald J. Demont, Robert D Henebry, Brendan & Betsy McCollor, Reginald Schmidle, Heather Anne Anderson, Tom and Peggy DeSisto, Richard Hering, Jennifer & Lionel McCormick, Kyle & Diane Schmidle, Hillary Arsenault, Don Dickinson, Gregory J. Herrmann, Paul N. McKenna, Gene & Jane Scott, Michael V. Astbury, Art Dillon-Jones, Carla Herrmann, Peter B. McLaughlin, Robert and Kristen Scott, Richard Aten, Jeff & Eileen DiPrizio, Prisco & Phyllis Hildreth, Daniel, and Lillian Meader, Heather Scott, Ted Aten, Joseph E. Dornish, Karl & Jane Harris Mehaffey, William and Margaret Scribner, Richard and Jo Ellen Averill, Andrew & Catherine Douglass, Cynthia Ayn Hill, Chamberlain Meisner, Stephen & Marcia Shaw, Harold & Suzanne Baker, Dale and Patricia Dow, Mac & Georganne Hilton, Hope Messinger, Ann Sheresky, Steven & Tapley Baker, Robert W. Jr. Drillen, Cyril & Kathlyn Hitchcock, Bob and Connie Miles, Keith M. Sheridan, Kevin Barriault, Ronald F. Drummond, Eileen Hitchings, David Miles, Paul & Nancy Shields, Walker and Joyce Barter, Albert & Davida Drummond, Greg & Patrice Holt, Timothy A. Miller, Buell A. Shropshire, Ken and Linda Bartlett, William and Julianne Drummond, Kate, and Peter Elias Horn, Daniel Mitchell, Henry W. & Joan Sikorsky, Igor & Karen Bates, Linda, & Jeffrey Leo Dubois, Arthur and Bridget Horner, Carl A Molloy, Brian Silbor Jr., Hurley and Jean Bean, Christopher and Claudette Dugan, Sam & Diane Howard, Gabriella Molloy, Frederick R. Silva, John & Eleanor Beck, Katherine Dyer, Carole Hubbe, Peter & Mary Molloy, Kevin and Erica Siscoe, Bob & Chris Bell, Daniel O. Ebbeson, Bruce and Beverly Hutchins, Betty Molloy, Peter M. Skelton, John and Jody Berry, Irene & Bill Edmonds, Tom & Susan Hutchins, Eric E. Molzan, David Smaglia, Robert and Anne Betts, Cameron & Heather Edson, Ann Hutchins, Scott & Laura Moretti, Frances Smallidge, David and Victoria Bickford, Jeff & Julie Elsaesser, Frederick Iannuccilli, Leonard Morrell, Doug & Georgette Spalding, Ben Bicknell, Bruce Engelhard, Mary Jagger, C. Thomas Morton, Gerald & Jean St. Pierre, James A Bien, Stephen Engstrom, Leroy and Elizabeth Jeffers, Georgia Moses, Bradley and Nancy Stallman III, George L Blake, Alfred C and Elaine T Enright, Richard J. Jennings, Rupert, and Carol Murphy, Patricia Stallman, Alexander and Jutta Bousquet, Paul R. Jr. Estes, Brian & Melissa Robinson Murray, Charles and Amanda Stallman, Alison Michelle Brasslett, Gordon R. & Clement, Estes, Jason & Pam Johnson, Peter & Mary Ann Nazemetz, Michael, & Hussey, Stallman, Christian Kyle Patty Estes, Stephen & Jo-Ann Julia, James D. Ann Lee Staples, Stephen Brown, Gary Ewing, John Kay, Ronald & Barbara Neudel, Eric Alan Stauffer, Jo Ann Brown, Peter & Karen Fagan, Christopher T. Kennedy, Rev. Thomas & Joanna Neudel, Eric, & Alison Gilkey Stover, Jacqueline L. Buchanan, Donald W. III Fagan, Kathleen Kennedy, Robert G. & Jacqueline Neudel, Peter M. Stowell, Patricia, and Peter Ver Burke, Gary & Deborah Fahr, Yasmin Kimball, Kerry & Jeanette Nichols, Don Lee Burnham, Charles & Ann Fales, Jerry Kittredge, Robert J. Nichols, Shane & Darcie Stringos, Gust & Jan Burnham, Frederick H. Farris, Kenneth E. Kizelewicz, Benedict O’Brien, Matthew F. Stupak, Joe, & Suzanne Trussell Burns, James and Gloria Feitz, Nick & Pamela Klinkenberg, R.B. & Ann O'Brien, David Matthew Sullivan, Lynn Burns, Robert P., & Elizabeth Fenn, Ruth & Chris Koss, Lauron & Mary O'Brien, Frederic & Patricia Sutherland, Leslie and Constance Spaulding Fenton, Nancy H. Krohn, William B Oehmig, Keith Taylor, Mark & Sheila Calder, Wanda Field, Peter & Alice Labrie, Lawrence Oliver, Richard W. Thomas, Kimberly E. Abbe Cameron, Evan & Janet Flanagan, Dolores Lagios, Lisa and Eric Olson, Jr. Gunnar Thorp, Philips & Heather Campbell, Brock Alan Flanagan, John J Langille, Dolores Olson, Sr. Gunnar Thunberg, Robert G. Campbell, Colin and Regina Flewelling, Bruce K. Latini, Anthony and Christine Orcutt, Amos and Lola Thurston, Steve Canada, Jeanne G. Foster, David Learmonth, Jack Park, Roger & Elizabeth Timmins, James A. Cardozo, John Fowler, Judith Lee, William Parsons, III Marcus Torrey, David Carlson, John and Jane Fraser, Constance Lehman, Chris Patterson, William J. Toth, Mark Carver, Chris and Mary Frazee, Kenneth E. Leigner, Ethan Pauwels, Stanislas Townsend, Louise Charles, Ed & Elizabeth Gage, Bradlee & Rosemarie LeMaire, Brett Alan Payson, Frances Farr Trachtenberg, Howard and Carol Childs, Richard and Linda Gage, Lynda Lepage, Charles & Joan Peacock, Carlton D. Tripp, Bruce Chipman, David W. & Kathe Gage, Sr Bradlee E. Lepage, James B Pechnik, Frank Turgeon, Allan & Suzanne Cobb, Gary A. & Patricia Gage, William and Anne Lepore, Michael & Mary Percival, David & Bonnie Valentine, Charles and Annette Cobb, Jaysen Merrill Gale, Tyler V. Lepore, Paul Perkins, Toni Verrill, David E. Cobb, Ruth Gallant, Dennis and Joanne Leslie, John & Susan Peterman, Robert & Debra Cockburn, Robert, & Jessica Verrill, Jeffrey D. Gendron, George & Janie Leslie, Michael W. Pierce, David Vogt Sr, James B and Marcia Bustin Gibbons, Jr John F. Levesque, Richard H. Plante, Bill Voisine, Rene & Nancy Cole, Russell G. Gillis, Raymond and Joan Libby, Leon & Ann Planting, Charles Scott Collazzo, Paul David Volpi, Robert P Gilman, Gerald W. Lowell, Elwood, and Gloria Hall Plourde, Ken Collette, Rod & Judy Walker, Matthew & Colleen Gilpatric, William & Sally Luczkow, John Plumer, Paul Edward Wallace, David & Linda

[email protected] Pierce Pond Watershed Trust page 5

Wallace, Richard Jr. Lowe, William GIFTS WERE RECEIVED IN MEMORY OF: GIFTS WERE RECEIVED IN Ware, John Lyttle, Peter T. HONOR OF: Warner, Seth C. Meader, Bud Bruce Bates Bill and Beth Gage Ann Burnham and Family Waterman, Erik Messinger, Corrine E. Dean Beachy Robert A. Gibbs Gary and Betty Cobb West, Brent Messinger, Margaret Steven Beachy Donald Hall Floyd and Maudie Cobb and Family Westphal, Christian Meurer, Glenn and James Beck Patrick T. Jackson IV Westphal, Robert & Barbara Gordon W. Bell John Jeffers We are pleased to recognize the Leslie Michka, Alan & Kay Kathleen (Kate) Sullivan Blake Ruth Meader following PIERCE POND White, Donald & Teresa Milliken, Brian Kate Corbett MWWT GUARDIANS, who have Whiting, Bruce Moores, Blaine D. Morgan Daboll Stanley L. Payson, Jr. generously included PPWT in their Whiting, Tim and Anne Morse, Peter Cynthia Ayn Douglass Payson Perkins estate planning: Nicholas, Jos & Electa Whitney, Doreen Richard Fagan Chris Schaefer Mrs. Payson Perkins Williams, Gay and Brian Sevier Alfred Hopkins Fenton Russell Sirianni Peter Herrmann Winslow, Donnabeth Nichols, Zachary Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth H. Flewelling Leon (Smokey) W. Stover Kevin Sheridan Wirth, Donald and Jean Norris, James P Harry Fowler Robert, Evelyn, and Henry Winslow Peter Sawyer Wright, James M. & Parker, Donald S. Georgiana Payson, III Stanley L. Yeaton, Christopher Peacock Family Loons continued from page 3 Young, Ron Peluso, Mike & Robin I arrived two days before the official counting On Saturday at seven a.m. we did the same Peppard, David & Theresa day, which is the third Saturday of July, when loop. We had been listening all morning to a SPONSOR, Perry, Thomas R and BENEFACTOR, & Yvette J the birds are most likely to be nesting and loon right off the point of Abbe’s island. We SUSTAINING MEMBERS Pierce, Derek, & Hanson, rearing their young. My sister-in-law Judi, who saw it immediately and moved on. We saw Abbe, Chris Anja was also intrigued, joined me for the count as several more single loons, and raft of four in Allen, Andrew and Mary Pikaart, Christine Pikaart, Edward Jr., & forward observer. Otter Pond Cove. In front of Cobb’s we saw Allen, Douglas F. Jr. Margie one flying south. Coming back from Gull Bailey, H. Whitney We did reconnaissance the day before at the Podkaminer, Jane & Nate Rock, we saw two flying north, making that Bailey, Lawrence E. designated time, seven to seven-thirty in the Powell, Ruth Baker, Peter C. special call they make only when flying. We Powell, Sam morning. A short observation window is used Bastien, Margaret saw a total of eleven loons in Lower Pond, Rand, Alice & Peter to get a snapshot of the population, and to Blake, Patrick R. Reynolds, Steve and more than I had predicted. So, in my entirely Bley, Jerry eliminate the possibility of double-counting. Kathy unprofessional opinion, we have a healthy Capofreddi, Matthew & We saw five loons in Lower Pond and none in Ross, John Amy loon population, especially compared to our Saunders, Eric the air. We boated a half-hour loop from our Cobb, Gary & Betty informal observation in 1974. Aunt Ellie Schmidle, Paul and dock to Otter Pond Cove, Lindsay Cove, Gull PIkaart, Edward Jr. & Wendy would be happy. Margie Rock, and back to the dock. We checked the Sirianni, Amy Cournoyer, Edmond small coves and the rocks and islands closely, Note: No evaluation of loon health can be made without Curci, Michael & Siscoe, Nancy looking for nesting action (using standard years of observation. We will be counting loons again Christine Soley, Judy next year. We could use additional Pierce Pond volunteers to Dougherty, Anne and Soley, Tim, David, & Jack loon-observation precautions). We didn’t see Soule, David B. Jr., & any. We would stop the motor every couple cover Middle and Upper Pond: visit Vince www.maineaudubon.org/projects/loons/annual-loon-count/ Douglass, David T and Patricia O'Reilly of minutes to look and listen quietly. Kay L Steinhacker, Robert and for more information. Foss, Patricia Marianne Stuart, Blake Frantzman, Joel In loving memory of Steve would often pitch an army tent in back Freeman, Carl J. Stuart, Ralph & Carol Tolley, George and of the cabin so that he could go fishing early in Gale, Benjamin Steven Rowell Naomi Gee, Thomas Gibbs the morning without waking up the whole Valentine, Lawrence & Gibbs, Thirza Abbe, camp. Mary K. Gibson, Jack & Gail Vetelino, John Frank 1953-2020 Gill, Charles and Linda As an adult, for many years he enjoyed Vogt, James Glover, Lynzy —The Abbe Family bringing friends Dick M. and Gary M. to Vogt, Jeffrey Weil Grigerek, Linda and Glen Wallace, Richard & Carol camp on Memorial Day. He would prepare Hagan, Walter & Whitney, Winston S Steve was a kind (with Gary’s help!) large meals on the front Gracemary Young, Lincoln C. & table, complete with flowers and decorations, Haynes, George P. soul. Hunter, fisherman, raconteur. He loved Lincoln S. Hiro, Sue telling long stories (he rarely had short ones), and then take a picture of the spread. Zamoic, Michael Hosmer, III Calvin and . and told us many stories about his early days Steve loved sharing Pierce Pond with new Cynthia at Pierce Pond. He told us about the time in Howard, Alice & Phillip people, especially kids. He would fill their the early 60s when he went to camp with our Hurtig Family, The heads with all the old stories that we had Hutchins, Wayne, & grandfather, Dutch Abbe—probably Dutch’s heard a hundred times. We would roll our Rebecca Gowen last trip. Dutch was driving a Ford Thunder- eyes, and then usually listen. Jackson, Patrick and bird and got it up to 70 mph on the “ new Christina We will miss Steve. He taught us to enjoy the Langburd, Alan and Lisa road “ (Long Falls Dam Road). He let Steve three parts of a trip to camp: the excitement Latti, Michael B & Georgia and Jeff hang on for dear life in the back seat. Leigner, Jr Frank P. They fished with Iral Bean and caught some of the planning, the time at camp, and the Lepore, Michael & Megan whoppers. memories. Thanks to Steve, we have many Lord, Brad great memories. We hope you do, too. www.piercepondwatershed.org page 6 Winter 2020—Volume 9 and offers views of the pond. The stone Angler Takes a Hike bench halfway up was a welcome sight, as Gregory demanded a bottle. The air was —Brent West swirling and unsettled, which made me think Having grown up Gregory. We made it to the trailhead after a we might not make the ledges. spending my slow ride on the back roads. It always amazes We pressed on, as it was not much further to summers at the me what a small world it is, because as we the middle ledges. The next section of trail family camp on started hiking, we bumped into an old winds through some old-growth forest, which West Carry Pond, acquaintance, Tabitha, who works at Cobb’s. is a nice change of pace from the normal even I know just how special Pierce Pond is. My Tabitha told us we were in for a treat and that -aged scrub that is common throughout most youth was spent with a fishing pole and the middle ledge was her favorite spot. The of the area. Part of the trail follows a moose Delorme Gazetteer, exploring the many ponds trailhead is marked by a hand-painted sign, run, and I wondered if we might give Gregory and streams in the region. The Hex hatch was which seems to match the character of this his first encounter. We came to another my kryptonite as I spent all my gas money place. The beginning of the trail is easy but painted sign telling us we had reached Middle racing up to Lindsay Cove to make the dusk interesting, as it passes by huge glacial erratics Ledge. We could see Bigelow reaching into hatch. Ken was the gatekeeper back then, and the clouds, looming over the choppy waters of luckily he never worried about how late I the pond. I left Krysta and Gregory to enjoy would come back out. If you have never the view while I continued to Upper Ledge. caught a salmon by headlamp, you are The upper ledge offered less of a view, but did missing out! help to extend the hike. We hiked out to the I spent years working for the U.S. Fish and sound of a snoring baby and tales of the many Wildlife Service in Maryland, until my wife Pierce Pond adventures of my youth. Krysta and I decided to move back to our Thank you for your diligence in protecting this home state of Maine. We landed in the special place. It was nice to have this trail so friendly town of Readfield, and I was lucky close to camp. I would love to spend most of enough to meet Jerry Bley when I joined the my time hunting and fishing, but this offered local conservation commission. We inevitably an activity my whole family could participate spoke about Pierce Pond, and he told me in. As Gregory grows up, we will teach him to about a great new addition to the Pierce Pond fly-fish, paddle, and camp on Pierce Pond, but Watershed: the Otter Pond Mountain Trail. for now, short hikes and motor-boat rides let This past summer, my wife and I decided to us experience this country and be immersed check it out with our 12-month-old son in nature.

Volunteer for Trail-Clearing Day!

Each July for the past two summers, Pierce Pond volunteers have gathered to clip and clear brush and paint blazes on new and renovated trails. The work was hard but fun enough that volunteers urged the Trust to make it an annual event. There are many trails in the watershed that need some work, so mark your calendars for the last week in July next summer and stayed tuned for announcements!

Things to remember while fishing in Maine:

 Always dispose of unused bait on land or in a trash can, NOT in the water.

Preserve Maine waters! Before moving boats between water bodies:  Follow fishing regulations. They are there to preserve Maine fish. CLEAN off any mud, plants, and animals from boat, trailer, motor and other  If you see someone keeping fish alive, equipment. Discard removed material in a trash receptacle or on high, dry ground transporting fish, or releasing fish they where there is no danger of them washing into any water body. didn’t catch, call 1-800-253-7887 DRAIN all water from boat, boat engine, and other equipment away from the water. (1-800-ALERT-US).

DRY anything that comes into contact with the water. Drying boat, trailer and  If you catch a fish species you think is equipment in the sun for at least five days is recommended if rinsing your boat, trailer not native, take a picture and don’t release it. parts and other equipment with hot, high pressure water is not an option.

[email protected] Pierce Pond Watershed Trust page 7 Threats from Afar use in many lakes and ponds, it will continued from page 1 hopefully educate the public on the Cobb’s and Harrison’s Camps, limiting the danger of live bait to valued trout Eurasian number of boats coming from other fisheries. It must be said that Pierce Water Milfoil (potentially infested) waters. Pond already has its own introduced- The primary cause of new infestations by fish problem resulting from the invasive plants is the transport of plant mistaken stocking of lake trout many fragments on boats and motors, as well as in years ago. Lake trout compete with bilge and other water tanks. DEP helps to brook trout and salmon up to this day. coordinate a statewide courtesy boat- Pierce Pond fisheries have also been inspection program involving scores of affected by infestations of copepods. organizations and water bodies. The 80,000- While not truly exotic invasives, these plus boat inspections that occur every year small parasitic crustaceans latch onto Variable-Leaf Milfoil have been successful in preventing the fish and in high numbers can place infestation of many water bodies. McPhedran significant stress on fish health. They reported that inspections found invasive are sometimes known as “fish lice” or plants on boats that had last been used on “gill lice.” A copepod species waters as far away as Connecticut and particularly attracted to brook trout Wisconsin, as well as the St. Lawrence River showed up in high numbers in the and Lake Champlain! To prevent the transport Pierce Pond watershed approximately of invasives from one water body to another, twenty years ago, though numbers Maine has adopted the “Clean, Drain and have declined over time. High Dry” protocol publicized by concentrations of copepods have at

StopAquaticHitchhikers.org (see box on p. 6). times been connected to fish Hydrilla

When it comes to animal invasives and hatcheries, and according to introductions, IF&W’s Thorndike is clear that, Thorndike can also be carried from at present, the greatest threat to Maine water one pond to another by fish-eating bodies is the illegal introduction of non-native birds such as loons and kingfishers. fish species that will either prey upon or Potential Future Threats compete with native fisheries. This includes game fish such as northern pike, bass, and There is no shortage of scary invasive crappie, as well as bait fish including species plants and creatures that are not yet of smelt. known in Maine, but are not too far away. Some examples include:

The Belgrade Lakes represent one of the Illustrations by IFAS, forPlants, Center Aquatic UniversityFlorida of worst examples of the effects of illegal fish  Spiny water flea, an invasive exotic introduction. At one time they boasted a land- zooplankton species, was first detected in populations and disrupting food chains and locked salmon fishery that rivaled the North America in 1982 and has recently been nutrient levels in water bodies. They are Rangeley Lakes. Then northern pike were found in Vermont’s Lake Champlain and New currently known to exist throughout the Great introduced, the salmon fishery declined, and York’s Lake George. Zooplankton are small Lakes region and as far east as New York and now salmon have been virtually eliminated. animals that live in the water column and drift Vermont. with the currents. Fisheries biologists fear that According to Thorndike, most illegal fish are According to McPhedran, advances are being the spiny water flea will compete with native introduced by shorefront camp owners who made in both the detection and control of zooplankton as well as smelt and disrupt the want to fish for species from other places that invasives, including increasingly sophisticated food chains for native fisheries. they are familiar with, so they bring some to water sampling techniques that may, in time, camp and dump them into the water. Bait fish  Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, known as be able to identify the presence of a range of introductions tend to result from someone “VHS Virus”,is a deadly infectious fish invasive organisms in a water body. But using live bait where it is not allowed, or disease.VHS was found in European despite such advances, the challenge of aquatic dumping a bait bucket into a pond. freshwater trout in the late 1930s and invasives continues to grow, even in remote, continues to cause epidemics in European pristine locations such a Pierce Pond. The Thorndike believes that Pierce Pond is better Trust urges all Pierce-Ponders to be vigilant. protected from such introductions than most trout farms; it first appeared on the U.S. West water bodies. There are very few camp owners Coast in 1988. According to Thorndike, it is frequently transmitted by bait fish and is on the pond and all are part of the “Pierce For more information, see Maine DEP currently found in several lakes in New York. Pond family.” In addition, in 2019, Maine Invasive Aquatic Species: www.maine.gov/ IF&W changed their general fishing  Zebra mussels are small freshwater mussels dep/water/invasives/index.html, and Maine regulations to prohibit the use of live bait in originally native to the lakes of southern IF&W Illegal Fish Introductions: northern Maine waters, with designated Russia and Ukraine. Their known impacts www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/ exceptions. While this will still permit live bait include killing off native freshwater mussel laws-rules/illegal-introductions.html www.piercepondwatershed.org PO Box 5660

Augusta, Maine 04332-5660 (207) 835-4535

The Pierce Pond Watershed Trust is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to protecting the wild character, natural resources, and scenic beauty of the Pierce Pond watershed and preserving traditional public recreational use of the area.

We hope to see you at MWWT’s 31st ANNUAL MEETING, Banquet, & Auction

Saturday, March 7, 2020 Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine

the shore. When he couldn’t current landowner, Weyerhaeuser The King of Pierce Pond go any farther, he Corporation, and told them the commenced building his history of the tree. He asked if they Steve Estes, as told to Kyle McCaskill camp, using the remains of would spare it again. Then he hiked In 1951, Great Northern Paper (GNP) put in the logging camps and up, flagged the tree, and put up a a road to Lindsay Cove and built camps and a dining hall. sign saying the tree was not to be cut. At this writing, the tree is still 50-horse logging shed in preparation for Fast-forward to around standing. timber harvesting. Robert Estes, Sr. was 38 1975, after GNP had sold when he became the logging boss for this their holdings around Pierce Pond to Scott The tree grows in a jumble of boulders on a operation. Not being a drinker or a card Paper. Gary Cobb had long ago noted the two steep grade, which may be part of the reason it player, Bob would spend his evenings walking enormous pines standing tall above the other escaped cutting in horse-logging days. It sits the edge of the pond and roll-casting. In the trees above the south shore of the pond. right on top of a boulder, its massive roots process, he fell in love with Pierce Pond. When Scott Paper began doing selective wrapping around it in pursuit of earth. It’s After winter roads had been bulldozed for the cutting there, Gary went down to talk to the hard to believe that the tree has withstood the horses, logging was begun along the south woods boss about saving the pines, and fierce winds up there for so long—a prominent shore below Bates Ridge. Bob sent a “cruiser” together they walked up and flagged them. landmark that can be seen from almost every- out to do a wood estimate. The cruiser came Shortly afterwards, as Gary stood looking where in Lower Pond. Based on a measurement back and told him about two HUGE pine trees. southward from Cobb’s Camps, he saw one of of the tree’s circumference, Steve estimates that Bob went to see them, and was so impressed the majestic pines go down. He jumped into a the King Pine is approximately 265 years old. that he ordered them to be left standing. boat and sped down the lake to the cutting operation. The cutters said they’d thought the Then came the Pierce Pond fire of 1952, tree was flagged for cutting! Luckily he got which burned much of the forest GNP had there in time to save the second giant pine. intended to cut, so they halted the operation. The company offered Bob Estes a bonus for The Estes Family still regularly visits their his efforts, and he asked if instead he could Pierce Pond camp. In the winter of 2018/19, have a lease along the south shore of the Bob Estes’ son Steve noticed that the cutting pond. When the lease was granted, he took an activity on Bates Ridge was headed toward the old WWII pickup truck and drove it as far as region where the “King Pine” still towered he could go on the winter logging road nearest above the other trees. Steve contacted the