Photo by Rich Antinarelli

SPRING 2016

Portland Water District ● 225 Douglass Street ● Portland, 04104-3553 ● 207.761.8310 ● www.pwd.org

10 Year Rain Events What’s Making Watershed Sebago 3 Anniversary 4Gardens 5 2016 6 Waves? 7 Prioritization 8 Lakescaping Milfoil Action Cooperative By Nate Whalen

Can milfoil be eliminated in Sebago Lake? With the cooperation of homeowners, local town governments, and lake protection groups such as the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP), the Lakes Environmental Association, Raymond Waterways Protective Association, the Portland Top: LEA crew deploying a benthic barrier. Photo: LEA Water District (PWD) and the Maine Left: Variable leaf milfoil. Photo: LEA Department of Environmental Protection working together as the Sebago Lake Milfoil Action fragments are set adrift to possibly infest areas. Infestations can affect Cooperative, the answer is new lakeshore areas. recreational opportunities such as it’s possible. The good news is that much of the swimming and fishing, and can have Variable leaf milfoil was first lake shore around Sebago Lake is rocky a negative impact on property values discovered in Sebago Lake in the and sandy, which is not ideal for aquatic for homeowners. early 1970s. This aquatic plant is vegetation. Milfoil prefers back water In 2002, the Maine Department not native to New England and coves that have soft mucky bottoms. The of Environmental Protection (DEP) is considered “invasive” because bad news is that some of these backwater it lacks natural enemies to keep places on Sebago Lake are already Continued on page 2 its growth in check, allowing it to heavily infested out-compete other aquatic plants. with milfoil. Sebago Variable leaf milfoil forms a dense Cove in Naples, the canopy of growth at the water’s canals in Bayview surface, making swimming, fishing, Estates in Raymond, and boating difficult. Since the plant the can spread through fragmentation, outlet in Sebago, and every time a boat propeller goes the in through a patch of milfoil, the plants Standish are some are chopped up and hundreds of tiny of the most infested created a “milfoil sticker” program to help fund early detection and mitigation efforts across the state. The milfoil sticker adds an additional $10 fee to a Maine resident boat registration. In 2014, a Raymond resident with property on Sebago Lake named Dianne Potvin lobbied the Maine legislature for more money to fight the milfoil battle in lakes with existing infestations. As a result of her advocacy, recent legislation allocated a larger portion of the milfoil sticker revenue to removal of invasive plants. With this new funding source, the Sebago Lake Milfoil Action Cooperative (the Cooperative) was Top: Milfoil removal. created to take action. Photo: LEA

Bottom left: Variable milfoil. Past success provides Photo: LEA optimistic outlook Bottom right: Working as part of the Cooperative, LEA diver the Lakes Environmental Associa- removing milfoil. Photo: LEA tion’s Milfoil Control Team made significant progress harvesting milfoil in three locations on Sebago Lake in 2015. They worked around Frye Island in the Long Beach Marina, by blocking sunlight. While hand-pulling, Quail Circle Marina, and Moose Cove deployment of benthic barriers, and using for eight days with a Diver-Assisted specialized equipment to suction harvest Suction Harvester boat (see photo) the plants can be fairly expensive, these and removed 185 twenty-five pound methods have proven to be extremely Every summer PWD hires a boat bags of milfoil. They worked in Pick- effective. After using the methods over launch attendant that inspects boats erel Cove in Windham for four days, several years, the Lakes Environmental and trailers as they enter and leave removing 72 bags, and in Lake Se- Association successfully eliminated the Sebago Lake at the Standish Boat bago Estates in Naples for two days, milfoil infestation on the and Launch. Preventing boaters from removing 20 bags. According to the in . unknowingly carrying hitchhiking end-of-year report to the DEP, each The use of chemical herbicides is invasive plants into Sebago Lake of these locations was “sufficiently prohibited in Maine lakes and ponds or transferring plants from Sebago mitigated, with additional monitoring unless the application is approved and Lake to other lakes is key to keeping and maintenance control warranted.” overseen by the State. From a drinking milfoil and other invasive plants These locations will be checked for water standpoint, the use of herbicides from spreading. PWD also provides any signs of regrowth this year. We might be the biggest threat that variable technical assistance and grant funding are excited to have the LEA milfoil leaf milfoil poses to the lake. The Portland for milfoil removal projects.Removing team working on Sebago Lake again Water District provides an average of milfoil is a time-consuming and labor this coming summer, likely spending 22 million gallons of drinking water intensive process but by working most of their time in Sebago Cove as each day to about 200,000 customers in together as a cooperative, milfoil it is the most heavily infested area of Greater Portland. The long term effects elimination in Sebago is possible. the lake. on humans of herbicide application in a The only approved methods for drinking water supply is unknown and Nate Whalen is a water resources removing aquatic invasive plants the mere possibility of herbicides ever specialist at the Portland Water are manual harvesting by DEP- being used on Sebago Lake is concerning. District. He can be reached at [email protected] certified divers and the use of benthic That is why the Portland Water District barriers. Benthic barriers are dark plays an active role in supporting manual colored tarps used to cover plant and mechanical means of controlling infestations and smother the plants milfoil on Sebago.

2 The Sebago Lake Land Reserve Celebrates 10 Years By Laurel Jackson

The Portland Water District (PWD) maintains ownership of about 3,000 acres of land around the lower bay of Sebago Lake in order to protect Left: PWD security staff with the quality and security of the water equestrians who frequent the supply for nearly 200,000 people in Sebago Lake Land Reserve. the greater Portland area. This land is known as the Sebago Lake Land Reserve. While some drinking water utilities protect their water supplies by making the land around them completely off-limits to the public, PWD has taken a different approach. Though the most critical land right around the shoreline of Sebago critical to the water supply and Lake is fenced off, we promote allowing low-impact recreation environmentally friendly recreation on land outside the most critical on the majority of our land. By zone. Fences were installed to inviting the public to use the land delineate the most critical no for such activities as hiking, biking, trespassing areas around the hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling, shoreline, and a set of rules was we have built a network of friends established for public use of and neighbors that use the land the remaining areas. To make regularly and act as extra eyes and public access to the land simple ears for our security staff. and non-intrusive, yet maintain Prior to the creation of the some level of accountability, a Sebago Lake Land Reserve in 2005, permitting system was created the District’s watershed protection that utilized self-service permit land was technically designated as kiosks. Ten permit kiosks were “no trespassing” by state law but deployed in the most convenient some areas were historically used access areas and outfitted with by people for walking, hunting and trail maps, land access permits, fishing. The rules for access and use and other information. were not always clear. By 2005 the People who had historically the Otter Ponds area, providing need for increased protection of our used the land were still able to, and those guidance to visitors using the spider- nation’s infrastructure, including who previously felt unsafe or unclear on web-like trail system in that area. water supplies, was clearly apparent rules for access started exploring the trail Additionally, previously overgrown and the PWD Board of Trustees was system. Now there are many people who trails have been rehabilitated to charged with deciding how the land use the Land Reserve on a daily basis. usable conditions - offering new would be managed into the future. This is beneficial to PWD because even views of the ponds and more area One of the options the trustees with security staff patrolling year-round, to explore. Last year new benches considered was to fence off the land we can’t be everywhere at once and our were installed in a few key locations completely and enforce the existing land reserve patrons serve as extra eyes to provide rest areas for those on no trespassing law like some water and ears on the trails and on the lake. adventures on the Land Reserve. utilities have done and continue to They appreciate the ability to use the land Also, a hillside amphitheater was do. After significant deliberation and want others to be respectful of the built to accommodate outdoor and a series of public meetings, the rules as well. educational lessons and other events board decided to find a balance The Land Reserve’s popularity has near the Sebago Lake Ecology Center. between prohibiting any and all grown steadily and the past few years In 2016 the wetland boardwalk activity, and creating a system that have seen many other improvements. prioritizes and protects the land most New trail signs have been installed in Continued on page 4

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will be fixed and will offer visitors a Reserve map is currently being developed Laurel Jackson is a water resources unique opportunity to observe wet- to help guide visitors while they are ex- specialist at the lands plants and animals up close. ploring. By encouraging respectful use of Portland Water Trail Day, the 4th annual Land Reserve the land, PWD and its customers benefit District. She can be reached at celebration, will take place on Septem- from having friends who help protect the [email protected] ber 17th. A GPS-enabled mobile Land lake and keep it clean.

Rain Gardens: Lessons learned from the PWD rain garden By Kirsten Ness

Rain gardens are attractive and functional landscaped areas that are designed to capture and filter stormwater from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces. They collect water in bowl-shaped vegetated areas and allow it to slowly soak into the ground. This reduces the potential for erosion and minimizes the amount of pollutants flowing from your lawn into our streams and lakes.

PWD’S RAIN GARDEN STORY: PWD installed a rain garden in 2005 at the Sebago Lake Ecology Center to filter roof runoff from the building and as a demonstration garden for visitors. We planted the garden with native plants and followed the recommended design for a rain garden, placing wet water and allows it to soak into the loving plants in the middle and those ground. We learned that dry soil that tolerate drier conditions on the conditions don’t mean you can’t edge. A few years after the installation, have a rain garden – you just have however, most of the wet loving plants to choose different plants! were dying off. The reason for this was Please visit https://www.pwd.org/sites/default/ the well drained nature of our soil. KNOW YOUR SOIL! files/rain_garden.pdf to view PWD’s Rain Gardens Our rain garden is so well drained that Dig a large hole where you want to Fact Sheet and learn how to plan and install a rain garden. Happy planting! it only holds water for a few minutes place your rain garden, fill it with water, after a rain storm, which is not enough and see how quickly it drains. If the moisture for wet loving plants such water drains quickly, it is unlikely that as cardinal flower or Labrador tea to your garden will support wet loving Kirsten Ness is a water survive. plants. If it drains over the course of resources specialist at the Portland Water District. In 2012, we re-designed and re- 1-2 days, your site will likely support She can be reached at planted the garden with plants that wet loving plants in the low spot of [email protected] do well in dry soil conditions. The the garden. If it does not drain within good news is that the new plants are 48 hours, the site is unfortunately not thriving and the garden still collects appropriate for a rain garden. 4 AT PORTLAND Upcoming Events WATER DISTRICT Your water – to know it is to love it! 2017 Images of Sebago Lake Calendar Each May PWD joins other water organizations Our twelfth edition will be published in Novem- across the country to celebrate Drinking Water ber! This popular publication features photos from Week. This year, we’ll host four free events to amateur photographers. Send in your submission inspire and educate our customers, neighbors, by August 7 to [email protected]. New this and partners about the vital role water plays in year: accepting submissions that feature the tribu- our lives. taries of (rivers that flow into) Sebago Lake!

Monday, May 2 @ 6:00-7:00 p.m., Portland 4th Annual Trail Day “The Extraordinary Lives of Owls” This popular event features several simultaneous Experts from Wind over Wings will discuss the outdoor activities on our Land Reserve in Standish, remarkable abilities of New England’s owls, and led by both PWD staff and local partners. Former introduce three live owls, including a Saw-whet events have included trails runs, a fitness walk, Owl (New England’s smallest owl), Great Horned preschool nature explorations and crafts, and owls (New England’s largest), and the elusive clinics where participants have learned to fish and Eastern Screen Owl. kayak. Planning efforts begin this summer, with Tuesday, May 3 @ 6:00-7:30 p.m., Standish Trail Day scheduled for Saturday, September 17. “Discover the Sebago Lake Land Reserve” Registration is required for most events. For information and more details, visit pwd.org. Come see why these 1700 acres are visited by 25,000 people each year. A brief presentation on Photos Top to Bottom: the Land Reserve’s history and purpose will be Learning to fish on Trail Day. Photo by Austin Verrill followed by a trip to a visitor kiosk and Learning to kayak on Trail Day. Photo by Austin Verrill Learn about owls of New England. short hike. 2016 Calendar Cover. Wednesday, May 4 @ 5:30-7:30 p.m., Standish Concert and hike. “Tour of the Sebago Lake Water Treatment Facility” View recent upgrades to the facility and learn BECOME AN INVASIVE how both ozone and ultraviolet light are used to PLANT PATROLLER! treat 21 million gallons of water each day. Scien- Are you interested in learning how to tists will also describe water quality tests that are tell the difference between native and done to ensure proper facility performance. non-native invasive aquatic plants? Consider attending an introductory Friday, May 6 @ 5:00-7:00 p.m., Standish Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop led by “Earth Jams Concert & the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Pro- Springtime Hike” gram (VLMP). Workshop participants Bring a picnic and enjoy a family concert on our learn how to recognize the non-native outdoor amphitheater at 6:00. Award-winning invasive aquatic plants on Maine’s singer/songwriter Matt Loosigian will perform “Eleven Most Unwanted” list, and to engaging environmental songs. Before the show, distinguish these invaders from their join our educators for a springtime hike at 5:15, or native Maine look-alikes. Workshops are FREE and all participants receive explore on your own. the Invasive Plant Patroller’s Handbook Looking ahead – summer & fall and Maine’s Field Guide to Invasive Summer and fall are prime times to explore Sebago Aquatic Plants. Early detection and Lake and its watershed, as well as learn how to rapid response are key to preventing a widespread invasive plant problem in protect it. Read below about some of our initiatives Sebago Lake. already in the works. Like us on Facebook or join our email list to keep current on other offerings. Email A variety of more advanced training [email protected] to sign up. opportunities are also offered by the VLMP, which cover advanced native Standish Summer Spectacular plant identification, manual control PWD has served as one of the sponsors of this methods for dealing with infestations, event for several years, hosting a table at the deli- and other helpful and informative cious and eclectic Taste of Maine. We’ll see you workshops. For more information there on Thursday, June 23! about the many workshops they offer, visit www.mainevlmp.org

5 ● All fire departments were aware of What’s Making Waves the Portland Pipeline, its location in their town, and who to contact Around Sebago Lake in the event of an incident. All had been visited by Portland-Montreal Pipeline Corporation (PPLC) staff and been part of periodic PPLC pipeline awareness meetings.

● All departments felt prepared to respond to a pipeline incident and described their response as primarily life/safety and to control the scene. Several departments including Bethel, Norway, and Raymond have Sandish Town Beach spill response equipment that was ready to be used to help control or contain a spill. All departments UMASS SEBAGO LAKE tantly, natural water treatment. Since 2006, expressed a willingness to do what RESEARCH PROJECT PWD has contributed $450,000 towards the they could within their training to This summer Dr. Isla Castañeda, an as- conservation of nearly 4,000 acres of land in help contain, control, or divert a spill sistant professor from the University of the Sebago Lake watershed. Because forests from entering nearby water bodies. Massachusetts, will head up a new study provide natural water treatment, this invest- of the lake using chemical compounds ment benefits both the watershed residents ● Several departments had members naturally found in the water and bottom and the water quality of Sebago Lake. with Hazardous Materials sediment of Sebago Lake. Dr. Castañeda Awareness and Operations training has received grant funding to conduct re- STANDISH TOWN BEACH that would allow them to better search on these compounds because they After several years of cooperative planning respond to a pipeline spill. All are very stable over time and can be used between the Portland Water District and departments are in contact with to help characterize changes in the earth’s the Town of Standish, the town will begin the regional spill response teams climate over thousands of years. Because development of a public beach for Standish and operate under mutual aid they have only recently been discovered, residents in the spring of this year. The John agreements. there is much more to learn about these Rich Memorial Beach will be located on what molecules such as how, where, and why is sometimes referred to as Sandbar Beach PORTLAND WATER DISTRICT they are produced and how many years and will be accessed by a new road to be built AND PORTLAND PIPELINE ago each of the different types of mol- off of Harmon’s Beach Road on the west side CONDUCT PRACTICE SPILL ecules were found. The three-year project of Sebago Lake. The beach will include a 100 RESPONSE EXERCISE will begin in the summer of 2016 and vehicle parking lot with portable bathroom The Portland Water District, the the results of the study will give greater facilities, picnic tables and grill sites, and Portland-Montreal Pipeline Corporation insight into Sebago Lake’s natural history. a handicap accessible boardwalk from the (PPLC), and the Maine Department parking lot to the beach. The development of Environmental Protection (MDEP) PROCTOR POND AND WHITNEY will also include a snowmobile access road participated in a Table Top Spill Response POND CONSERVATION for winter ice fishing. The beach will be Exercise in March. The purpose of an PROJECTS for residents of the Town of Standish and exercise of this type is to practice what In 2015 the Portland Water District ap- their guests, but an agreement is in place would need to occur in the event of proved contributions to two land con- to designate a section of the beach for the an actual spill. The scenario that was servation projects in the Sebago Lake Sebago Lake Boating Club so that members envisioned was a pipeline incident just Watershed. The Whitney Pond project of the club can access the beach by boat. north of Route 302 in Raymond that will conserve 70 acres of land in Stone- released 140,000 gallons of oil into a ham and the Proctor Pond project will WATERSHED FIRE DEPARTMENTS wetland on the other side of the road conserve 54 acres in Albany Township. READY AS FIRST RESPONDERS from Sebago Lake. The exercise was The Greater Lovell Land Trust will retain Area fire departments have taken action to an opportunity to practice the Incident ownership of both pieces of land and the ensure an appropriate and effective response Command System (ICS) with participants land will be accessible to the public for in the event of an oil pipeline spill in the breaking up into teams to complete traditional low-impact uses. The Portland Sebago Lake watershed. In recent interviews spill response objectives such as Tactics, Water District (PWD) contributed a total with eight fire chiefs from the Sebago Planning, Support, and Operations. All of $46,000 towards the conservation of Lake watershed towns of Bethel, Albany parties went away with lessons learned 124 acres of watershed land. That repre- Township, Norway, Waterford, Harrison, and a continued commitment to working sents about $370 per acre of forest, wet- Otisfield, Casco, Raymond, and Windham, together to protect Sebago Lake. lands, wildlife habitat, and most impor- the following information was confirmed.

6 Sebago Lake Watershed Prioritization Project By Kirsten Ness

The area of land that drains to Sebago Lake is known as its watershed. It stretches from Standish to Bethel, is 450 square miles in area, and includes many smaller lakes and ponds. Each of these smaller lakes and ponds has its own watershed that is a subwatershed or smaller part of the much larger Sebago Lake watershed. Portland Water District (PWD) wanted to find out how a water quality change in any of these lakes and subwatersheds might affect the water quality of Sebago Lake. Does each affect Sebago in the same way? Do lakes that are closer affect Sebago more than those farther away? In 2014, the Cumberland . Photo by Colin Holme County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) received grant water quality. Not all funding to work with PWD to answer the subwatersheds had these questions. The primary purpose data in all four categories of the project was to determine where so not all were scored. efforts should be focused within the For those that were, Sebago Lake watershed to help protect informational fact sheets and improve the water quality of were created. The fact Sebago Lake. sheets give information Crooked River. Photo by Brie Holme A team of people from PWD, about the lake and the CCSWCD, Lakes Environmental subwatershed that collaborative effort that will direct Association, the University of Southern surrounds it, explain the scores in each future water quality improvement Maine, and the Maine Department of category, and provide recommendations work in the Sebago Lake watershed. Environmental Protection developed for improving water quality. If you would like to read the a way to evaluate the subwatersheds The WQI revealed encouraging news full report or fact sheets, please of Sebago Lake using available for Sebago Lake. The group found that visit: https://www.pwd.org/ information. The team developed 22 of the 26 lakes evaluated for their sites/default/files/sebago-lake- a Water Quality Index (WQI) that water quality trend showed a stable or subwatershed-assessment-and- “scored” each subwatershed using improving trend over time. This means prioritization-report.pdf four measures: current lake water water from these lakes – which is on its quality, the water quality trend over way, eventually, to Sebago Lake - is of high Kirsten Ness is a water resources specialist time, changes in land cover over quality and not getting worse in recent at the Portland Water the last quarter century, and the years. This should lead to excellent water District. She can be reached at presence of potential partners within quality in Sebago Lake in the coming years. [email protected] a subwatershed that would be willing Overall, the Sebago Lake Watershed and able to help work on improving Prioritization Project was a successful

7 The Lakescaping Program helped transform these sites into more Sebago beautiful, accessible, and lake-friendly properties. Lakescaping Improve your property and protect the lake! Is your property within 250 feet of Sebago Lake or one of its tributaries? PWD provides free site visits and reports on how to make your property more attractive and lake friendly.

Private landowners may be eligible for a Lakescaping grant of up to $1000 (but no BEFORE AFTER more than 50% of the total project cost). Associations, municipalities, businesses, or other groups may be eligible for a grant of up to $2000.

If your property is within 250 feet of Sebago Lake or the Crooked River, Songo River, Muddy River, North , Panther Run, Rich Mill Outlet, Smith Mill, Sticky River, or Standish Brook contact us at [email protected] to set up a free consultation and get started! BEFORE AFTER

Photo: Bob and Marian Wright Photo: Bob and Marian Wright

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The Sebago Lake Watershed News is published by the Portland Water District. Connect With Sebago! Editorial Team: Michelle Clements, www.pwd.org | Follow Us @MyPortlandWater Paul Hunt, Brie Holme The Watershed News is printed on 100% Contributors: Brie Holme, Chad Thompson, Kirsten Ness, recycled paper processed chlorine free and Laurel Jackson, Nate Whalen, Sarah Plummer manufactured with renewable biogas energy