Water Column Winter 2019

the Water C lumn The Newsletter of Lake Stewards of Maine - Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program

Vol. 24, No. 1 Celebrating the Work of Maine's Citizen Lake Stewards Winter 2019 Meet Maine's Lake Stewards! What’s Inside: President's Message ...... 2 President’s Lakeside Notes ~ Building Communities ...... 3 Littorally Speaking ~ Call to Action ...... 4 Connecting the Drops to Sustain LSM's Programs . . . 6 Message Quality Counts ~ Equipment Hibernation . . . . . 8 Meet Maine's Lake Stewards! ...... 9 Barb Welch Thank You to Our Generous Donors! ...... 18 President, LSM-VLMP Board of Directors 2019 Annual Conference Highlights ...... 21 Algal Blooms (Cyanobacteria) in Maine Lakes ...... 22 inter Greetings, more monitoring or protection Maine Lake Ice-out Dates & Trends ...... 24 tools, many educated us about Under the Hand Lens ~ Chinese Mystery Snails . . . 26 WGiven my background Maine's Lake Ambassador Speaking Tour . . . . . 28 as a manager of the Volunteer their lake, and lakes in general. LSM Tech Support for Alum Treatment . . . . . 30 Lake Monitoring Program for Over time, I have seen the Toxic Algae Blooms in the News ...... 31 a number of years (when it culture around lakes change; Passings ...... 32 Welcome, New Lake Stewards! ...... 34 was part of the Department of for example, in the 70’s, many Environmental Protection), I lake association meetings were LSM Staff find the volunteer stories in this primarily social and the big event Scott Williams Executive Director issue to be very inspiring and was a parade or sailboat race. Roberta Hill Invasive Species Program Director Jonnie Maloney Program Coordinator reassuring. The stories remind Now many lake meetings are Alison Cooney Development Coordinator me of why I enjoyed the program focused on lake and watershed Christine Guerette Project Facilitator so much. The monitors then, just awareness and protection. Tristan Taber Training & Technical Outreach Coordinator Steve Lambert Development Associate as now, are so positive, energetic, Monitors are often in the Spencer Harriman Logistics Support Coordinator and knowledgable about their forefront of developing a culture lakes! I enjoyed working with of environmental stewardship Board of Directors teachers, engineers, developers, for their lake. Trying to get Barb Welch, President (Whitefield) stay-at-home moms, treatment people to change habits is hard, Bill Monagle, Vice President (Winthrop) Sibyl French, Treasurer (Raymond) plant operators, artists, and whether it is eating healthier or Phoebe Hardesty, Secretary (New Gloucester) others. Everyone was friendly, taking better care of our lakes. Robert French (Raymond) welcoming, and helpful; from Social scientists tell us that Linda Bacon QA/QC Advisor (Maine DEP) supplying boats for the spring community leaders are crucial

Advisory Board trainings to pulling me out of to encouraging the spread of Aria Amirbahman, PhD Firooza Pavri, PhD a ditch, from popovers for a a new practice. Monitors are Roy Bouchard, MS Matt Scott, MS treat to lemonade on a hot day. often those community leaders. Dan Buckley, PhD Peter Vaux, PhD Holly Ewing, PhD Ken Wagner, PhD All were concerned, interested to Thank goodness, we have so C . Barre Hellquist, PhD Pixie Williams, MS know more about their lake and many dedicated monitors David Littell, JD Karen Wilson, PhD lakes in general, and determined leading the way. A very special Steve Norton, PhD to protect their lake. Some asked thank you to all Maine citizen hard questions that took effort lake scientists! Layout & Design by Jonnie Maloney, LSM Program Coordinator to find answers, some pushed for Cheers!

Funding for this newsletter is made Grants, individual donations and possible in part by grants from the corporate underwriting. Maine Department of Environmental This newsletter is printed on 30% Protection, the US Environmental post-consumer recycled paper, and Protection Agency, the Lake and River is produced and mailed by Penmor Protection Sticker Fund, Foundation Lithographers, Lewiston, Maine. To Contact Us (207) 783-7733 Stewards@LakeStewardsME org. If you would like to go green and receive the Water Column in electronic 24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, Maine 04210 format, please contact LSM at www LakeStewardsOfMaine. org. (207) 783-7733 or [email protected]. www LakesOfMaine. org. 2 Lakeside Notes LSM Citizen Scientists: Building Communities of Lake Stewardship

his issue of The Water Column lake gathering data, year after year. Tfeatures a number of remarkable A growing number of LSM citizen accounts of the work of certified LSM scientists have been continuously lake stewards – all on behalf of their active for 5 years; 94 for over 10 By Scott Williams lakes and surrounding communities. years; 58 for at least 15 years; 36 for LSM Executive Director During the past few years, it has over two decades; 20 for more than A great deal of information is become increasingly evident to us a quarter century; 7 for at least 30 covered in the broad range of LSM’s that many, perhaps most, LSM years; 7 for over 35 years, and 9 for workshops that are available to the citizen lake monitors go well above four decades, or more! public. Once individuals are certified, and beyond their good work as lake Certified lake monitors are trained to they have access to lifetime technical water quality monitors and invasive know much more than how to take a support through LSM staff, and our plant patrollers. They are typically Secchi disk reading or a phosphorus broad network of advisors, partners connected to multiple lake and sample, or to identify an aquatic and colleagues. All of this is provided watershed stewardship initiatives in invader. They also know why the to them at no charge, in exchange their lake communities, as well, often information that they gather is valuable, for their very generous donation of serving in leadership roles. how to interpret the results, and when personal time. It’s not unusual for individuals immediate action needs to be taken Individuals who embrace a culture who have received comprehensive to gather additional information or to of lake stewardship rarely limit training at an LSM workshop to address a concern. Years of experience themselves to a single activity, as be considered a local lake expert in on the water enables them to recognize you will see in reading through their their lake community. And rightly when something doesn’t look right. stories herein (please see pages 9-17). so – considering the many hours that They recognize threats, and they know We encourage you to submit yours— they have committed to training, and what to do and who to call when one we would love to share it! the many days that they spend on the is detected. Want to See Lake Stewardship in Maine Grow & Thrive? Consider Becoming an LSM Board Member re you enthusiastic about the work of LSM? Looking monitors who bring that background as well as various Ato support a good cause, for a way to give back to experience and skills to the job; others are in the field of your community, or to help the lakes of Maine? The LSM lake science or environmental conservation. Board of Directors welcomes you to apply for a position The Board of Directors meets 4-6 times annually at the on our board, or one of our subcommittees. LSM Center for Citizen Lake Science, in Auburn, Maine. The Board develops policy, oversees fiduciary matters, and Meetings typically take place on weekday mornings, and works with an excellent staff. We help with the annual may last until early afternoon. conference, fundraising, and outreach to the public, and Please contact LSM Executive Director, Scott Williams, if some of us even volunteer in the field, working you are interested in a position on the LSM Board, alongside LSM staff. We are particularly joining a subcommittee, or if you have questions. interested in bringing on new board members Following an initial discussion, candidates who have knowledge and experience in the will be interviewed by a subcommittee of areas of marketing, fundraising and program the Board, and the Board will act upon all development. Some of the Directors are applications. These are volunteer positions. 3 Littorally Speaking Call to Action in Washington County Responding to Maine’s newest and northernmost invasive milfoil infestation by Roberta Hill LSM Invasive Species Program Director

Hi Roberta, Though depths of up to 70-feet do occur in the waterbody, the mean depth of Big Lake I received a plant sample from Brad Richard, a local State of Maine warden who has a camp on Big Lake. Keying it out is giving me variable water-milfoil: is only 12 feet. This means that the littoral zone (parts of the lake that are shallow and • tightly packed whorls of leaves, under .5cm apart • 9-12 leaflet pairs per leaf sun-filled enough to support the growth of • 4-6 leaves per whorl rooted aquatic plants) extends far out from • lance shaped bracts that are more than 2x as long as the flowers seem to be shore along much of the lake’s 70-plus- (flowers are gone at this point) miles of shoreline. In addition to the vast • bracts have some serration under a hand lens shallows, the lake is rich in tributaries, coves So I'm going to send it along to you all for verification. Brad noticed the plant and islands, (28 islands to be exact!), all of growing in front of his camp. His family has had the camp for years. He had never noticed this plant before. which further increases the potential for invasive plants to move about unseen, while I'll get the paperwork filled out and get this in the mail today. steadily gaining ground. Joe The boats slowed as we approached the he email from Joe Musante arrived on opened the file and as soon as my eyes hit small island along the southern shore of Tthe second day of October—typically the image on the screen, I knew exactly Clifford Bay, where Brad’s family camp a time when plant identification inquiries what I was looking at. The serrated blade- is located. No sooner were the scopes are beginning to slow down around here. shaped bracts arranged in whorls along the in that water, than we began to see the (Joe, a biologist with the Passamaquoddy emergent stem were unmistakable: this snake-like plumes of milfoil—at first Environmental Department, and was, without doubt, variable water-milfoil spotty, soon everywhere. Motor off, we LSM Regional Coordinator for the (Myriophyllum heterophyllum). paddled gingerly around the perimeter of the densest patch, sadly, way larger than Passamaquoddy tribal lands, is a long-time One week later, I was on my way to LSM partner and friend.) any of us had expected—roughly the size Big Lake with John McPhedran, Denise of a couple of football fields. Some of the Blanchette and Doug Suitor from Maine plants had recently flowered. And though Department of Environmental Protection the once-emergent flower stalks were now (DEP). Our goal was to meet up with Joe flopped over in senescence and the plants and Brad at Passamaquoddy Environmental themselves eager to break into fragments Department headquarters in Princeton, and at the lightest touch, the tall bottle-brush- then to travel, by truck then boat, to like stems were still defiantly erect, vibrant, Clifford Bay at the southeast end of Big formidable, menacing. Lake, where Brad had first observed the patch of milfoil. The patch was clearly well-established, but Emergent stems with whorls of finely-serrated, could this possibly be the pioneer colony? blade-shaped bracts are diagnostic for invasive Big Lake is the second-largest lake in variable water-milfoil. Washington County and, covering 10,444 acres, it is also one of the largest lakes in As I read Joe’s message, my heart began to Maine. The lake is located in and around sink. I tried to remain optimistic—some the town of Grand Lake Stream, near the native milfoils would key out similarly, but border with New Brunswick, Canada, and the mention of ‘bracts with serration’ was is part of a sprawling and much larger— definitely unsettling. I asked Joe if he could roughly 17,000 acre—system (basically take a photo of the flower-spike before constituting the west branch of the Saint packing up the plant, and within less than Croix River), known for its remote, Approaching Brittany Island in Clifford Bay where an hour, the photo arrived in my inbox. I wilderness beauty and extraordinary fishing. Brad first noticed the suspicious plants. 4 Is it possible Brad had serendipitously can muster. Our goal will be to complete DEPTH > 10 FEET come upon the site of the initial the entire level-3 survey of Big Lake and introduction? With this tiny thread of associated flowage in 2020. This will require hope, our minds leapt forward—well if the careful scouring of roughly 100 miles of this is the pioneer colony, there might shoreline, plus a systematic search of vast still be time this year to control and shallow offshore expanses, zigzagging along contain it. The only way to know for sure an uncountable multitude of transects—the if the milfoil was contained to this area, survey of Big Lake will be no easy feat. was to widen the scope of our survey. Adding to the greater challenge of Splitting up into two units to maximize preventing the spread of this infestation direct observation, the boats proceeded in to other area lakes, is the fact that Big opposite directions around the bay. The Lake occurs in a part of the state where sky was cloudy but bright, the winds light, invasive aquatic species prevention and and the water clarity good; we were able early detection programs are sparse to non- BIG LAKE to cover most of the perimeter of Clifford existent. On the prevention side, 91% of MIDAS 1288 T27 ED, NO. 21 & GRAND LAKE STREAM PLTS & INDIAN TWP Bay and some of the shallower off-shore all lake groups with active Courtesy Boat WASHINGTON COUNTY, ME areas. Our findings were not good. Much Inspection (CBI) programs occur within AREA 10,305 ACRES of the nearshore perimeter was dotted with Maine’s 11 southernmost counties. Only All areas in white on the map are littoral, capable of supporting rooted aquatic plants. The islands individual and clustered milfoil plants. 2 CBI programs occur in Washington are shown in green; yellow indicates depths The plants were not only abundant and County, 0.03% of the state’s total. The exceeding 10 feet. Depth analysis courtesy of widespread, but also vexingly mixed in statewide statistics for active Invasive Plant Ross Wescott. among the natives. We also found several Patrol (IPP) programs is similar. Ninety- been a wake-up call for all of us. With additional large patches including one that one percent of Maine’s certified Invasive that awakening comes new statewide encompassed the greater part of one large Plant Patrollers survey lakes in one of the energy and focus. cove. Here, senescing flower stems were eleven southern counties, and this, not • By snuffing out in one fell swoop the everywhere. In a nutshell, our findings surprisingly, is where over 95% of recent notion that Maine’s more-northerly lakes revealed that the invasive milfoil was not, IPP surveys have taken place. As of 2019, are somehow immune to the aquatic as we had all so keenly hoped, contained less than 0.1% of statewide IPP activity has invaders, we have broken through a to the area near Brad’s camp. Rather, the occurred in Washington County. barrier. We now have a better chance than infestation was quite extensive throughout There are understandable reasons for the ever to put programs and partnerships in Clifford Bay, indicating that the invader disparity. Most of Maine’s known invasive place and to build local resilience in this has been present in Big Lake for a number aquatic plant infestations also occur in more remote but widely-cherished part of years. the south. Knowing aquatic invaders are of the state. nearby has a way of generating concern • Not enough people to do the CBI and and inspiring action; believing one’s local IPP work? Maybe this is an excellent lakes may somehow be immune to such opportunity to try out some brand-new scourges tends to inhibit these motivating ideas for educating and engaging boaters impulses. There are also simply more in best prevention practices, and for people in the southern counties, a larger attracting early detectors from previously pool from which enthusiastic lake stewards untapped groups of conservation- may leap into action. And of course, the minded people. The tall bottle-bush-like stems of variable lakeshores of more southerly lakes are more water-milfoil were still defiantly erect, vibrant, formidable, menacing. densely populated and more threatened And we have much working in our by development, which has led over time favor. First, Maine now has two decades Which begs the next question. . . if to the growth of organized and engaged of experience with invasive aquatic plant variable water-milfoil is well established lake associations. Northern Maine is less prevention, early detection, rapid response here in Clifford Bay, where else in the Big accessible, with less economic opportunity; and management, and especially with this Lake might it occur? This is the question this often means fewer resources to devote particular invader. Thanks to the persistent that LSM has been called upon to help to conservation programs. efforts of the lake communities who have been on the front line of the effort to control answer. It will be our job to assist with a And while all these factors add considerably variable water-milfoil in Maine, much of the comprehensive survey of Big Lake and its to the challenge of responding swiftly and trial and error is now behind us. associated flowage, beginning early next effectively to Maine’s newest infestation, season. We will be working in the coming they also suggest some possible unique Communities facing new infestations months, with the DEP and area partners, opportunities for moving forward: are also now supported by steadily- to organize and support as large a team strengthening legislation, funds made of experienced volunteer surveyors as we • This new infestation in a remote, previously uninfested part of the state has Littorally Speaking . . . continued on page 29 5 Connecting the Drops Cultivating Relationships and Building Community to Sustain the Work of LSM's Programs LD 959*, State Funding for Lake Stewards of Maine and Maine Lakes Society arlier this year Lake Stewards of years to Lake Stewards of Maine (MLS EMaine (LSM) “connected the drops” will receive equal funding). While this with Maine Lakes Society (MLS) on a funding appears to be a significant boost bill that will benefit LSM’s Citizen Lake to LSM’s budget, it is actually filling by Alison Cooney Science programs and MLS’s LakeSmart a gap created several years ago when LSM Development Coordinator program. Staff and Board members LSM lost funding from the USEPA’s from both LSM and MLS, along with 319 Nonpoint Source Management surrounding this bill with written and many of our volunteer constituents, Program. LD 959 will help stabilize in-person testimony, as well as calls and collaborated in the presentation of some of the annual funding uncertainty emails to legislators, from individuals information submitted to the Natural that LSM experiences from year to year. (lake monitors, invasive plant patrollers Resource Committee of the Maine State funding will be used to expand and more), lake and regional associations, Legislature. This opportunity allowed our outreach to underserved regions of conservation NGOs and state agencies. for the only two statewide lake- the state, assist in the investigation THANK YOU to everyone who focused nonprofits to clearly and assessment of newly contributed to the passage of this bill, define their programs discovered invasive especially the Legislators who sponsored to legislators, and to aquatic plants, support the bill: Presented by Representative explain how both our citizen lake Keschl of Belgrade; Co-Sponsored by organizations work science monitoring Representatives Gattine of Westbrook, collaboratively for programs and Jorgensen of Portland, Martin of Eagle the protection of provide funding Lake, Millett of Waterford, Wadsworth Maine’s lakes. security that will of Hiram. On July 2, 2019, allow us to expand *Maine Joint Environmental Training LD 959 was enacted our staff. Coordinating Committee (JETCC) also and will guarantee There was a tremendous received funding through LD 959. $75,000 in funding for 2 amount of support

Planning for the Future “Own your joy so that you Bequeathing one’s home for conservation purposes is an f you have never visited LSM’s Center can be happier and bring more energy to the world. exceptionally gracious and unexpected Ifor Citizen Lake Science building, gift, and not one that many would you might be surprised to learn that our That ripple effect works on a quantum level. It brings about choose to do. However, there are other office is actually a house. Woodbury options for planned giving. If you are and Barbara Brackett built the house in changes in the world.” ~ Gabrielle Bernstein considering leaving a gift to a charity 1946 and lived in the Cape-style home in your will, we would be honored if for over 50 years. Upon Mrs. Brackett’s LSM purchased the building from the you chose Lake Stewards of Maine as passing, she bequeathed her home and Auburn Water District. The house still a beneficiary in your estate planning. property to the Auburn Water District holds its original charm, including the Many LSM lake stewards have a deep in honor of Woodbury who had passed cheery bird and strawberry wallpaper, connection with a Maine lake and a few years prior. The restrictions on the kitchen cabinets and old push- have committed years (some, decades) the planned gift was that the house button stove top, and a unique bubble to citizen lake science on behalf of be used for conservation, protection light fixture. The home/office is a our clear, clean lakes. Their volunteer of water quality and environmental delightful place to work and LSM efforts are worthy of investing in education. Lake Stewards of Maine’s staff are grateful to the Brackett’s for keeping Maine’s lakes beautiful for mission fit these requirements. In creating a welcoming space that we can generations to come. 2010, the Brackett’s home became the extend to our Lake Steward visitors. Center for Citizen Lake Science when

6 Maine Lakes Need Monitors! aine has several thousand lakes, and Help LSM connect to lake associations, Mwhile LSM currently has trained lake friends, family, and other people you monitors on several hundred of them, many know who care about Maine lakes, and are not being monitored for water quality wish to become volunteer citizen lake or surveyed for invasive species. It would be scientists. All LSM workshops are free, too costly to hire professionals to monitor and they come with many fringe benefits every lake in the state. However, training to both our certified lake monitors and lake residents or frequent visitors to a specific their lake communities! To determine if lake to become citizen lake scientists is a very a particular lake already has certified** efficient and cost effective way to gather vital monitors, please visit LSM’s lake resource information about the health of a lake. website, LakesOfMaine.org Search for your lake of interest, go to the lake page and click on monitoring. Collecting annual water quality data provides a history of a lake’s health, using key indicators, which include water clarity (transparency), temperature and dissolved train as many eyes as possible to conduct oxygen, total phosphorus, and baseline organized screening surveys for these water chemistry. Having a record of these threats. Invasive plant patrollers learn indicators allows for comparisons to be how to identify native aquatic plants, as made from year to year and over time. well as, the most common invasive aquatic It can also be a red flag when significant plants found in Maine. They are also changes with any of these indicators are trained to participate in comprehensive being observed. Red flags lead to further lake-wide surveys, playing key roles in investigations. the prevention and early detection of Invasive aquatic species can wreak havoc invasive aquatic species. in a lake ecosystem. It is important to

** Other than the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Lake Stewards of Maine is the only organization that certifies water quality monitors and invasive aquatic species patrollers . Certified means that an individual has attended a training that follows the Maine Lake Assessment, Quality Assurance Program Plan . This training protocol ensures that the lake data being collected by certified monitors is scientifically credible .

• LSM’s 1,200 certified citizen lake scientists • State and federal agencies, municipalities, who volunteer countless hours of their educational and research institutions, valuable time collecting lake data, year Thank Maine Indian tribes and non-profits who after year partner with us on various projects and • State of Maine, especially the Department of You initiatives, and share common goals Environmental Protection, for continuing to • Volunteer project leaders: Herbarium provide financial and technical resources that Crew- Pixie Williams, Dennis Roberge, support the work of LSM Stewards, and quality to... Marsha Letourneau, Keith Williams; assurance oversight of Maine’s lake data Lake Association Outreach- Matt Scott; • Foundations, businesses and individual Videography- Steve Underwood donors who generously provide the financial • Uber IPPers, IPP & WQ regional resources needed to meet public demand for coordinators and IPP Lake Leaders for all LSM’s stewardship initiatives, while moving your extra time and efforts us closer to our ultimate goal: vibrant citizen- • Lake and regional organizations who powered stewardship on every lake in Maine! ... all Maine’s lake support the important work of Lake • To our contractual partners: Clark Marine stewards who care so Stewards of Maine and who partner with (training boat storage and maintenance); deeply and go above us through our programs James Cradock (IT Consultant/Web • LSM’s Board of Directors for their guidance Development/Programming); Steve Grubb and beyond to protect and governance, Subcommittee members (Near Real Time Lake Data manager); Kyocera Maine’s BEAUTIFUL lakes. for overseeing, planning and helping to Intelligence (IT technical services); Larna Poulin achieve our Mission; LSM Advisory Board (Accountant); Peter Vaux (LakesofMaine org. We are grateful! members for their technical support visionary and site manager) 7 QualityQuality Counts!Counts!

'Tis the Season for Monitoring Equipment Hibernation ou know the drill! Winter is upon more than halfway through, arrange to Yus – time to prepare. Get out the get a new one through LSM. shovels, clean up the yard, put on the Be sure to remove snow tires…all those mundane tasks batteries from that help us get through until spring. by Linda Bacon your dissolved LSM Quality Assurance Officer; Aquatic Biologist, As a citizen scientist, it is important that oxygen meter. Maine Department of Environmental Protection your list includes putting monitoring Use them up in equipment into hibernation. Your a flashlight or Rinse core tubes and equipment is valuable and you should toy, or, secure grab samplers with ‘store it in a cool dry place’ (to quote them so the ends don’t short out and distilled water and let a Travelling Wilburys’ tune). Clean out cause a fire by wrapping them with dry before storing. your view scope and secure a plastic an elastic band then placing them in And please, keep bag over the end with an elastic band a plastic baggie. Even new batteries watching for the spring to exclude spiders. Check your Secchi can leak acid and destroy electronics. notice to send your disk: black quadrants should be black, Follow the manufacturer’s instructions readied meters into white quadrants should be white. You for storing the probe. For probes that LSM or DEP for their can get a new sticker from LSM to place contain electrolyte, be sure to remove complementary annual on the surface if need be, or you can use the membrane/cap, rinse the probe QA check! a Sharpie and/or white nail polish to with distilled water, then allow Kudos to the citizen touch it up. Also check the tape measure to air dry. It is best to place the scientists at Cross Lake and Georges for tears. Tears often occur within a foot probe and protective cage into a Pond for an incredibly intensive of the disk. Repair small baggie for storage so that come monitoring season in 2019! Your tears by wrapping a spring, it is obvious that the careful attention to details has few inches of duct probe needs to be prepared for resulted in the best annual dataset tape around the the next sampling season. tape. If a tear extends ever obtained on your respective lakes!

Please Remember to Document and Report Your Lake's Ice Cover! Once winter begins to set in, please remember to document your lake's ice cover . LSM acts as a state repository for ice-in and ice-out records, some stretching as far back as the mid-1800's . Lake ice cover data, when paired with water quality data, may improve our understanding of the relationship between the Branch Lake; Photo by Nancy Morris duration of ice cover and water quality . For more information on determining ice-in/out, please visit our website at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/programs/other-programs/ice- in-ice-out/ . You may report ice-in/out dates to LSM via e-mail, directly to Christine@ LakeStewardsME.org, or by phone at 207-783-7733 . We actively update the map of reported ice-in/out dates on our website at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/near-real-time- lake-data/ as part of the Near Real-Time Lake Data initiative . All ice-in/out submissions should include your name, the lake's name and related town, and the date of ice-in/out, in order to be added to the statewide map on the LSM website .

8 involving more and more people. Soon the forward movement takes on energy of its own, eventually leading to significant, WithoutMeet spark plugs,Maine's internal combustion Lake which LSM ‘sparkStewards! plugs’ may apply their lasting change and a more engaged, capable engines simply do not work. Sparks flying passion, creativity, know-how and energy and resilient lake community overall. In this from these little energy producers are essential to the task of protecting the health of their special section of the Water Column we for getting things started and keeping things local lakes. Some are organizing watershed are proud to share stories of some of Maine’s moving. So it is with lake communities, where surveys; some are building and leading local energetic lake stewards, sparking change the task of providing the essential ‘spark’ for plant patrol teams; some are inventing new in their communities and beyond, playing lake stewardship initiatives generally falls—at and improved monitoring gear. But once in an essential role in the work of protecting least at first—upon just one or two motivated motion, all ‘spark plug’ stories seem to share Maine’s extraordinary lakes for all who individuals. LSM is fortunate indeed to be a a similar trajectory: seemingly-small initial love them, now and in the future. LSM is veritable magnet for such individuals. Better efforts gather momentum, igniting more extremely honored to support and celebrate yet, there seems to be no end to the ways in and more sparks within the community; the work of all Maine Lake Stewards!

Long-time Watchic Lake Watchers chosen alternative Our long-term dedication to this work methods of has provided us (and Watchic Lake) Contributed by Eileen & David Burnell, LSM gathering lake with many benefits! Our experience, and Certified 29 Years; Watchic Lake, Standish data. One thing increasing understanding of limnology My husband David and I are a team. I have learned in (how lakes work) has given us the ability We have been volunteer monitors on my sixty-five years to notice changes and new phenomena Watchic Lake in Standish for almost 30 is that change is that we might not have seen as clearly years (though we did need to take a hiatus inevitable; so the before. And LSM is always there to help when David’s work necessitated a move to question now us learn more. For example, I have seen NH). Shortly after we returned to Maine was, ‘what is the small green cotton-candy-like masses in full-time, I noticed metaphyton growing in Monitoring team, David & Eileen Burnell, with best way for us to Watchic for as long as I can remember. the lake to a degree which I had never seen their helper Minni. coordinate efforts But three years ago, the masses were much before in Watchic. The ice cover had melted with the lake larger and more abundant. Property owners early that year, and I sensed something association?’ David and I had no question and lake association members were quite changing in our lake. David and I decided that we were going to keep following the alarmed and concerned. Thanks to LSM, to become re-certified, first for Secchi disk programs and protocols established and we confirmed that the green masses were and scope, later for dissolved oxygen and maintained by the oldest volunteer lake common metaphyton. They also shared temperature monitoring. monitoring program in the nation, LSM. their easy method for monitoring and Coming back to this work after a decade-plus We also knew the value of keeping a high- mapping the changes in metaphyton growth hiatus, we had to re-acclimate to changes in quality 25-year-long data set going. Our over time. This year we submitted three our lake association. The monitoring work new approach would be to complement the metaphyton reports with maps and photos that David and I had done on Watchic lake association’s new monitoring strategy for the first time (and yes, it was easy!). Lake was not well-known among several with our LSM-certified data, which we With climate change affecting our lakes, of the newer Board members, and while now present to the lake association annually this kind of observational information is we were away, the lake association had through a Board liaison. increasingly important!

Safeguarding A Wonderful Resource: Sokokis Lake Contributed by Roy Bagley, LSM Certified 10 Today, I am President of the Lake a safer and easier method of opening and Years; Sokokis Lake (Holland Pond), Limerick Association, an LSM Certified Invasive closing the dam with a chain-fall system, n September 5, 1952 my parents Plant Patroller, and I have also managed the established an acceptable level of the lake Obought a camp on Sokokis Lake CBI program for the past 10 years, basically (approved by membership and the town and told me it was a birthday present! doing all I can to protect the lake from to control erosion), and just received DEP Over the years, from my 6th birthday on, invasive aquatic plants. I also converted to approval to install a new hydraulic system every summer I was involved in many to better control the water level. activities to improve the quality of the Most importantly, we have created a caring, lake, including personally removing and involved membership that demonstrates replacing boards on the dam to regulate respect to all uses of our wonderful the lake level and reduce shoreline erosion resource, SOKOKIS LAKE. from ice and high water levels in the spring. And then I grew up! Invasive Plant Patrol workshop on Sokokis Lake. 9 Square Pond Snail Snatchers- A Successful Community Effort Contributed by Rob Caron, LSM Certified Pond, in approximately a 500-yard area, 14 Years; Square Pond, Acton and were seen in up to 25’ of depth. he Square Pond Snail Snatchers is a As we learned more about CMS, Tgrassroots organization dedicated to we found out how quickly they can the removal of invasive Chinese Mystery reproduce. According to several CMS Snails from Square Pond. While in reality, postings online, they can have up to 100 One afternoon's efforts yielded several five- we’ll never be able to completely eradicate offspring per litter. It was obvious that gallon buckets full of Chinese Mystery Snails. them, we want to at least keep them at bay we were fighting a rapidly-reproducing includes snorkelers) continues to increase! so that they don’t completely invade our invader. We also learned that they can In 2019, we purchased a surface breather. shorelines. Here is the story of the Square seal up their opening and float, then open This is a battery powered compressor Pond Snail Snatchers. up and sink somewhere else. For a few that sits in a boat and has two hoses with years we thought this was a myth, as we regulators attached. People don’t need to didn’t find them anywhere else on the be dive certified, and several people have lake. In the last couple of years they have used this equipment to extract snails. shown up randomly in other areas. We This gives us more bodies in the water and found them in small numbers, indicating a higher yield. a single snail may have started there. It may have hitchhiked on a boat, or the In the last 6 years, we have had dive floating "pioneer snails" idea may be true. equipment donated and have purchased some, as well. Some of us have our own Below is a timeline of what we have Several members of the very productive Square dive equipment and SPIA owns some to Pond Snail Snatchers dive team. removed from Square Pond so far. We loan out. SPIA pays for filling tanks, and have tested several one pound samples the general maintenance for the tanks. All While the exact date of the Chinese and calculated that there are about 40 of this is at a cost, but has been approved Mystery Snails (CMS) discovery on snails per pound. This is the basis for by SPIA members, as they all deem this as Square Pond is hazy, we know it was estimating the numbers, since we only necessary to protect our lake. around 2011. No one really knew much weigh the catches and don’t count each about CMS. However, our resident water snail, for obvious reasons. We also have volunteers for surface and plant life expert, LSM certified lake support. People come in kayaks, monitor Marsha Letourneau, had some pontoon boats and even a peddle knowledge and started to educate the boat to hover over divers in the Square Pond Improvement Association water and protect them from (SPIA) about what she knew and that boat traffic. These people also they were invasive. With more research, help with the after-dive work we started to learn about other lakes of dealing with equipment and that have CMS and the problems they snails. The movement to join created. Some lakes reported not being the Square Pond Snail Snatchers able to walk in their swim area without is growing in popularity. We At 40 snails per pound, this is about crunching on snails. We also heard even give everyone a cool T-shirt if they 326,000 snails! All were picked out of about snail die off where the smell on the participate. To date, we have had more the lake by hand, one at a time. As lake was horrid. than 50 volunteers helping. you can see, the numbers for the paid In 2013, with this information in divers declined and the Square Pond We strongly believe that we can hand, it was clear that we needed to do Volunteer Divers have increased over the continue to maintain a strong group something. A small group of divers got years. The costs for paid of volunteers to keep the together and started to dive for snails. divers was draining our growth of CMS at bay. Once we observed how many there Square Pond Improvement We know we won’t ever were, SPIA started hiring paid divers to Association (SPIA) funds at completely get rid of eradicate snails. about $5,000 per year. Our CMS, but will hopefully After we did some exploratory dives to try recurring costs now for our keep them from invading to figure out how large the territory was, Square Pond dive team is our shores. SPIA also we then had a good idea of how much about $1,700 per year. has an established team of ground we had to cover. Snails were SPSS volunteer holding the invasive plant patrollers. The number of volunteer catch of the day. primarily along the west shore of Square Square Pond divers (which 10 What A Wonderful World! Watson Pond water quality remained Contributed by John Schooley, LSM very stable with Secchi disk readings Certified 31 Years; Watson Pond, Rome averaging 6 meters. Other parameters have also been stable. The biweekly canoe moved to Maine in 1982. I had a job paddles have always been a pleasure, and as a Physician Assistant in Belgrade I often an adventure. Lakes. With a Thoreauvian and 'Back to the Land' mind set, I found a rustic Over these thirty-plus years, I've camp on Watson Pond, roughly the been privileged to watch the natural same size as Walden Pond. I first saw it heritage of the area become more and in blazing fall colors. I also saw my first more protected. Our land trust was loons. And, I had heard there were no successful in preserving much of the motorboats allowed. Heaven on Earth. undeveloped shoreline of the pond and grew into a vibrant regional conservation By 1988, I was aware of the many threats organization for the Belgrade Lakes area. to water quality from land use, associated We protected the wonderful hiking trail with increased development directly of French's Mountain with a great view Eastern watersnake sunning itself on a preferred affecting the region. I got involved with rock. Inset: Watson Pond in Autumn. of the Belgrade Lakes, and eventually some of the local conservation efforts. We created the Kennebec Highlands through I'm more connected to the life of the formed a land trust, made an ambitious the Land for Maine's Future Fund, with pond than ever! application to the first Land For Maine's over 6,000 acres of forest, including 5 Future fund, and, I started the volunteer While snorkeling this summer, l had a undeveloped ponds, hiking trails, and monitoring of Watson Pond. loon zoom past me underwater, and I fantastic view-scapes. This includes all stared down a snapping turtle at about the undeveloped shoreline of Watson 18 inches! I've gotten to know eastern Pond, and most of its watershed. watersnakes' favorite sunning rock. I've More recently, with the steady monitored the beaver grazing of the rush encroachment of invasive plants, especially patches, and gotten to know a few big milfoils, I've kept an informal eye out, bass and their favorite haunts. paddling and snorkeling around the pond I now look forward to every swim! I several times throughout the summer. can only hope I never find what I'm This year I finally got myself certified looking for! as an LSM Invasive Plant Patroller. I've enjoyed learning to identify the native So, with the disappearance of each Secchi disk and each snorkel around this John Schooley pictured with friend visiting 'from species in the pond, as well as looking out away', Pat Simpson. for the unwanted ones. little pond, "I say to myself, 'What a wonderful world!'”

A Muse with a Secchi Disk They change with the lake. The wind Contributed by Tom Hamilton, LSM Certified pushes the waves that sigh upon the 22 Years; Lake Anasagunticook, Hartford beach, and splashing on the rocks. With time, even they change. Creatures live he lake is alive; it moves, changes, is and die; plants and algae grow and die. Thome to a myriad of living things: Detritus accumulates. The bottom rises. plants, algae, Marshes migrate and expand as the lake bacteria, insects, ages. The lake is alive.As seasons change, crustaceans, the lake changes. As nutrients mix, oxygen fish, snakes, dissolves and the lake refreshes. Every birds, annelids, year, every season changes the lake; what Canoe on the shores of Lake Anasagunticook. amphibians, and seems constant quietly changes. Humans humans. All are are pulled to the lake; they take from We can’t own the lake; we are part of the part of the lake. the lake; they change the lake. They find lake that we love. For our children and They live in, on sport and maybe peace. They recreate, all who will come after us, we protect Tom Hamilton ,or with the lake. but cannot re-create. the lake.

11 Friends of Cross Lake stations around the lake, On June 8th, 30 FOCL volunteers Contributed by Cheryl & Kirk St . Peter, LSM with DO/T readings, with 4 technical leaders started the Certified 1 Year; Cross Lake, T17 R05 WELS as well as chlorophyll survey of developed land around and total phosphorus the lake and on the public roads, he Friends of Cross Lake (FOCL) samples, also taken also looking for soil erosion. The was started in 2018 by LSM certified T at 2 stations. With Maine Forest Service and a FOCL water quality monitors, Kirk and Cheryl FOCL and UMFK Forester volunteer surveyed the St. Peter, who are spearheading efforts help, EPA completed forestland. All this data will be to restore Cross Lake’s impaired water a bathymetric map of LSM certified lake monitors compiled in a report available in quality. FOCL currently has 155 Cheryl and Kirk St. Peter the lake in July, wetland are spearheading efforts to the next several months. members who have joined us since and stream samples restore the water quality August 2018, as well as many partners of Cross Lake. USDA National Water Quality were collected by DEP in our efforts. Initiative (NWQI) Project: and FOCL in Dickey Pond, and Dickey Cross Lake’s watershed was chosen as Water Quality Monitoring & Other & Daigle Brooks this summer (the two a USDA NWQI project, providing Activities: main tributaries), a gravel road workshop additional annual funding ($250,000±) In June, 2018, Kirk and Cheryl attended with State Soil Scientist, Dave Rocque, and technical assistance to our watershed the Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) was held on August 2, and a LakeSmart farmers for years to come! lake monitor training and watershed program was started on August 17-18. To survey training workshops, and began date, 12 camp lot evaluations have been Watershed Based Plan: monitoring the lake after a gap of 9 completed. With our partner, the County of Aroostook, FOCL received the highest years from previous monitoring efforts. 2019 Watershed Survey: In June, 2019, they also attended the score on a competitive grant to develop a FOCL received a $1,000 grant from LSM LSM Dissolved Oxygen & Temperature Watershed Based Plan (WBP). With the to conduct a survey of the watershed (DO/T) training workshop and the grant, cash and in-kind contributions, (see group photo below). We engaged Maine Department of Environmental the WBP will use survey and monitoring many volunteers and partners. The Land Protection (DEP) provisionally trained data, with analysis and modeling, to Use Planning Commission (LUPC) made 10 additional volunteers at Cross Lake, describe actions needed to restore Cross all the survey maps; 90 total! The Fort all of whom will be fully LSM certified in Lake to meet state water quality standards Kent Natural Resources Conservation 2020. Biweekly Secchi disk transparency in the next 10 years! Service (NRCS) staff with help from readings are being taken in 2019 and UMFK students and drones completed Algal Bloom: 2020 by FOCL and University of Maine the agricultural land survey, looking for soil Unfortunately, Cross Lake also at Fort Kent (UMFK) volunteers at 12 erosion sites on farmland in the watershed. experienced a lake-wide blue-green algal (cyanobacteria) bloom that lasted over a month, starting on September 10, 2019, which has reinforced FOCL members’ and our partners’ determination to restore Cross Lake’s water quality!

Lovell Area Education & Outreach he Lovell Invasive Plant Prevention Contributed by Diane Caracciolo, Lovell TCommittee (LIPPC) is a town of Invasive Plant Prevention Committee; Lovell committee, charged with the Kezar Lake, Lovell mission of detection, prevention and eradication of invasive aquatic plants in the Kezar Lake Watershed. Over the years, we have realized that education and awareness is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of invasives. With the support of Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM), we have developed a LIPPC parade float at Lovell Old Home Days. strong outreach in our community. The grateful to LSM for their guidance and accompanying photos capture some of support in our mission to keep invasives the many ways we spread the word about out of our watershed! 2019 Invasive Plant Patrol workshop on Kezar Lake. invasive aquatic species. We are extremely 12 Four Days in 2019 woods—pristine, remote Contributed by Bunny Wescott, LSM Certified 12 waters which we would access Years and Sibly French, LSM Certified 12 Years; by way of a complex web of IPP Team Leaders; Panther Pond, Raymond gravel logging roads, gaining deeper and deeper entry “When you come to a fork in the road, through a series of logging take it.” ~Yogi Berra company checkpoints. e took the road more traveled by, Over shale, mud, ruts, and Wand it made no difference as the bark debris we traveled to two forks rejoined again in a matter of a meet up with our PhD- Intrepid IPPers surveying remote Maine lakes. few miles. Certified LSM IPP and Board sporting IPP counterparts, Member, Sibyl French and I, in a Subaru Mark Whiting and Keith Why did we go? Outback filled with emergency items: Williams, who organized the effort. • Curiosity: How are northern lakes tent, food, cooler, sleeping bags, come- Our accommodations were log cabins similar to (and different from) our along, two spare tires, water, trenching with gas lights and stoves, set snugly more southerly lakes? tool, and hatchet were followed by fellow around a sportsmen’s lodge with • A chance to learn from those with IPPer, Dennis Roberge, in his new pick- central outhouses and hot showers. more expertise up, equally equipped. (Dennis holds the From Loon Lodge on Round Pond • To broaden our perspective, and to statewide records for most waterbodies we were able to access other remote become more skilled at this work, surveyed for aquatic invaders [128], as lakes and streams, and over the next so we may be a better resource for well as most surveys reported [334]. He four days we spent many happy hours LSM and for our Panther Pond IPP is also a major contributor to LSM's collecting and examining the local team—the PPippers Pixie Williams Herbarium.) We were aquatic flora. Our collective inventory • To branch out and go beyond, each carrying our standard gear: kayaks, accounted for over 50 native plant species joining on to a mini-adventure with canoe, paddle, PFD's, scopes, rakes, (with no non-natives of concern) and a purpose and focus resealable plastic bags, plant ID books, many other ‘incidental’ wonders as well, • The thrill of the open road and the and hand lenses. Our mission? To survey including a bald eagle, a moose, several chance to be immersed in sights, and botanize on some never-before- herons, meteors, and rock mounds made sounds, smells, and touches not yet surveyed lakes in Maine’s deep north by fish. accessible on Google Earth

Jumping in With Four Feet! 2019, where he removed over 10,000 Contributed by Wendy Porter, LSM gallons of invasive plants from Maine Certified 3 Years; Shagg Pond, Woodstock waters.) Meanwhile, Wendy has taken on the role of CLA Board Education ommunity Lakes Association has Chair, conducting Invasive Plant Paddles Cbeen battling invasive variable on ponds throughout the Greenwood/ water-milfoil in Shagg Pond and Lake Woodstock area and coordinating CLA’s Christopher for over a decade. Four years Wendy Porter giving instructions to a volunteer local IPP team. In addition to her IPP ago, Donnie and Wendy Porter decided during an Invasive Plant Patrol Plant Paddle on Twitchell Pond in 2019. leadership, Wendy also volunteers as to get involved in the local effort to the regional coordinator for the Maine control and prevent the spread of aquatic Species Coordinator, coordinating the Audubon Annual Loon count; she is invaders in their community, and began removal of 15,000 gallons of variable responsible for 53 lakes and ponds in attending a variety of LSM training milfoil from CLA waters, and the western Maine. seminars, as well as networking events deployment of 299 benthic mats, with If you are interested in getting such as the Maine Milfoil Summit. 3.4 miles of rebar attached to keep them involved with Community Lakes It was not long before the Porters found in place. (He recently expanded his efforts beyond his local waters, going Association programs please contact suitable outlets for their passion and [email protected]. resolve. Donnie is now CLA’s Invasive to work for New England Milfoil in

Save the Date! 2020 LSM Annual Lake Monitoring Conference Will Be Held On Saturday, July 25th 13 My Years with LSM/VLMP from Andover College in Portland. and glaucoma, and also experienced Contributed by Richard Offinger, LSM Taking the then-current database files that a shoulder injury as the result of a Certified 42 Years; Cathance Lake, Cooper DEP lake biologist Linda Bacon supplied hard fall. I began wondering how much me with, I developed a data longer I will be able to keep up my any years ago, I entry program in the “C” lake monitoring activities. Having Mnoticed a newspaper programming language. explained this to a membership meeting article saying that the Maine The “Lakedata” program of the Cathance Lake Association, and DEP* was looking for citizen was first used by volunteer asking for a show of hands of those volunteers who would be lake data entry coordinators who might be interested in taking over interested in collecting data at about the time that VLMP my monitoring activities, I was quite related to water clarity in transitioned from the DEP surprised that not a single hand was Maine’s lakes. That interested to a nonprofit organization raised. In thinking about this, though, me, so I quickly responded to in the mid 1990’s. The it became apparent that because of offer my services, and so began coordinators were trained Cathance Lake consistently being rated my longtime association Richard Offinger to input data from data as having exceptional water quality with the program. I believe sheets submitted by VLMP and clarity, none of the membership is that was back in 1973, as I remember certified lake monitors. As time passed, feeling concerned that an event could my daughter Carrie, who was born in I began hearing requests to develop a cause a sudden and continued decline. November of 1972, being in a playpen Windows based data entry program, and Luckily, I have found help from another at our cottage on Cathance Lake when a in 2007 I released the first such Lakedata Cathance summer resident, James Ihle, fellow from the DEP arrived to train me. program, which I developed using who has taken me out on his boat for Although I did take a couple of years off Borland Delphi Professional software. monitoring sessions. Without his help, later on to tour Virginia with a musical Each year since then, I have continued I could not have continued to monitor group I was playing with, I eagerly to update and enhance the Lakedata after suffering my shoulder injury, as I jumped back into monitoring Cathance program as necessary to incorporate no longer had the ability to haul anchor Lake upon my return to Maine in 1977. database changes. from a depth of 100 feet at the deep Around 1990, the Maine DEP was basin. I do hope that a young adult experiencing extensive funding cuts, and will soon step up and make a long- asked if anyone currently in the Maine term commitment to take over when I Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program inevitably must step down. (VLMP; now Lake Stewards of Maine) who In closing, I must say that my own long- had computer programming knowledge term association with the LSM/VLMP, would be interested in developing a data and the friendships that have evolved entry program which could be used by over this period of time as a direct result volunteers who were trained to enter Richard Offinger with trusty sidekick, Hachi. of my participation, have truly been a lake water quality data. This seemed like most rewarding experience. a natural extension of my involvement, Three years ago, I was diagnosed as * Note: Prior to 1996, the VLMP (now LSM) as I had just graduated with an Associate having macular degeneration, cataracts, of Science degree in Computer Science was managed by the Maine DEP – Ed.

Recruiting the Next Generation It took all summer for our schedules Contributed by Ross Swain, LSM Certified 25 to agree, but in early September, Years, and Christine Swain, LSM Certified 9 Annabelle and her mom, Sondra Years; Ellis (Roxbury) Pond, Byron Withey, were able to join Ross for ast winter our a short boat ride to take a Secchi Lniece, 7-year- reading and a DO/Temp profile. It was old Annabelle Annabelle’s first boat ride, unless you Withey, told her count a Storyland ride, and she was mom that come a little nervous. Once on the water, summer, she though, her curiosity got the better wanted “to see of her and she became thoroughly Ross Swain with his niece, Annabelle Withey, and her mother Sondra. what Aunt Steen enthralled with the experience. school for show-and-tell. She still talks Annabelle learning how & Uncle Ross do At the end of the trip, Annabelle left to take a Secchi reading. at their pond.” with her own data sheet to take back to about her adventure. 14 IPPing In Style here is no one-type of watercraft Photos contributed by Lon Cameron & Tyler Kidder, Tbest suited for conducting screening Invasive Plant Patrollers on Wilson Pond in Wayne surveys. As long as your watercraft affords comfortable viewing, is easily maneuverable, with a relatively shallow draft and ample space to stow gear, you should be good to go. We are delighted to share Maine’s latest, and perhaps most innovative, invasive aquatic plant survey craft. Kudos to Lon, Tyler and Buoy! Lon created this unique viewing platform by ~ the Editor constructing a picnic table (using pressure treated wood for the frame and cedar for the benches and tabletop) to fit over some repurposed dock Invasive Plant Patrollers Tyler Kidder and Lon floats. The rig, which sports a battery-powered Cameron conducting an invasive aquatic plant Canine patroller Buoy, trolling fishing motor, a beach umbrella and screening survey on Wilson Pond in Wayne from showing off his prized multiple cup holders, can hold about seven the comfort of their floating picnic table. bucket scope . people or 900 pounds .

Worthley Pond Stewardship Contributed by Dave Clement, LSM the course a Award from Maine Lake Lakes Society Plant Patroller; Worthley Pond, Peru couple of times for having over 15% of our shore lot y interest in having good water now.) With properties certified. Mquality in our Maine lakes, ponds, the trainings, In 2016 we did a Citizen Watershed streams, rivers, and wetlands started the LSM plant Survey, coordinated by LSM and Maine when studying forestry at the University keys, and DEP staff, to locate areas of work that of Maine, but really took on new life practice on the needed to be done to protect Worthley when we purchased our family camp water, we have Pond’s water quality. To date, over at Worthley Pond in Peru. The year steadily gained 90% of properties cited by this study confidence in we bought in 1991, a group of owners Dave Clement that needed improvement have been were reorganizing and starting the local our ability to corrected or are being addressed. camp owners association. Their first goal spot invasive plants, if and when they should arrive. When in doubt about a Today our pond’s water quality is stable or was to work on ensuring the pond’s improving, which we know thanks to our water quality remained good. To do plant identification, we head to LSM headquarters in Auburn to get verification. LSM Certified Lake Monitor, Bruce Paster, this, they started annual monitoring of who takes regular Secchi disk (water clarity) the water quality through the Volunteer In 2007, as I was finishing a two-year readings throughout the summer. Our three now Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP; stint as President of the Worthley Pond conservation programs: Invasive Plant LSM ) Then we needed to start learning Association, I was introduced to the Patrol, Courtesy Boat Inspection (CBI), what project(s) would help maintain our LakeSmart program, an effort to teach and LakeSmart continue to protect the very clear water, which was already above shore lot owners how to improve their lake. The backbone of these programs is the average for Maine lakes. land, so little or no runoff containing the education and the commitment of We learned invasive plants could get contaminants, such as phosphorus that our association members who Monitor, into our pond, so we started a Courtesy promotes the growth of algae, enter Inspect, Patrol, and are Smart managers Boat Inspection (CBI) program. We now the pond. of their own properties. Thanks to employ both paid staff and volunteers In 2007 we started a LakeSmart Lake Stewards of Maine for offering to inspect boats at two launch sites on Program at Worthley Pond, with close the educational courses and technical the pond. We also started learning how to 30 landowners signing up. This support that help the Worthley Pond to become early detectors. Several of us program has grown to include 150 Association raise its Water Quality to signed up for LSMs Invasive Plant Patrol properties around the lake, and over higher standards. (IPP) 101 to learn how to survey our pond 50 owners certified as LakeSmart. for suspicious plants. (I have actually taken In 2018 we received the Gold Pond 15 Toothaker Pond Turnaround! Contributed by Adrienne Rollo, LSM Certified 18 Years; Toothaker Pond, Phillips y name is Adrienne Rollo, and I Mhave been an LSM certified lake steward on Toothaker Pond in Phillips since 2001. The pond was pea green with algae at that time, and I wanted to learn what had caused it and how Toothaker Pond resembled pea soup in 2003. Toothaker Pond turnaround over 10 years later! could we clean it up. I contacted the Maine Department of Environmental meters! The decision was made (and foul-smelling algae are now a thing of the Protection (DEP) to inquire as to permitted by DEP) to redirect the past. Secchi disk readings in recent years whether or not they would allow the brook into the lake, and to discharge have improved to as much as 4.6 meters, camp owners to apply barley straw to the hatchery waste below the outlet of and even the poorest readings of the season inhibit the growth of algae. Many area Toothaker, bypassing the pond altogether. have been above 3 meters! Phosphorus professionals including environmental Once that hurdle had been achieved, levels that were once as high as 23 ppb engineers, professors and scientists, as the next step was to purge the pond in 2004 were as low as 8.8 ppb in 2017. well as the Maine DEP, were called on of algae and phosphorus through The pond isn’t crystal clear yet, but it is to lend their ideas and expertise to the a series of temporary drawdowns to very close, and still healing. It just keeps restoration process. The more I learned, enhance flushing of the pond. The first getting better, year after year! the more I wanted to know. of these took place in September of Of course, as we all know, every lake After nearly twenty years of endless 2007, and then again in 2009. In each is different. What works in one lake determination by camp owners, Toothaker case, the concentration of phosphorus doesn’t necessarily work in others, and Pond is now free of pea soup algae blooms. in Toothaker was reduced. DEP was our circumstances with the fish hatchery Many individuals were called on to lend impressed with the response! In 2012, were unique. their ideas and expertise to the restoration the pond outlet was rebuilt, and a small These two photos process, including Maine DEP. dam with flashboards was constructed, (above) tell quite To make a long story short, the initiative in order to be able to carefully control a story. Pea soup came down to identifying and diverting future drawdowns/flushing. algae plagued a major source of phosphorus from an We have employed this method each Toothaker Pond in upstream fish hatchery that discharged August (when algae growth peaks) since 2003, and as you into Meadow Brook, a tributary of the 2012, except for one year when the can see, we had pond. The nutrient and bacteria-rich pond was exceptionally low, due to a clear water in 2014. waste from the hatchery would “cook” dry summer. What a difference a Adrienne Rollo, Toothaker Pond Lake Steward. during the summer months, resulting in I’m happy to report that Toothaker Pond decade, (and a lot major algal blooms. Secchi disk readings is healthy once again! The days of green of hard work) makes! in those days often dropped below 1.0

In Appreciation of LSM Lake Stewards, Lou and Dorli Cloutier Contributed by Rich Dressler, Greater Lou and Dorli Cloutier have been long- Pushaw Lake Association; Pushaw Lake, time members of the Greater Pushaw Old Town Lake Association, LSM-certified water quality monitors for 12 years (see photo at right), and recently went through refresher training on invasive aquatic plants with Roberta Hill from Lake Stewards of Maine. They were the proud recipients of a LakeSmart Award for their camp (see photo at left), and also participate in the Annual Loon Count on Pushaw Lake. Thank you, Lou and Dorli!

16 In Appreciation of LSM Lake Stewards, Mary Ryan, and Wynn & Sandy Muller Contributed by Friends of Wilson Lake; Wilson Lake, Wilton one of the crucial volunteers for two big Watershed Surveys, in 1994 and ary Ryan began monitoring the 2016. She also serves as one of the adult Mwater quality of Wilson Lake in support team for the Courtesy Boat Wilton over 30 years ago, when she Inspection monitors. was trained and certified by LSM (then Mary has been taking Secchi disk VLMP). She was motivated by, of all readings on Wilson Lake each summer things, seagulls. Wilton had an open for 33 years. Such a sustained history of dump in the 1980s and it drew flocks of LSM lake stewards Wynn and Sandy Muller dedication makes her one of the longest- (certified 8 years), pictured along with Courtesy seagulls that ate at the dump and did their serving lake monitors in the state. Well Boat Inspector Kahryn Cullenberg. business in Wilson Lake. Very concerned done, Mary, you have made a difference! about the effect on water quality, Mary (BTW—when Wilton closed the - Regularly provide free boat rides for began testing for water clarity and water “dump” and became a transfer station, individuals and organizations—residents quality in 1986. Recognizing the need for the seagulls disappeared.) and visitors, with commentary on lake better oversight, she served as a founding wildlife and lakeshore management ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ member of the local lake association, - Helped establish the Courtesy Boat Wynn and Sandy Muller, ever since they Friends of Wilson Lake (FOWL) in Inspection Program (CBI) at Wilson arrived in Wilton in 1987, have been a 1989. Over the decades, Mary has served Lake, and continue to be involved in its dynamic duo in promoting the health in various roles in FOWL, including administration each summer president, and continues on the board of of Wilson Lake through the Friends - Helped coordinate 2016 Watershed directors today. of Wilson Lake (FOWL; Wynn— president 2003-2015), and at the state Survey for Wilson Lake, Pease Pond, and level through Lake Stewards of Maine Varnum Pond (LSM), and Maine Lakes Society (MLS). - Help facilitate the remediation projects Their leadership, their encouragement of and other recommendations that other organizations and individuals, and emerged from the watershed survey and their continued emphasis on learning a 319 government grant more and doing better, make them - Continually work to strengthen models of commitment for protecting FOWL’s relationships with Town of and preserving our lakes for the future. Wilton, UMF, and local businesses Through the decades, they have devoted - Raise public awareness of lake issues Mary Ryan, having received her LSM 30-Year their talents, time, and appreciation through newspaper articles, the FOWL Service Award in 2016, pictured along with of science to building community fellow LSM lake steward, Rob Lively. newsletter, and other opportunities awareness (and taking action!) to protect - Work tirelessly to promote the LakeSmart In 1999, Mary was involved in the Maine lakes. and LoonSmart programs and to certify establishment of the 238-acre Foothills A few of their accomplishments include: properties, welcoming new lakeshore Land Conservancy at the head of Wilson - They are certified Stewards of LSM, and residents and encouraging others Lake, with the goal of limiting the they facilitate re-certification workshops The Mullers have a wide focus on what amount of erosion, run-off, and nutrients by providing their pontoon boat will help our lakes. Their ability to zero in entering the lake. The property, which - They conduct regular testing of Wilson on important short-term details as well as includes where Wilson Stream meanders Lake for transparency, dissolved oxygen planning for large-scale future projects is into the lake, is open to the public, and temperature, phosphorous, using a major part of why FOWL was named and is now used for educational tours their boat Lake Association of the Year by the MLS in and nature walks. Not surprisingly, her - Continue to attend LSM workshops 2018. Wynn and Sandy deserve personal camp on the lake was one of the first and classes in water testing, invasive recognition for their tremendous work on to be certified as LakeSmart. She was plants, etc. behalf of the lakes they love.

Please note: LakeSmart is a Maine Lakes Society program, and the Courtesy Boat Inspector (CBI) program is managed by Lakes Environmental Association . LSM works in partnership with both organizations . Inspired to share a story of your own? We can’t wait to see it! Please contact us today!! 17 List is current as of 10-31-19. Thank You! In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ Individuals ~ Anonymous Donors Meredith Cough David Hallee Steve & Jeri Markarian Jeanne Achille Carmen L. Coulombe Thomas R. & Judy A. Hamilton Christopher May Arnold J. Aho Dave Courtemanch Phoebe & Vaughn Hardesty Dorthy & David McAllister Pamela Albertsen Thomas Creamer & Mary Cheever Rosie Hartzler Patricia McGillivary Martin & Fiora Arnold Jane Crosen George Haselton Karen & Daniel McLean Laura & Ed Atlee Albert P. Croston Marilyn Heineman Paulette & Harry McNally Steven Austerer John E. Crouch & Poppy Connor- Charlotte P. Henderson Paul McNulty Leonard Bachman Crouch Thomas D. Herman Ronald D. & Edith L. McPherson Glenn Ball Geoff Cummings & Debbie Mann Barbara Hildreth Alberta Messer Marygrace & Peter Barber John Cummings Roberta Hill Tom & Marie Michaud Meg Barclay & John Scholz Karen & Paul Cummings Len & Leslie Hirsh Paul Mitnik Chris Barebo Virginia Davis & James Pitney, Jr. David & Janette Hodsdon Douglas Mixer Skip & Claudette Bartosch Buffy & Don DeMatteis Roberta Hodson & Herbert Korn Bill Monagle Caroline Beard & Peter Duffey Wendy Dennis Jack & Ann Holland Kathleen Moran Ewald & Susan Bender Barry DeNofrio Colin & Brie Holme Jason Moreau Michael & Joanne Bernstein Lisa Deschenes Ellie Hopkins Mr. Earl M. & Joanne C. Morse Raymond Bersch & Carol Friend Brenda & Ray Dickey Elisabeth C. Huebner Susan Motley Patricia & John Bickford Deidre & Michael Donovan Jarashow Randall Charitable Fund Janet & Paul Murphy Janet & Robert Bissell Craig Doremus Neil & Peggy Jensen Sue Neal Bill Blaine Norman A. Dudziak, Jr. & Rick & Louise Johnson Lindsay Nelsen Joe Bodnar Damaris J. Rohsenow Lawrence C. Johnston Melanie & Steve Ness Bourne Family Cynthia & Bob Dunlap Bambi Jones James V. O'Brien & Patricia Dorothy A. Bowyer Ann M. Dyer Steve Kahl & Mary Ann McGarry M. Dugan Charitable Trust Lucinda Brandt & Dan Wheatley Sharon Eastman Charlotte Kerrigan Steve & Karen O'Bryan Anne & Rich Bray Walter & Cheryl Edgecomb David & Diane Kew Whitney Wing Oppersdorff Susan F. Breau Martha Ehrenfeld & Carla McKay John & Joanne Kimball Daniel J. Orino Robert Breen Ron & Eileen Epstein Brigitte & Harold Kingsbury Dr. James Orino Rob & Maddie Brookings Eileen Fair Warren & Barbara Kinsman Amne Parsons Jennifer Brown George Fergusson Ronald & Leslie Kmiec Dave & Betty Parsons James Bunting & Christine Peter Fischer Ed & Carol Knapp Barry & Donna Patrie Bradbury Maureen Flanagan Barry M. Kutzen, M.D. Elizabeth Payne David & Eileen Burnell Ellen Frankel & Herbert Levine Norton Lamb Barbara & Wally Penrod Malcolm Burson & Eleanor Robert & Sibyl French John E. Laskey Ron Perrone & Diane Price Goldberg Kevin & Susan Frewert The Lathams Julianna Pfeiffer Mary H. Bussell Fulshaw Family Fund Don Lathrop Elaine Philbrook Charles & Halina Byrne John & Carol Gabranski Steve & Jo Laurich Denny & Sandy Phillips Mary & Roger Cady Claire Gargalli William Leithiser Toni Bingel Pied Linda & William Cain Marcia Gartley Peter Leitner Jessica Pierce Charlotte & John Calhoun Doug & Andrea Gathany Peter & Kathleen Leslie Pierce Family Amy S. Campbell David & Susan Gay Ilene & Eli Leveston Andree & Jeffrey Pride Diane Caracciolo Virginia Geyer Lynn Roberge Ligay Jeanne E. Raymond Liz Carter Bob & Maureen Giffin Robert & Gloria Limoges Frank Read Katie Carville Paul E. Gillis David Lind Wayne & Sharyn Reetz Donna Childs Jim & Diane Gloriant Jim Linsley Dan & Martha Reeve David & Sharon Clement Cynthia N. Graae David Littell William F. Reid, Jr. Louis & Dorli Cloutier Edward & Alexandra Graham Robert & Martha Lively Irene Reilly Mike & Joan Cloutier Stanley Greenberg John Loomis Ron Reinhart Denis M. Coffey Katie & John Greenman Maggie & John Lowry Linda Rice Robert & Jeri Cohn Dan & Lori Guerette Heidi Lukas Louise & Peter Riley Marie Connolly Bart & Mary Ann Hague Bill & Michelle Mann Dennis Roberge Beth Cormier John & Diane Hale Don & Pam Mantovani Len and Debbie Roe Sara & Tom Costello Bob & Janet Hall Amy March Casey & Howard Romero Kathleen & William Cotter Ron & Lisa Hall Norman & Barbara Marcotte Continued on next page...

18 List is current as of 10-31-19. Thank You! In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ Individuals continued... The Rosenkrans Family Fund Nancy Smith Joan Tax John & Cheryl Welch Mr. & Mrs. Craig W. Rule Peter W. & Delinda C. Smith Marcie Teele Lew & Miriam Wetzel Sara & Eric Sandberg Family Fund of the MCF Margaret Teele Rothberg Carl & Sookie Weymouth Nancy Winetrout Schenck Susan Sokol & Ted Webersinn Dick & Jo Thibodeau Kim White Rich & Lonny Schneider David & Diana Spahn Eben & Susan Thomas Willis & Eleanor White Claudia & John Scholz Lea Stabinski Edward & Patricia Thomas Cathy Whorf Robert & Pat Severance Cynthia & Paul Stancioff Hall & Debbie Thompson G.E. Mary “Pixie” Williams Tim & Danny Sholtis Rebecca Stanley & Charles Jacobs Family Fund Robert C. & Ann K. Williams Paul Shook Jeff Stern Stephanie Thornton Scott Williams Lynn & Alan Sidman Christine Stevens Jim & Janet Timmins Bill & Susan Williamson Robert C. Silvia Ed & Bobbie Stevenson Robert & June Tracy Richard & Patricia Windecker Edward & Priscilla Simmons Carl & Sally Stillwell Woody & Susan Trask Len & Mary Winsky Jill & Aaron Smart William & Sara Stockwell Kenneth D. Truscott, Jr. Jeanne & Brian Wright Alison Smith Thomas Straub Peter Vaux Callie Wronker Debra & Douglas Smith Bob & Peggy Susbury Bob & Jackie Warren Linda & Heinrich Wurm Dennis & Ellen Smith Jane & Dave Swan Cathy Watson Joani & Glenn Yankee Jeanne & Michael Smith Ozro & Donna Swett Beatty Watts Stephan Zeeman Jeanette Smith & Paul Rucha Larry Szendrei Barb Welch

Charitable Foundations In Memory Of The AmazonSmile Foundation Louis & Claire Boeri ~ Charles & Linda Whitten Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund Donald Burnell ~ Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association The Benevity Community Impact Fund Bob Dreves ~ Anonymous The Betterment Fund Harvey Gerry ~ Suzanne W. Gerry Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust Peggy Hallee ~ Karen Holmes Jane B. Cook 1992 Charitable Trust Annie Hanson ~ Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association Davis Conservation Foundation Tsukasa Horie ~ Edward & Priscilla Simmons Franklin Savings Bank Community Development Foundation Thomas C. Hughes ~ Sandra Small-Hughes Bobby McGee ~ Beatrice Labbe Roy A. Hunt Foundation Irene Patricia Nelson Welsh ~ Vanguard Charitable on behalf of IBM International Foundation The Ann and Carden Welsh Charitable Fund Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust Fran Pierson ~ Virginia & Paul Warren Onion Foundation Edward Reinke ~ Susan Marie Reinke Orchard Foundation Arthur Schilling ~ Jeanne Schilling Ram Island Conservation Fund of the Maine Community Foundation Melvin J. Shure ~ Anne Shure Elmina B. Sewall Foundation Margot Siekman ~ Scott Williams & Roberta Hill Nancy Winetrout Schenck James William Watts, III ~ Bill & Susan Merriman Major Funding Linda Sumner Major funding for LSM is made possible Karen A. White ~ Norman E. White, Jr. through grants from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the US In Honor Of Environmental Protection Agency. Ross & Bunny Wescott ~ Jefferson Eaton G.E. Mary “Pixie” Williams ~ Saturday Pond Watershed Association In Kind And for those of you who have donated your time, expertise, and dedication to the work of The LSM Board is considering listing the LSM in the past year– many thanks! individuals by donation levels in the future. 19 List is current as of 10-31-19. Thank You! In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ Business & Community Supporters A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm* Gammon's Garden Center* Patagonia* Acton-Shapleigh Youth Conservation Corps Garden Spot Farm* Pierson Nurseries, Inc.* Agren Appliance Good Theater* Port Harbor Marine at Jordan Bay* Al's Sports Center Hannaford Supermarkets* Town of Porter, Maine Auburn Water District* Highland Green* Portland Water District* Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Hildreth & White* ReVision Energy* Bath Savings Institution Hort Resource* Rooster Brother, Inc. Cabela's* Kingspoke Scentsy; Eileen Burnell* Clark Insurance KM Robbins Construction, LLC Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc.* Clark Marine Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission Skillins Greenhouses* Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Town of Lovell, Maine Tender Soles Farm* Cumberland Crossing* Norway Savings Bank Tripp's Farmhouse Café* Dental Lace, Inc.* Maine Audubon University of Maine Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers* Maine Lakes Society* We Compost It* Donna's Greenhouse* Maine Mapmaker* West Marine* Dunkin' Donuts* The Nature Conservancy Wicked Strong Products* Fiddlehead Winery* OceanView at Falmouth* Wild Seed Project* FB Environmental* Old Town Canoes & Kayaks* York County Invasive Aquatic Species Project *Supporter of LSM Annual Conference

Lake & Regional Watershed Associations Abrams Pond Association Green & Mirror Ponds Association Pleasant Lake & Parker Pond Association Allen Pond Improvement Association Green Lake Association Pleasant River Lake Association Androscoggin Lake Improvement Corporation Gull Pond Association Portage Lake Association Barker Pond Folk Association Hobbs & Fish Ponds Association Porter Lake Association Basin, David, Tilton Ponds Association Hosmer Pond Association Raymond Waterways Protective Association Bauneg Beg Lake Association, Inc. Howard Pond Preservation Association Rock Haven Lake Association Bear Pond Improvement Association Island Falls Lakes Association Sabbathday Lake Association Berry Dexter Wilson Ponds Watershed Association Kennebunk Pond Association Sand-Locke Pond Association Bickford Pond Association Keoka Lake Association Saturday Pond Watershed Association Branch Lake Association Kezar Lake Watershed Association Sebasticook Lake Association Chemo Pond Lake Association Lake Wesserunsett Association Sheepscot Lake Association Citizens Association of Liberty Lakes Little Ossipee Lake Association Silver Lake Camp Owners Association Clary Lake Association Little Sebago Lake Association Sokokis Lake Association Clearwater Lake Improvement Association Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association Square Pond Improvement Association Clemons Pond Association Long Pond Association Summer Haven Lakes Association Cold Stream Camp Owners' Association, Inc. Loon Lake Association Tacoma Lakes Improvement Society Community Lakes Association Lovejoy Pond Improvement Association Taylor Pond Association Crawford Lake Association Meddybemps Lake Association Thompson Lake Environmental Association Crystal Lake Association Mirror Lake Association Toddy Pond Association Dexter Lake Association Mousam Lake Region Association Torsey Pond Association East Pond Association Muscongus Pond Association Tripp Lake Improvement Association Estes Lake Association Nickerson Lake Wilderness Preservation, Inc. Watchic Lake Association Friends of Quimby Pond North Pond Association Webb Lake Association Friends of Wilson Pond Area Panther Pond Association West Harbor Pond Watershed Association Georges Pond Association Parker Pond Association, Inc. Wilson Lake Association Great East Lake Improvement Association Pickerel Pond Association Worthley Pond Association Great Moose Lake Association Piper Pond Association Greater Pushaw Lake Association Pitcher Pond Improvement Association 20 2019 Lake Monitoring Conference

Accoladeso t this group of 5-Year lake stewards (listed A decade of hard work is recognized for these lake alphabetically):t Jane Bissell, Betty Chesley, Paul Chesley, stewards (L-R) Buddy Cummings, Marsha Letourneau, A hearty congratulations goes Katie Greenman, John Greenman, Sharyn Reetz, Wayne Denis Mancine, John Welch, and Michele Windsor . to Bob Susbury, for 45 years monitoring Howard Pond! Reetz, Willard Richards, and Debra Smith .

Ellie and Willis White were honored for Extraordinary Lake Debbie Roe, the driving force Lloyd Irland, PhD, presented his Stewardship and Leadership in for early detection on Flying Celebrating 15 Years of Lake Stewardship are research on Maine lake ice-out the Rangeley area, and beyond . Pond in Vienna, is honored as (Le - R) Mik Cloutier, Fred Cummings, Buffy dates and trends . DeMatteis and Susan Sokol. Missing from IPP of the Year . photo is Pixie Williams.

LSM’s Roberta Hill presents on the Effects of Climate Change on Invasive Linda Bacon of Maine DEP Aquatic Species . informed conference attendees Katie & John Greenman accept the award for on the Influences of Climate IPP Team of the Year for the Alamoosook IPP Ross Swain is all smiles Change on Lake Water Quality . team, Alamoosook All Clear . LSM intern Sarah accepting his award Hammond models Katie’s amazing invasive for 25 years of lake plant costume . stewardship!

Hancock County IPP Regional Coordinators, Mark Whiting and Catherine Fox were LSM’s Spencer Harriman introduces Congratulations to kayak winner Peter Fischer of Boyd Pond (R) along recognized for Outstanding LSM’s new online app, Maine and 7-Year lake steward, Tony with Bill Gawley (L) of Acadia National IPP Leadership . Here, fellow Field Guide to Aquatic Phenomena Tedeschi, already on the prowl Park shared some thoughts on their Hancock County IPPer, Billy (available in app stores soon) . for invasive aquatic plants! multiple decades of lake stewardship . Helprin, accepts their award . Thank You to our Generous Conference Sponsors!*

*Please see page 20 for additional conference business supporters . 21 Algal (Cyanobacteria) Blooms, Harmful Algal Blooms by Linda Bacon and Cyanotoxins in Maine Lakes LSM Quality Assurance Officer; Aquatic Biologist, Background: walpa .org Maine Department of Environmental Protection yanobacteria, formerly called blue- measured the highest concentrations in Dalichospermum Cgreen algae, are photosynthetic blooms that are beginning to die off bacteria that can be found in all Maine [mid- to late September, in algal scums surface waters. Cyanobacteria blooms that have accumulated along the shore occur when the nutrient phosphorus (MC > 10,000 ppb)]. The worst scums in the water reaches a high enough look like green paint and produce odors concentration to support their Woronichinia that range from cut grass to a foul smell reproduction. Nutrients get into our lakes of decay. due to erosion, stormwater runoff, failing In the meantime, we advise people to septic systems in their watersheds, and to Dolichospermum avoid spending time in water if they can’t a lesser extent, from the atmosphere. see their toes when standing in water Also, because our ice-cover season is chest deep (4-5 feet deep) and the water decreasing, the lake’s growing season is is green or olive-green. When one staff increasing, as are water temperatures. algal scums, if present. We’ve re-visited a member was asked if she’d let her kids Warmer water temperatures promote subset of these lakes for a few months to go into a lake that is blooming, she’d more algal reproduction, so climate see how concentrations change over time. respond “absolutely not, but not because change is likely a contributing factor. of the algae, because if they were to get We have also randomly chosen between Not all algal blooms produce cyanotoxins. hurt (hit their head and go unconscious), 20-27 lakes each year to determine the Maine Department of Environmental no one would be able to see them.” extent of the problem in larger lakes Protection (DEP) defines a planktonic in populated regions of the algal bloom as a nuisance bloom when state, and have just set up the Secchi disk transparencies fall to 2 meters analytical test at the Health (6.6 feet) or less. When lakes reach this and Environmental Testing point, total phosphorus concentrations Lab so that samples can be are generally above 15 parts-per-billion processed in Maine. Results (ppb). We currently consider that lakes from the testing, including a having Secchi disk transparencies less list of lakes tested, should be than 1 meters (3.3 feet) as having a available within a few months. Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). This These toxin results are only a term is applied conservatively. Not all snapshot of conditions, and lakes that are experiencing a HAB are are not representative of the producing toxins. conditions before or after DEP has been monitoring lakes for samples were taken. We will toxins for about a decade. Our initial use these results along with the work focused on lakes that are chronic other parameters we measure bloomers to determine which toxins are to define conditions that could result in Benthic forms of cyanobacteria, more problematic in Maine. Microcystin (MC) toxin production. There are too many common in flowing waters than in was the only toxin we found in our lakes in the state, and too many days lakes, can produce the toxin anatoxin. early work, so we have been focusing during the summer, to ever know for sure The nickname for anatoxin is ‘very fast on determining how when toxins are present; but if death.’ This form grows happily on the common it is in the we know what conditions lead bottom of rivers and streams until the state. In each of the past to toxin formation, we can mat they form gets too thick. During 5 years, we have visited make informed decisions and photosynthesis, these mats produce chronic bloomers to manage risk. oxygen. When the mats get thick, the identify the magnitude oxygen bubbles get trapped in the mat Toxins seem to be produced of MC concentrations. and cause it to rise to the surface, wash when blooms reach the point We’ve obtained samples downstream and accumulate along the where the lake water looks from open water, near shore. These decaying mats stink. Dogs and feels like pea soup. We’ve the shore, and from LOVE stinky things and are attracted 22 to them. If they inadvertently consume appear, along with an associated town. elevated toxin concentrations, similar water around these mats, they may ingest When they click on the lake name, the to how they can close town beaches anatoxin, which can kill them within Lake Overview page appears (if there is when they find elevated bacteria levels. a few hours. Early 2019 dog deaths only one lake with that name, it will Thus far, DEP does not have statutory in Fredricton, NB, were attributed to immediately go to the overview page). (legal) authority to close waterbodies. anatoxin poisoning from algae washed Direct them to click on Water Quality, The Maine CDC will be using data up on the shore of the St. John River. DEP staff are on the lookout for this type of algae in Maine waters. In fact, one small pond in a South Portland dog park was posted as a precaution in September of 2019 because the genus Oscillatoria was discovered, some species of which can produce anatoxin. Resources people can use to evaluate just above the lake name. The page that collected by DEP to determine how a Maine lake: appears contains Color Ramp graphics. best to approach the cyanotoxin issues The background color represents the (advisories, closures, etc.). (1) One resource the public can use range in water quality, with respect to It is important that people are aware to help them evaluate the risk of algae, we see in Maine lakes. The yellow encountering cyanotoxins in ‘their’ lake that they should never drink untreated diamond indicates where the selected lake water. There are things that is the DEP website, which includes a lake lands on this continuum. When list of lakes that have had one or more can make them sick, like Giardia– a the mouse pointer is placed over the parasite which causes ‘beaver fever,’ blooms: https://www.maine.gov/dep/ diamond, the long-term average value water/lakes/cyanobacteria.html Cryptosporidium– another parasite for that parameter will appear. The first that can cause flu-like symptoms, The site provides some background graphic is for Secchi transparency. If coliform bacteria and other pathogens. information then toward the bottom the number is more than 3 meters, the (second-to-last section) there is a link to lake probably does not produce HABs. The DEP Cyanobacteria web page a list of ‘Lakes at risk of having an algal On the same page in the top right are (https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/ bloom.’ Clicking on the link brings up a HTML icons labeled Station 1, etc. If lakes/cyanobacteria.html) includes the list of 122 lakes (see above image). [ Link they click on the Station 1 icon, the following tips to avoid problems: address: https://www.maine.gov/dep/ water quality report for the lake appears. • Do not accidentally ingest or drink water/lakes/bloomrisk.html ] The first graph shows a summary of all lake water during a bloom. Well- Each lake on the list has bloom the data we have for the lake. Average maintained domestic water treatment Frequency and Risk listed in the right- Secchi Transparency for each year is systems may make lake water safe hand columns. If a lake is not on this indicated by the Secchi disk symbol, to drink by removing bacteria and list, the likelihood that there is a bloom the minimum and maximum readings parasites, but they are not guaranteed or algal toxins is Low. for each year are indicated by arrows to remove algal toxins. above and below each symbol. If the (2) A second resource people can use is • If you shower with lake water, keep minimums are above 2 meters, the lake the Lakes of Maine website, where they showers brief because breathing hasn’t had any documented nuisance can look up a specific lake. The address toxins in shower mist could cause blooms and likely has no toxins. is: https://www.lakesofmaine.org/ health issues. Additional Considerations: On the right side of the page is a • Do not swim, water ski, or boat in box with “SEARCH for Your Lake”. There are Federal Standards that Maine areas where algae are visible (e.g., They can enter the lake name, click uses to evaluate toxin concentrations. pea soup, floating mats, scum layers, Local municipalities can close their on the Search icon, and a list of lakes Algal Blooms . . . continued on page 32 with the lake name they entered will properties to swimmers if they discover 23 Maine Lake Ice-Out Dates and Ice-Free Periods: What’s the Trend? Contributed by Lloyd C . Irland, PhD; Forester & Economist, The Irland Group Figure 1 hen the ponds are again open Wto the sky every spring, we all notice. We can all recall seasons when the ice-outs occurred very early or very late, or when lakes froze over unusually early, as they did in 2018. Few of us write them down and keep the notes over long periods, but a few people have done so. What are these records telling us? I have persist for days. Many large northeastern depth, and local weather. been making a hobby of collecting this lakes were raised by outlet dams in the This region’s climate has undergone kind of information and writing about 19th century, which may have caused several long trends since the 1840’s, all it. The ice-out data here are taken from a a step change in dynamics of ice-outs. of which might affect lake ice cover. So, USGS publication by Glenn Hodgkins, Some lakes have long been managed we are trying to analyze changes in lake records kept by the Lakes Society, and for log driving, power, and even flood ice cover regimes during a time of: updated from the Maine Bureau of Parks control. A few have been raised in several • Rebounds from Little Ice Age, up to and Lands website and other sources. stages. Adjusting the dates for such roughly 1840s-1860s Here, I show you some results presented factors would be a difficult process. • Rebounds from human disturbances at the LSM Conference last summer. These charts show ice-out dates as Julian of 1840-1940 Not being an aquatic ecologist -- and dates, which are the number you get • Ecosystem responses to post-1900 lacking space -- I will not discuss the when you number the days throughout climate changes biological significance of these changes, the year, instead of within months. but only observe that many scientists But what is the long-term trend? A regard them as very important. Surely there are more such sample of four large lakes (Fig. 1) with records out there in private the longest records is a good place to start. Ice-out and ice-in dates are interesting hands, in obscure reference The lakes are Cobbossee (5,516 acres), because the date a lake opens up works, minutes of lake association Sebago (29,992 acres), Lake Auburn integrates a host of influences, not all meetings, diaries, or town (2,277 acres), and Damariscotta (4,486 of which we can readily measure for histories? My wife’s uncle had a acres). All are heavily used recreationally scientific study. Factors such as previous farm overlooking Sabbatus Lake; and support important fisheries. I season’s weather, current temperatures, he wrote the ice-out date on a prepared averages of all four from 1840 accumulated degree-days, late season doorpost for many years. Do you to 2017 (178 years). For perspective, snowfall or rainfall events, and windiness have a relative who did this? Thoreau first visited Maine in 1843. are all involved. A statistician looking at these numbers Meteorologists use 30-year periods to Ice-out dates are not instrumented would observe a few things. These time define “normal” weather. Using that as a observations. But they are usually taken series have a lot of volatility, but in fact guide, ice-out dates from Thoreau’s visit by onsite observers with a specific need their peak values rarely exceed 15% to the end of this period moved earlier, for the information. For a large lake, an of the long-term averages. The dates on average, by 15 days, or two weeks. observer may declare ice out when the show little correlation from year to year. When you realize that ice-in dates in fall view from a single point shows open Interestingly, the dates for nearby lakes moved later, the ice-free season on these water to the opposite shore or cove. It is are often not correlated at all, suggesting 4 lakes is likely 3-4 weeks longer than in understood that other arms of the lake the importance of the lake’s shape, 1840-1869. may retain ice; ice in shaded coves could orientation relative to prevailing winds, For a larger sample, we have fewer years of data. I chose 11 lakes with complete Figure 2 data since 1928, representing all the regions across the state (Fig. 2). This includes the 4 lakes above, plus 7 more. This chart shows a similar pattern, with an average change over the period of 0.89 days per decade.

24 Figure 4

Beginning stages of ice-out on Lake Auburn earlier in 2019.

Lake ice-out dates exhibit no regular, dates alongside the ice-out dates. These important, and are obscured when people periodic cycles, but they often show include 2 from Maine (Moosehead only talk about "Global Warming”. deviations from the very long-term and Lake Auburn), one from New Second, the long-term trend, despite trend. Our longest series is for Sebago Hampshire (Mirror Lake), and one annual variability, is highly statistically Lake (Fig. 3). The long-term trend is from Vermont (Lake Champlain). significant. It is not a result of some statistically highly significant. Looking As Figure 4 shows, the data from random process. at 10-year moving averages, though, Lake Auburn, kept by the local water you can see significant periods when the utility, shows a striking increase of Still, for brief periods, ice-out dates can dates moved against the long-term trend. 26 ice-free days between the averages move away from long-term trends. Any From the late 1820’s to the 1870’s, the of 1952-1971, and the 1998-2017. single year with a record early or late dates moved later. Then they entered a This difference is statistically highly date has no significance. roughly 75-year period on a declining significant. A change this large must Finally, while we only have sparse data trend, which once again reversed itself have important biological effects. on total ice-free days per year, what we for 20 years; the late 80’s to late 00’s were In summary, a few things stand out: know suggests that ice-free days increase against the long-term trend once again. First, the large changes in ice-out and by more than just the shift of the ice- Such reversals could easily happen again. ice-free days since the 19th century outs to earlier dates. I promised to discuss lake ice regimes accompanied a very small change in in this article, and not just lake ice-out average annual temperatures. This is dates. I can find only a few long-term why seasonal weather regimes are so records that show ice-in (freeze-up)

Figure 3

Lloyd C. Irland was a junior author in the 2000 National Climate Change Assessment and the 2005 millennium Ecosystem Assessment; he attended the Copenhagen and Cancun Global UN Climate Summits; has lectured on climate change and forests in the US, Ukraine, China, India, and Greece. He is a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters.

WANTED: Reminder to all LSM Lake Stewards: Volunteer Water Quality Regional & Data Coordinators Help ensure the Help with activities such as scheduling re-certification workshops, Lakes of Maine website communicating with volunteers, and data entry. For more information, will be complete by sending in please contact us at [email protected], or 207-783-7733. any late data today! 25 hinese mystery snails are native to Cparts of Southeast Asia. They were brought to North America as a food Under source for Asian markets. It is believed Chinese that imported snails were intentionally the Mystery Snail released in some areas to create a locally-harvestable supply. Since their introduction, Chinese mystery snails Hand have spread to many parts of the United States, and can now be found in dozens Lens: Cipangopaludina of Maine lakes and ponds. chinensis malleata Once established in a waterbody, Chinese mystery snails may achieve very high densities and adversely impact native aquatic food webs. Chinese mystery are descended from marine ancestors snails may be transported, as adults and extract oxygen from the water with or tiny juveniles, via bait buckets and a single gill. In general, operculate snails water-holding areas on boats. When are slower-growing and longer-lived than they die, they often wash up on shore, land-descended species. where their large shells can be easily seen Like other operculate snails, Chinese and (unpleasantly) smelled. Like other mystery snails are dioecious, meaning freshwater snails, Chinese mystery snails that reproduction requires two distinct may serve as a vector for various parasites organisms: a male and a female. Female and diseases. Snails and slugs eat with a jaw and a mystery snails live up to five years, while flexible band of thousands of microscopic teeth, called a radula . The jaw cuts off males live up to three (occasionally four) larger pieces of food and delivers them to years. In eastern North America, females the radula, which churns them up; snails generally contain embryos from May to also use the radula to scrape smaller August and young are born from June particles from the substrate . Here a through October in shallow water. mystery snail cleans the aquarium wall . Photo courtesy of AquariumCareBasics. Chinese mystery snail females give birth to live young. More specifically, an egg selectively, primarily by scraping organic hatches inside the female and the juvenile and inorganic material, including algae, from the bottom sediments and the The large invasive snails may compete surfaces of higher plants. with native snails for food and habitat and may contribute to their decline . Here, Like all snails, Chinese mystery snails larger invasive Chinese mystery snails feed are soft-bodied mollusks with attached on a fish carcass alongside their smaller protective shells composed primarily of native counterparts . Photo courtesy of calcium and other minerals obtained Dennis Roberge. through the snail’s diet. The snails are Chinese mystery snails are distinctively permanently connected to their shells by large, roughly the size of a walnut or strong ligaments and other soft tissues. In addition to being uncommonly large, golf ball (half-again as large as Maine’s The surface of the foot, which terminates the shells of Chinese mystery snails largest native freshwater snail). Unlike in a pointy ‘tail,’ is covered with tiny are globe-shaped, almost as wide as they are high, with six to seven whorls, many aquatic snail species that prefer to motile projections (cilia) which augment the wave-shaped muscular contractions of terminating in a cone-like tip . The inner live in flowing water, Chinese mystery coloration of the shell is white to pale snails prefer the quiet water of lakes, the foot, and facilitate the gliding motion. blue . The outside of the shell is coated ponds, and slower portions of streams. Chinese mystery snails belong to a with a thin layer of tough pigmented Most feeding, mating and birthing group of snails that have a hard “lids” material called the periostracum (pair- takes place in shallow water during the made of protein on their tails called ee-oh-strac-um), that gives the shell its color . Adults are typically olive green, warmer months of spring through fall. an operculum (oh-pur-ke-lum). Unlike greenish brown, dark brown, or reddish In the fall, Chinese mystery snails begin some freshwater snails that are descended brown, while juveniles may be lighter migrating to deeper water where they from land snails and obtain oxygen in color . Photo courtesy of Moon Lake spend the winter. C. chinensis feeds non- through a simple lung, operculate snails Riparian Association.

26 at which time the young snail is fully functional and ready to feed. Over the course of her life, a single female snail may give birth to more than 170 young. The best way to help prevent the spread of Chinese mystery snails (especially those that are young and hard to see) is to ALWAYS CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY your boat and gear between waterbodies. When a Chinese mystery snail is threatened CLEAN plant debris, mud and algae by a predator or problematic environmental Juveniles also have a detailed pattern on conditions, the entire body of the snail from all boating and fishing gear and their periostracum consisting of rows of can retreat inside the shell—head first, dispose in trash. DRAIN live well, bilge tiny hairs with hooks on the ends . (The followed by the foot . When the snail is water, and engine water away from rows of hooked hairs, best seen with retracted into its shell, the hard operculum waterbody. DRY any gear that comes magnification, can help in distinguishing slams shut, providing an extra layer of into contact with water. a young Chinese mystery snail from protection for the snail . The opercula of similarly-shaped native snails ) . Photo Chinese mystery snails are distinctively Snails are a common food item for courtesy of Minnesota Department of concentrically-marked . Photo courtesy of many species of ducks, fishes, crayfishes, Natural Resources. Inset: Newborn snails. Jenna Turcott. and turtles, so making sure your lake Photo courtesy of Life With Pets. snail grazes in a special pouch inside the ecosytem stays healthy, providing mother’s body. After a few weeks of excellent wildlife habitat will also help Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) currently feeding, a juvenile snail (about ¼-inch to keep snail poplulations under control. manages a statewide database on reported long), crawls outside the mother’s body, To learn more about how one community sightings of C. chinensis malleatus. You in Maine deals with Chinese mystery snails, can assist the effort to get a better handle please see Square Pond Snail Snatchers on on this invasive organism by reporting page 10. any sightings to LSM at 207-783-7733 or [email protected].

The snail’s body is comprised of three distinct sections: a well-defined head with scraping mouth-parts and eyes strategically-perched atop protruding tentacles; the shell-encased mantle, folds of soft tissue that contain the internal organs; and a large muscular foot that is the animal’s primary means of locomotion . SOURCES: Chinese Mystery Snail Review - J Waltz 2008; Citizen Lake Monitoring Network; Freshwater Snails in Maine Image adapted from M.L. Coppolino. - K Hotopp 2016; Global Invasive Species Database; Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; Indiana DNR; Michigan DNR; NOAA GLANSIS; US Fish & Wildlife Serv; US Geological Surv; Wikipedia

MAINE’S INVASIVE PLANT PATROL 2019 was another banner year for Maine’s Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) . Thanks to the support of our friends, funders and partners, LSM was able to conduct 16 IPP training events across the state of Maine in 2019 . Over 287 people attended one of more training events in 2019 and of these, 95 opted for IPP Certification, bringing the current total number of Certified IPPs to 704. We especially wish to thank our 2019 IPP workshop hosts! Without your leadership, energy and efforts, the IPP program—as we know it—would not be possible!  7 Lakes Alliance  Abrams Pond  Acadia National Park  Acton-Shapleigh Youth Conservation Corp  Alamoosook Lake Assoc  Barker Pond Assoc  Bickford Pond Assoc  Branch Lake Assoc  Chemo Pond Lake Assoc  China Lake Assoc  Citizens Assoc of Liberty Lakes  Colcord Pond Assoc  Craig Brook Hatchery  Estes Lake Assoc  Friends of Cobbossee Watershed  Friends of Patten Pond  Friends of Silver Lake  Friends of Wilson Ponds Assoc  Great East Lake Improvement Assoc  Great Moose Lake Assoc  Green Lake Assoc  Hancock County IPP  Hancock County SWCD  Kennebago Lake Camp Owners Assoc  Kennebunk Pond Assoc  Lake Wesserunsett Assoc  Lakes Environmental Assoc  Little Ossippee Lake Assoc  Lovell Invasive Plant Prevention Committee  Maine Association of Wetland Scientists  Maine Audubon, Fields Pond Center  Megunticook Watershed Assoc  Mousam Lake Region Assoc  Pickerel Pond Assoc  Rock Haven Lake Assoc  Sokokis Lake Assoc  Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary  Spectacle Pond Assoc  Square Pond Improvement Assoc  The Friends of Quimby Pond  Toddy Pond Assoc  Wilson Lake Assoc  York County Invasive Aquatic Species Project  York County SWCD 27 Maine’s Goodwill Ambassador for Maine Lakes 2019 Speaking Tour! ast summer, LSM Advisory Board member, Matt Scott, Lvolunteered several days of his time, and drove hundreds of miles throughout Maine to meet with 13 lake groups to present information regarding the vulnerability of Maine’s lakes, and the individual lakes represented by the associations. Matt’s several decades of professional experience in the Maine DEP, Maine DIFW, the North American Lake Management Society, the American Fisheries Association, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection, and others, combined with his vast knowledge of the State’s lakes, provided the fortunate meeting attendees with a broad personal and professional perspective on the history and future of their lakes. Matt Scott (L) was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Matt represented Lake Stewards of Maine and the Maine Lakes the USEPA, recognizing his many years of public service on behalf of Maine's environment . Pictured with him are (L - R) Jennie Bridge (retired EPA), Jeff Dennis Society as he spoke from personal experience about the many and Barry Mower of Maine Department of Environmental Protection. individuals with whom he had worked through the years, both at the local and state level, on behalf of individual lakes. of Trout Unlimited in Waterville, and then to Togus pond to discuss the challenges their association has encountered with The 2019 tour started with a presentation that Matt made to a recent severe algal bloom. Along the way, Matt was asked to the attendees of Maine’s Annual Lake Monitoring Summit, address a number of controversial issues, among which was the followed by Pierce Pond in New Portland, where Matt potential impacts of the reintroduction of Alewives in lakes. encountered snow squalls! He next met with the Raymond Waterways Protective Association, which represents several Next on the tour was Wesserunset Lake in Madison, where small area lakes, where he encountered LSM Directors Bob Matt met Will Reid, a fellow expert on Maine Crayfish, and and Sibyl French. From there, Matt met with a local chapter long-time certified volunteer lake monitor for LSM. Crystal Lake in Gray was next, a sensitive and threatened lake, followed by China Lake, a public water supply lake with a history that made headlines in the 1980’s, at which the phrase “The China Lake Syndrome" was coined, describing a lake in which phosphorus begins to recycle internally, setting off a decline in water quality. Maine’s first formal citizen watershed survey was conducted in this lake watershed. Matt Scott, LSM Advisory Board The Greater Pushaw Lake Association was the next beneficiary of Matt’s experience and wisdom – another threatened lake, and then a long drive to Cold Stream Pond in Enfield, a sensitive lake with a slow flushing rate, a “gem” by Matt’s account, and a high priority lake for fishery management. Knickerbocker and Adams Ponds in Boothbay Harbor were next, followed by Pleasant River Lake in Matt’s home territory where the impact of fireworks on lakes was discussed, among other topics. Meddybemps Lake in Washington County was the final stop where Matt discussed the fishery and protecting water quality through the use of best conservation practices for new development and roads. In total, Matt met with nearly 700 individuals throughout the state last summer. We are very appreciative of his generous donation of personal time and resources, combined with his broad knowledge and perspective. Thank you, Matt!

Save the Date! 2020 LSM Annual Lake Monitoring Conference Will Be Held On Saturday, July 25th 28 Littorally Speaking... continued from page 5 312,000-acre conservation easement possible through the Maine Lake and River that protects 70% of the remaining Protection Sticker program, a Federally- shoreline from development. certified Invasive Aquatic Species Action Given the tremendous investment the Plan, and an excellent team of experienced organization has made in the future invasive species professionals within the well-being of this pristine area, DLLT DEP. Free invasive aquatic plant manual will certainly be a valued partner in control trainings are offered annually, as are the effort to address this new threat to networking events such as the Maine Milfoil the ecological and economic health of Big Summit. Locally-powered infestation the region. “This region of Maine is Lake monitoring and mapping efforts, essential defined by its lakes and waterways,” to the success of any management effort, says DLLT President and CEO, are equally well-supported through Lake David Montague. “The news of this Downeast Lakes Land Trust and the Passamaquoddy Tribe Steward of Maine’s Invasive Plant Patrol infestation is deeply concerning for are major stakeholders in the region. (IPP) program. our communities, our local tourism to develop and carry-out their ongoing And the best news of all, perhaps, is the economy, and the way of life that depends monitoring and management efforts. We fact that Big Lake has a number of deeply- on healthy lakes and the fisheries they also look forward to piloting some new rooted friends and allies, allies that provide support. We feel very fortunate to have the strategies for establishing a vibrant survey historical and cultural perspective, strength, support and expertise of Lake Stewards of effort in this more sparsely-populated part vibrancy and resilience. Big Lake is in the Maine to help us address this new threat of the state. to our watershed. We have been lucky to very heart of the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s There is no doubt that the Big Lake avoid these issues in the past, but now ancestral homeland. Passamaquoddy infestation is a game changer for Maine. we find ourselves at the start of what will, have lived and flourished within this To say that a well-established infestation in undoubtedly, require a long-term, sustained homeland at the least since the time when such a remote part of the state represents effort to protect the spectacular natural the Laurentide glaciers melted away from a challenge for our state, seems a glaring heritage of Big Lake and prevent the spread this part of North America, from ten- understatement. But there is also, as of aquatic invasive species to the other lakes to-fourteen-thousand years ago. The tribe discussed earlier, much working in Big in our region.” still holds land along the northern shore Lake’s favor. LSM is committed to helping of Big Lake, and the lake has long been Part of a vast area known for its pristine in every way that we can. This means, of central to Passamaquoddy life, providing water resources, the region surrounding Big course, that we too will need a great deal fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, Lake is also home to a number of thriving of help. In this time of need, we consider aesthetic values and supporting essential hunting and fishing camp establishments, a ourselves fortunate, indeed, to have all of cultural and spiritual practices. Many of cadre of experienced Maine Guides, and a you, our fellow lake stewards to turn to! the tribe’s most treasured archeological sites host of private camp owners, all of whom To learn more about how you can get are concentrated around the shorelines have a tremendous stake in the long-term involved in the Big Lake IPP Response, of the waters in this region. LSM has health of Big Lake. been partnering with the Passamaquoddy please contact Roberta Hill at Roberta@ Add to all of the above the dozens of Environmental Department on water lakestewardsme.org or 207-783-7733. trained and experienced early detectors quality monitoring efforts since 2004. (IPPs) from the more-southerly counties IMPORTANT IPP UPDATE Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) is who have already signed on to help with also a major stakeholder in the region. the Big Lake survey in 2020, and the In light of the sudden change in Founded by local residents in 2001, DLLT dozens more we hope to train, mentor and priorities for next year, we have made is dedicated to the long-term economic and engage, and one begins to see that we have arrangements to postpone plans for the Eagle Hill course until 2021 or 2022. environmental well-being of the Downeast ample reason for optimism! Lakes region, working to conserve For those of you who were looking In the weeks and months to come, LSM the region’s woods and waters through forwardo t this week-long aquatic plant will participate in a flurry of planning land acquisition and sustainable forest extravaganza in 2020, we are truly meetings and outreach events, working sorry to disappoint . On the bright side, management. In 2016, DLLT significantly in collaboration with all stakeholders to while we are searching for and mapping expanded its land holdings in the region, help develop a comprehensive plan for milfoil up on Big Lake next summer, adding nearly 22,000 additional acres to responding effectively to the Big Lake we are sure to encounter (and enjoy the 34,000 acres it already owned. The infestation. In addition to public meetings gettingo t know) many native plants! additional acreage, extending from West and strategy sessions, LSM will offer a Please consider joining us for a stint of Grand Lake, east to Big Musquash Stream series of IPP trainings in the Big Lake area whatt jus may be the ultimate hands-on includes more than four miles of shoreline next summer, with the goal of engaging learning IPP experience! on Big Lake. DLLT partnered with the New and strengthening the capacity of the England Forestry Foundation to purchase a local community as they move forward 29 LSM Staff Provides Technical Support For Lake Auburn “Alum” Treatment

ake Auburn, MIDAS #3748, is Photo courtesy of Lauren Olson, of the Lake by Tristan Taber; LSM Training and Auburn Watershed Protection Commission Llocated in Androscoggin County Technical Outreach Coordinator in Auburn, Maine. It has an area of ensure that proper application rates were 2,277 acres, and a maximum depth of maintained. Should a clump of material a little over 36 meters. It is the primary block a point on the barge’s application drinking source for many of the 59,000 manifold or in a hose, ratios would residents of Lewiston and Auburn. The deviate from their neutralizing levels historical water quality of Lake Auburn and the LSM team could detect the has been very good, with Secchi disk deviation and alert the barge operators. readings averaging 7.3 meters, and late- LSM Alum Treatment Survey Team (L - R) Wendy In addition, we (LSM) monitored a summer dissolved oxygen concentrations Dennis, Mark Dennis, Tristan Taber. (Spencer Harriman not pictured.) pre- and post-treatment “control” point, remaining sufficient to support a high- located outside of the treatment area, value coldwater fishery — Lake Trout the methodical treatment of Lake in order to detect changes in the lake, and Landlocked Salmon. However, in Auburn with two chemicals (aluminum as well as other special samplings that 2012, Secchi disc readings dropped to just sulfate and sodium aluminate) which were monitored during the course of the 2.9m, dissolved oxygen concentrations when properly applied are able to strip treatment. Because Lake Auburn’s water plummeted, and the lake experienced phosphorus from the lake water column. treatment facility is a non-filtration a severe fish kill. Increasing water The vital role of monitoring the effects plant, it was necessary to allow the temperature from an unusually warm of the alum project application fell to dissolved aluminum levels in the lake spring and early ice-melt, combined the LSM survey team, which consisted to settle down, and the treatment was with a severe rain event in June (several of Tristan Taber, Mark Dennis, Wendy broken up into two time periods, with inches in 24 hours and causing severe Dennis, and Spencer Harriman. the treatment process wrapping up on soil erosion and phosphorus loading October 23rd. from the watershed), are thought to have The application process consists of been the major contributors to the algae having a barge, in this case operated by During the course of the treatment, bloom. In 2018, with phosphorus levels SOLitude, apply a 2:1 mixture of the we witnessed a few deviations from once again creeping up, and worry about two potentially-caustic chemicals in a neutral pH – one was due to the diminishing Secchi disk transparencies designated area of the lake. In theory, thermal properties of the chemical on an (similarly, 2.9m), the Lake Auburn Water the chemicals mix, neutralizing the pH especially cold morning – but we were District was motivated into preemptive of one another, and flocculate – the able to notify SOLitude, who promptly action – first with the one-time, stop- process by which colloids (a mixture worked to correct the flow rates and gap measure use of an algaecide. A with microscopic or dissolved particles) rebalance the application. The project decision was then made to conduct an come out of suspension to form a “floc” was a great experience for the LSM team, “alum treatment” in 2019 – a process or flakes. The aluminum floc forms and an opportunity to work with and that essentially inactivates the amount extremely strong bonds with available provide support to our environmental of biologically-available phosphorus in phosphorus in the water column, and partners and neighbors at the water the lake. sinks to the lake bottom in a stable district treatment plant. The team of compound that “ties up” both the people working on the treatment were On July 7th, 2019, with the sound aluminum and phosphorus, therein diligent and cautious, keeping the of Fourth of July fireworks still fresh removing phosphorus from the water welfare of the lake environment and in their minds, a group of colleagues, that could stimulate algal growth, as ~ Alum Treatment . . . continued on page 33 consisting of Lake Stewards of Maine well as preventing the aluminum from (LSM) staff, the cities of Lewiston reaching toxic levels to the lake biota and and Auburn, the Lake Auburn consumers of the lake water. Managing Water Treatment Facility (LAWTF), the pH throughout this process is critical Lake Management consultant, Ken to the safety of the lake and the public Wagner, SOLitude Lake Management as it is less soluble and toxic when at a company, the Maine Department of neutral pH. Environmental Protection, and Tighe & Bond Engineering, among others, Over a period of several weeks, the Lake Stewards of Maine team followed assembled to discuss the proposed Barge, operated by SOLitude, applying a 2:1 mixture alum treatment. The purpose of the the barge, monitoring and assessing of two chemicals (aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminate) in a designated area of the lake. meeting was to discuss and coordinate pH and conductivity “snapshots” to 30 Toxic Algae Blooms in Social Media & the News Don’t Panic – But Do Become by Scott Williams Informed and Mindful of this Threat ast summer, more than one social Lmedia post went viral concerning toxic algae blooms, and the resulting death of domestics dogs that ingested water from ponds that were experiencing a bloom. Over a period of several weeks, LSM staff received dozens of concerned inquiries about this phenomenon from Planktonic algal blooms may or may not consist of cyanobacteria/bluegreen algae, but should be citizen lake steward/scientists, lakeshore avoided, and assumed to be potentially harmful. “Scum” consists of concentrated algal cells on the property owners, lake associations, and water surface or shoreline, and may be highly toxic. the media (several newspapers, TV and Most Maine’s Lakes Continue to be Clear areas. An increase in phosphorus in radio stations throughout Maine)! & Healthy – But Things are Changing lake water generally leads to an increase The public is justifiably concerned Historically, Maine lakes have been, and in the growth of algae, and under the about this significant threat to the health continue to be less likely to experience right circumstances, may lead to the of Maine’s lakes, and to those who a toxic algal bloom than lakes situated development of bloom conditions. recreate in, on and around them. But in more southerly areas for a number of A warming climate will likely add to, or let’s begin by putting this information in reasons: 1) Maine’s climate is relatively cool. worsen the effects of watershed development perspective: The social media posts were For thousands of years, our lakes have in at least two obvious ways. First, lake largely about situations that occurred in been covered by ice and snow for half of water will be, and has been in recent the southern part of the U.S., where algal the year, or more. The Cyanobacteria/ years, warmer overall. The shortening of blooms (toxic and otherwise) are much bluegreen algae associated with HAB’s the duration of ice cover from the onset more common than in Maine. Other are more likely to reach bloom levels in in the fall to melting in the spring is a common names that are sometimes used warmer climates, where the lake water major factor in this change (see Lloyd to describe this phenomenon include is warmer. 2) Maine’s “glacial till” soils Irland’s article on page 24). Warmer “bluegreen algae” or “cyanobacteria” are less fertile (less phosphorus) than lake water, combined with a longer period blooms, and the events may also be soils throughout much of the country, of time for sunlight to penetrate into the referred to collectively as “harmful algal which means that the ingredients that lake water column, generally favors the blooms” or “HAB’s”. are essential to algae growth are in growth of cyanobacteria/bluegreen algae. naturally short supply – provided Secondly, extreme weather events that are that soils are stable and erosion is associated with climate change, during minimal. 3) Maine's population is which large volumes of precipitation relatively small. These three factors often occur in a relatively short period have had a strong positive bearing of time can, and will very likely, result on maintaining the health of our in substantially greater soil erosion from clear, clean lakes. lake watersheds, and therefore, greater But clear lakes bring millions of annual loading of phosphorus to lakes. visitors to the State annually, and These climate change effects will likely Typical warning sign posted on a lake in bloom. as a result, a growing number of offset the natural benefit to Maine’s lakes of lake shorelines and their upland our relatively low-nutrient soils, resulting Cyanobacteria are not new to Maine’s watersheds have become moderately in a “triple whammy” scenario that is likely lakes. They have existed for thousands of developed. Development in all forms to have a significant negative influence on years, and they can be found in all our results in the disturbance and erosion of our lakes over time. lakes, but generally at very low densities. soils, reduced natural vegetation, and an Unanticipated Changes Are Occurring- However, warmer water temperatures, increase in stormwater runoff. Studies Now! combined with higher concentrations of conducted in Maine and the rest of All of this is more than just speculation. phosphorus may favor a proliferation of the country have consistently shown Unanticipated and unusual phenomena cyanobacteria in many lake ecosystems that runoff from developed areas contains have been documented in a growing that have historically not been known to higher concentrations of phosphorus, number of Maine’s lakes in recent years. experience algal blooms. compared to runoff from undeveloped Toxic Algae Blooms... continued on page 33 31 Passings In the spring, solid ice breaks Art Schilling hailed from New up on Maine lakes and their York, and married his Oswego waters flow free again in College love, Jeanne Keckeley. turbulence or tranquility. They spent 64 years building a Maine lake organizations beautiful life together. Art served and their members renew in the Army, taught high school, their activities to protect and and worked in the insurance preserve them. Lake Stewards industry managing pension of Maine, Maine Lakes offices for 30 years. Society, Lakes Environmental One of Art’s favorite activities Association and individual was barbecuing, martini in hand, lake associations are all such Peggy Hallee surrounded by his family and Art Schilling "lake stewards". The late friends. His love for family, and Margaret Anne "Peggy" Hallee was a member of all of his quality character are deeply embedded in the children them. She was also the elected leader of the Cathance and grandchildren with whom he spent so much time. Lake Association/CLA. Peggy was a very effective and respected director of all of its activities. Ralph Waldo Art was a man of many passions, and enjoyed spending Emerson once wrote: "Nothing great was ever achieved time perfecting his famous smoked salmon, ribs, and many without enthusiasm". All the members of CLA will other family favorites. Art was also a master woodworker, affirm she was an especially zealous, even impassioned and would showcase his talents every year with the leader. She awakened enthusiasm to support and incredible works he gifted to family and friends. He loved participate in any old or new activities. Her outspoken wine and had an extensive collection. He was an avid love of Cathance Lake was a shared inspiration to traveler, reader, and gardener. Art was an LSM-certified all CLA members. They will miss this lake steward!! Invasive Plant Patroller for 15 years, and was a member of the Five Kezar Ponds Watershed Association. He will be Contributed by Karen Holmes sorely missed.

We care deeply about Maine's volunteer lake monitors. If you would like to share news of a monitor's passing, please contact us.

Algal Blooms . . . continued from page 23 toxins, do not let children play in water. If you see algae scums along the etc.), where water is discolored, or water that is discolored, where you shore, avoid them and don’t let dogs where musty odors are present. A see mats of algal material, foam, or drink that water. If your dog does get simple rule of thumb is: if you are where musty odors are present. Do sick, bring them to a veterinarian as standing in water chest deep (4-5 not allow pets or livestock to swim or soon as possible, and be sure they check feet deep) and you can’t see your toes drink water from these areas. for toxins in the blood. This is the only because the water is so green, you • Rinse off with fresh water and soap, way to definitively identify which toxin should get out; if you are looking into if available, as soon as practical if is responsible. water that is 4-5 feet deep and can’t exposed to water that has dense On another note, NEVER feed your dog see the bottom of the lake because algae present. This will reduce skin food containing THC, the psychoactive the water is so green, you should not exposure for humans and pets. active ingredient in marijuana, as it can go in! In addition, dogs should always have cause convulsions in a dog that resemble • Because algal scums along the shoreline access to fresh water outside to reduce anatoxin poisoning. have the highest concentrations of the temptation for them to drink lake

Save the Date! 2020 LSM Annual Lake Monitoring Conference To Be Held On Saturday, July 25th 32 Toxic Algae Blooms... continued from page 31 that have not been known to experience the water in a relatively shallow area They range from shorter periods of lakewide blooms in the past. until you are up to your neck, and ice cover to the proliferation of some When is it Not Safe to Go in the Water? look down. If you can clearly see your species of algae, including the colonial Although the overall risk of encountering toes the water is probably free of algal cyanobacteria, Gloeotrichia, which has unsafe conditions for you or your dog toxins. This method should not be used increased dramatically in some Maine in a Maine lake is low, you should by small children, because someone lakes (including some of the clearest and be aware of the potential, especially if who is only 4 feet in height might still least developed), to “Metaphyton”, the you are not familiar with the body of be able to see their feet during severe collective term used to describe a number water. Puddles and small pools are likely bloom conditions. of species of filamentous algae that grows to warm very quickly, and under the In either case, if the water is greenish, in shallow areas, and typically has the right circumstances, could become toxic. and there is a buildup of scum on the appearance of “green cotton candy- Avoid allowing your pet to drink the surface or near the shore, it would be like clouds”. LSM and DEP staff have water from such unknown sources. best to avoid contact with the water received hundreds (perhaps thousands) Short of taking a water sample altogether. And regardless of concerned inquiries from lake users for analysis, the following are of water clarity, remember in recent years about what appears to two relatively simple ways to that it is never safe to drink be a significant increase in metaphyton, judge whether or not lake untreated lake water. Algal often in lakes of varying trophic state. water may contain unsafe toxins are just one of many Climate change very likely plays a role in levels of algal toxins. If you potential contaminants that both cases. Of greater concern, however, are a Certified LSM Lake could make you ill. is the increase in the occurrence of severe Monitor, your Secchi disk is a planktonic cyanobacteria/bluegreen algae Fortunately, very few of reliable tool that can be used blooms in lakes that have not experienced Maine’s thousands of lakes to quickly assess conditions in them historically. These have, for the and ponds have experienced the lake. If the Secchi reading (see most part, been “whole lake” events, The Secchi disk is a valuable a severe algal bloom is greater than 2.0 meters tool for detecting algal Linda Bacon's article on and they have included bodies of water blooms. (approximately 6 feet) depth, page 22). Nonetheless, it is unlikely that any toxins in the water increasing development, combined with that may be associated with cyanobacteria the influences of a warming climate, exceed the health risk threshold. This increases the risk factors for a bloom to guideline is based on research conducted by occur. When in doubt, it is generally best the DEP on a number of Maine lakes that to err on the side of caution. If your lake have experienced blooms in recent years. is not already being routinely monitored by a certified LSM Lake Monitor, please Pets should not be allowed to swim in, play in or As mentioned in an earlier article, drink discolored or scummy lake water. another simple option is to wade into contact us. We can help!

~ Alum Treatment... continued from page 30 projects are very costly. It is important water customers as the central focus in to note that “internal” lake restoration their decision-making process. projects such as this are only capable of controlling phosphorus that has This project offered several interesting already entered a lake, and will not be challenges that have not been experienced effective unless substantial “external” before as far as we could find in the lake protection work (in the watershed) literature, including those related to the has first taken place! That is why lake size of the lake, conditions of the water Photo courtesy of Tighe & Bond watershed assessment (surveys) to identify at two different parts of the year, and and resolve sources of phosphorus from the related to the non-filtration status of Painting with Caribbean Blue. Here the ALUM application barge is captured by an unmanned watershed are a critically important first the water treatment plant. We hope aerial system in the act of turning at the edge of step in lake protection and restoration. to see positive results from the alum a treatment sector. It takes a holistic approach to keep project, although phosphorus levels With increasing temperatures, reduced an in-balance environment and healthy in the lake were already diminished duration of ice cover, and extreme lakes. In the iconic words of Red Green, somewhat, possibly from large volumes weather events, Maine’s lakes are facing “Remember, I'm pulling for you. We're of wintertime water flow in the early increasing threats to water quality. Alum all in this together.” part of 2019. 33 Welcome, New Lake Stewards! New Volunteer Lake Monitors Certified in 2019 Weston Alley - Knickerbocker Pond, Adams Pond John Johnston - East Grand Lake Peter & Sandi Andrews - Quimby Pond Meredith Jones - Ward Pond Patrick Anzman - Pleasant Pond Melanie Joy - Branch Lake Tom Arminio - Minnehonk Lake Karen Kane - Kennebunk Pond Jim Ashmore - Georges Pond Maggie Kelly - Kezar Lake Emma Barefoot - Long (Great) Pond, Somes Pond Chloe Kenyon - 30MRWA Lakes Abraham Barker - Upper Wilson Pond Hela Knowlton - Whitney Pond Carol Batchelder - Mooselookmeguntic Lake Peter Koltai - Piper Pond Douglas Bateman - Pleasant Pond David Landry - Mousam Lake Helene Begley - Abrams Pond Bob & Peggy Lavigne - West Pond Robbie Bickford - China Lake James LePage - Echo Lake (Crotched Pond) Ellen Blanchard - Whetstone Pond Jim Lukens - Big Kennebago Lake Bill Boucher - China Lake Cindy Mackenzie - Mooselookmeguntic Lake Unn Boucher - Round Pond David & Linda Maxfield - Echo Lake (Crotched Pond) Barbara Brady - Mousam Lake Tom McCoomb - Bauneag Beg Lake Lisa Branch - Georges Pond Harry McNally - Sabbathday Lake Tod Brown - Keoka Lake Gabi Mercier - Whitney Pond David Burns - Mousam Lake, Square Pond Amy & Bruce Merluzzi - Echo Lake (Crotched Pond) Yvonne Buswell - Pine River Pond, NH Stephen Merrill - East Grand Lake John Castellot - Balch & Stump Ponds George Miceli - Rangeley Lake Greg Cauldwell - Basin Pond, David Pond, Minnehonk Lake, Parker Pond Marie Michaud - China Lake Robert Cavicchio - Bauneag Beg Lake Charlie Mills - Big Island Pond Barbara Chisholm - Lovejoy Pond Donna Morrill - Swan Pond Melissa Clay - Tacoma Lakes Jude Morrison - Highland (Duck) Lake Corey Cleasby - Tacoma Lakes Donna Morton - Square Pond Justin Cook - Long Pond Karen Moynihan - Kennebago Lake (Big) Gary Cortelyou - Flying Pond Dana Murch - Ward Pond John Crespi - Great East Lake Sarah Nelson - Harriman Pond Peter Cummings - Holland (Sokokis) Pond Michael Olson - Upper & Lower Hadlock Ponds, Jordan Pond Debra Cunningham - North & Little Ponds Lisa Panepinto - Hatcase Pond Bruce Custer - Quimby Pond Mark Perakslis - 5 Kezars Ponds Deborah & Norm David - Whitney Pond Marie & Walter Phero - Georges Pond Ross DeLorenzo - Millinocket Lake Carrie Phinney - Mousam Lake Maggie Denison - Long (Great) Pond, Somes Pond Jessica Pierce - Adams Pond (Rock Haven) Christine Deshler - Whittier Pond Carl Plassmann & Cheryl Shattenberg-Plassmann - North Pond Michelle Dodge - Alamoosook Lake William Powell - China Lake Michelle Durocher - Whittier Pond John Powers - Thompson Lake Paul Durr - Panther Pond Louise Proulx - North & Little Ponds Hoyt Emery - Saint George Lake Patricia Ramsey - North & Little Ponds Brigitte Emmons-Touchette - Loon Lake Michael Rice - Sandy (Freedom) Pond Amy Eskins - 7 Lakes Alliance Lakes Deanne Ricker - Tacoma Lakes Benton Foglio - Mousam Lake Michael Rienbeau - Estes Lake Eugenie Francine - Big Kennebago Lake Ryan Roderick - Hatcase Pond Robert Franck - Tripp Pond Roger Rossignol - East Grand Lake Ryan Gabriel - Big Lake Kennedy Rubert-Nason - Cross Lake, Mud Lake Amanda Gavin - Kezar Lake Eric & Sara Sandberg - Pemaquid Pond, Biscay Pond Tracy Gay - Damariscotta Lake John Schooley - Watson Pond Charleyne Gilbert - Alamoosook Lake Anne Shure - Saint George Lake Brian Gomez - Dodge Pond Kurt & Robyn Silberstein - Toddy Pond Eli Goodwin - Virginia Lake, Keewaydin Lake Ryan Sporcic - Tacoma Lakes Nancy Goodwin - Keoka Lake, Sebec Lake Douglas Squires - Kennebunk Pond Lisa Grant - Georges Pond Iva & Ted Sussman - East Grand Lake Bill & Kathy Griffin - Kennebunk Pond Kathy Tayman - Hogan Pond Pam Grindle - Alamoosook Lake Steve Triggs - Collins Pond Roy & Ruth Guercio - Quimby Pond Leonid Tsvetkov - Parker Pond Kent Haake - Mousam Lake David Upton - Great East Lake Bob Haas - Estes Lake Judy Verity - Mousam Lake Addie Halligan - Damariscotta Lake Jim Viehl - Long Lake Zachary Harder - Damariscotta Lake James Weber - Loon Pond Rosie Hartzler - Highland (Duck) Lake Richard Whittier - Cargill Pond Holly Hoglund - Thomas Pond Allen Wicken - Gull Pond Charlene Hood - Saint George Lake Geoff Williams - Echo Lake (Crotched Pond) Parker Jalbert - Square Pond, Mousam Lake Holly & Warren Williams - Branch Lake Will Jeffries - 30MRWA Lakes Rose Wingo - Molasses Pond Peggy Jensen - Panther Pond, Raymond Pond Derek Young - Long Lake

34 Listings by lake may be found online at www.LakesOfMaine.org 35 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lewiston, ME Permit # 82

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