NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID the Lewiston, ME Permit # 82 Water C lumn ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED The Newsletter of Lake Stewards of Maine - Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program

Vol. 25, No. 1 Celebrating the Work of Maine's Citizen Lake Stewards Winter 2020-21

Would you like to contribute to the growth and sustainability of LSM? Consider Becoming an LSM Board Member re you enthusiastic about the work of LSM? Looking well as various experience and skills to the job; others are Ato support a good cause, for a way to give back to in the field of lake science or environmental conservation. your community, or to help the lakes of Maine? The LSM The Board of Directors meets 4-6 times annually at Board of Directors welcomes you to apply for a position the LSM Center for Citizen Lake Science, in Auburn, on our board, or one of our subcommittees. Maine, and also through videoconferencing. Meetings The Board develops policy, oversees fiduciary matters, typically take place on weekday mornings, and may last and works with an enthusiastic staff. We help with the until early afternoon. annual conference, fundraising, and outreach to the Please contact LSM Executive Director, Scott public, and some of us even volunteer in the Williams, if you are interested in a position on field, working alongside LSM staff. We the LSM Board, joining a subcommittee, or are particularly interested in bringing if you have questions. Following an initial on new board members who have discussion, candidates will be interviewed knowledge and experience in the areas by a subcommittee of the Board, and the of marketing, fundraising and program Board will act upon all applications. These development. Some of our Directors are are volunteer positions. monitors who bring that background, as 36 What’s Inside: President's Message ...... 2 President’s Lakeside Notes ~ Navigating Turbulent Waters . . . . . 3 Littorally Speaking ~ Wonders of Connection ...... 4 Connecting the Drops ~ Funding During the Pandemic . . . 6 Quality Counts ~ Quality Assurance & Quality Control . . . 7 Message Georges Pond Alum Treatment ...... 8 Barb Welch Meet Maine's Lake Stewards! ...... 9 President, LSM Board of Directors Under the Hand Lens ~ Didymo ...... 15 Influences of Extreme Weather on Maine Lakes . . . 16 his has been a different kind on blooming lakes, as well as meeting Thank You to our Generous Donors! ...... 18 of year for all of us, and a very with monitors from individual lakes Changes to Communication & Technology . . . . . 22 T Fridays at 4 For Lakes Webinar Series . . . . . 23 difficult year for many. I hope you are that were experiencing problems. Gloeotrichia in Time & Space ...... 24 doing okay and you and your families They answered more email and 2020 Watershed Survey Grant Recipients . . . 25 are well. telephone questions than ever before. Late Season Algae "Flash Blooms" in Lakes . . . 26 Despite, as well as considering the In addition, staff continued to apply Big Lake Infestation Update ...... 28 COVID-19 situation this year, I am for grants, looked for new ways Variable Water-Milfoil in Androscoggin Lake . . . 30 so proud of what the LSM staff to connect with donors, and tried Passings ...... 32 and hundreds of volunteer monitors some innovative fundraising to keep Welcome New LSM Board Members! ...... 34 accomplished this sampling season. programs running. LSM Staff Come April, in the face of COVID- And staff were all in their separate Scott Williams Executive Director Roberta Hill Invasive Species Program Director 19, LSM’s usual protocols for gearing homes; no heads together over the Jonnie Maloney Program Coordinator up for trainings, developing schedules, conference table. They were still a Christine Guerette Project Facilitator checking equipment, sampling, team, though, and each used their Alison Cooney Development Coordinator attending lake association and skills, experience, and ingenuity to Tristan Taber Training & Technical Outreach Coordinator professional meetings were obsolete. put together programs that gathered Board of Directors So, at first, we thought it would be a water quality data as accurately as Barb Welch, President (Whitefield) quiet summer, since not much could before, supported Invasive Plant It’s the Bill Monagle, Vice President (Winthrop) be accomplished because in-person Patrollers from afar, and kept LSM Sibyl French, Treasurer (Raymond) training, meetings, even traveling running and afloat. Phoebe Hardesty, Secretary (New Gloucester) together were no longer advisable. time of your life! Linda Bacon QA/QC Advisor (Maine DEP) The volunteers were intrepid. They Locally owned and managed, with a proud 30+ year history Robert French (Raymond) Staff soon figured out, however, they collected data on hundreds of lakes. If Sue Motley (Rangeley) of excellence in sustainable retirement living, OceanView could still train and support volunteers someone out-of-state couldn’t make it Joe Musante (Princeton) using technology. They learned back to Maine, they found substitutes. is just minutes from Portland. Offering an independent, Advisory Board how to do remote training, host Some of the Invasive Plant Patrollers Aria Amirbahman, PhD Steve Norton, PhD active lifestyle on 80 beautifully wooded acres, you can enjoy seminars, do quality control, identify (IPPers), we call them Uber IPPers, Roy Bouchard, MS Firooza Pavri, PhD maintenance-free living in a wide variety of cottages and Holly Ewing, PhD Matt Scott, MS specimens… over Zoom. Thank took it upon themselves to organize C . Barre Hellquist, PhD Ken Wagner, PhD goodness for Zoom. They hosted local teams to survey new lakes. apartments, with peace of mind for the future. Lloyd Irland, PhD Pixie Williams, MS weekly seminars for 9 weeks with Some found some new infestations David Littell, JD Karen Wilson, PhD an average attendance of 50 people, (ugh). Maine’s citizen lake scientists Layout & Design by Jonnie Maloney, LSM Program Coordinator twice-weekly workshops for Invasive continued to monitor our lakes Cover Photo: Nymphaea odorata, taken by Dennis Plant Patrollers, a weekly support efficiently, effectively, and safely. Roberge . Please enjoy this photo as much as we do— session for water quality monitors, My thanks, respect and admiration it's lovely, mesmerizing, peaceful, and tranquil—a weekly conferences with EPA, DEP to all who helped make this summer’s little something we could all use right now, and a true and other New England collaborators work of art, courtesy of Mother Nature . . monitoring season so successful.

Funding for this newsletter is made This newsletter is printed on 30% possible in part by grants from the Maine post-consumer recycled paper, and For more information about virtual tours Department of Environmental Protection, is produced and mailed by Penmor visit our website or call today! the US Environmental Protection Agency, Lithographers, Lewiston, Maine. oceanviewrc.com • 207-781-4460 the Lake and River Protection Sticker Fund, Foundation Grants, individual donations 20 Blueberry Lane, Falmouth, ME 04105 To Contact Us and corporate underwriting. (207) 783-7733 Stewards@LakeStewardsME org. 24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, Maine 04210 This locally owned and managed retirement community is proud www .LakeStewardsOfMaine .org If you would like to go green and receive the Water Column in electronic format, www .LakesOfMaine .org please contact LSM at (207) 783-7733 or [email protected]. to underwrite the important work of the Lake Stewards of Maine 2 35 Welcome, New LSM Board Members!

Sue Motley has been a water Joe Musante is the Lakeside Notes quality monitor on Quimby water resources Navigating Turbulent Waters Pond in Rangeley for almost biologist for the twenty years. She serves as a Passamaquoddy utum leaves have fallen, and on workshops, personal meetings, plant patroller and a regional Tribe at Indian Arecent brisk November mornings the nearly-continuous flow of coordinator for water quality Township, having we have been clearly reminded of constituents and the general public monitors in Franklin and worked in their what is soon to come. During the past coming to our work place in Somerset counties. She has been a environmental several weeks, data from LSM citizen Auburn, the annual lake monitoring by Scott Williams LSM Executive Director team leader for watershed surveys department since lake monitors have been arriving in conference, meetings with our Sue Motley and a LakeSmart evaluator/ Joe Musante 2004. Previously, droves. And while all of this sounds partners, and much more. We are and webinars, and dealing with lower coordinator. She formed a lake he graduated “normal”, given the time of year, six genuinely energized and inspired by profile, but nonetheless essential association, The Friends of Quimby Pond, and headed with a BoA and a BoS from the University of Maine months ago we were uncertain about our many personal connections with organizational and administrative up the organization for 11 years. She compiled and wrote at Machias in 2002, all while working with his the extent to which LSM volunteers all of you! issues, summer went by very quickly! a handbook titled Caring for Quimby Pond. mentor, Norman Famous. The pair conducted all would be able to undertake their Our obvious highest priority was We have been deeply heartened by manner of environmental field work around Maine, Prior to her retirement several years ago, she spent nearly valuable work during the upcoming to ensure the safety of both staff the continuous encouragement and but predominantly in Washington County. forty years working as an Emergency Medicine Physician summer season. We should have and volunteers. With that in mind, support offered by many partner Assistant. She has worked in various hospitals in the state Joe now spends most of his summer field seasons known better than to doubt a group we made the difficult decision to organizations, lake communities including MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville/ tracking the water quality of the lakes on the West of extraordinary people who have not conduct in-person workshops, and others. Supporting charitable Augusta, Maine Medical Center in Portland, and Eastern Branch of the St. Croix River Watershed, as well as time and again demonstrated their meetings or conferences last summer. foundations showed empathy and Maine Medical Center in Bangor. She has a bachelor’s surveying for invasive aquatic plants. In his spare time determined commitment to “getting Fortunately technology would allow compassion, offering to do what degree in biology from St. Andrews University in North Joe thoroughly enjoys gardening, foraging for wild the job done”. us to continue to communicate they could to reduce the stresses of Carolina and a Physician Assistant certification from mushrooms, fishing, and spending time outdoors Even so, the last several months have regularly with all existing volunteers, uncertainty. Most of our wonderful Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Whether where he lives in Machiasport. been anything but normal. When whether by phone, email or volunteers were able to get out on it’s Quimby Pond, the Kennebec River, the Kenduskeag LSM staff and board of directors were videoconference. New volunteers the water and do what they have Stream, Casco Bay, or the Rappahannock River, she has confronted with the circumstances of were also able to participate in been doing for decades – helping never lived far from the water. an impending pandemic in April, online training workshops, but the to protect the health of Maine’s In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, including planning for the busy summer season important on-the-water component lakes by monitoring water quality, bicycling, photography, and travel. was already well underway. For several was necessarily delayed until such screening for invasive aquatic species, days, everything came to an abrupt time when it will be safe to work with identifying and helping to resolve halt while we attempted to become people in person. problems in their watersheds, and informed about the implications of We all anticipated a somewhat less- spreading their wise stewardship Despite these challenging times, these the COVID-19 virus, so that we hectic summer than normal, but throughout their lake communities. businesses have provided funds to help with might formulate a safe, effective and quickly learned that reinventing the On behalf of all LSM staff and efficient work plan for ourselves and the printing and production of this newsletter. wheel is both time-consuming and a members of the board of directors, all of you. bit stressful! Between restructuring, we wish all of you and your families You can help to thank them for supporting LSM, During normal times, the summer replying to thousands (really) of good health, and hope that the New by patronizing their business! months are filled with daily personal phone and email inquiries, planning Year will bring better times. interactions through training and conducting online workshops

2021 LSM Annual Conference ROOSTER BROTHER THE STORE FOR COOKS LSM plans to hold an annual conference in AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM www .nessoil .com www .roosterbrother .com July, 2021. Details will be made available at a later date.

34 3 peaking Lifelong Lake Love Contributed by Debra Smith, Littorally S Passings Sandra, Laura & Don Richardson, Jr. An Invasive Plant Patroller’s Musings on the Don Richardson was a certified volunteer lake When we were growing up, our family moved a lot monitor on Crystal Lake in Gray, Maine. He because of our father’s job. The one constant was our family camp on Crystal Lake in Gray. This special spot Wonders of Connection also served on LSM’s Development Committee, continues to be an anchor for us, our children and along with his lifelong friend, and fellow grandchildren. have found one thing that all dedicated thrum of an unseen pollinator barely ham radio operator, Lew Wetzel. Don made Invasive Plant Patrollers (IPPers) seem amplified (but just enough) by the waxy Our father, Don Richardson, spent summers on Crystal I many improvements to the plumbing, electrical Lake growing up. It wasn’t until he retired that he to have in common. We are, by nature interior of a Nuphar blossom. by Roberta Hill system and infrastructure of LSM’s facilities in was able to once again spend the entire summer at and inclination, careful observers of the As patrollers we are directly emersed LSM Invasive Species Program Director Auburn. His generosity of spirit, and friendly camp. It was at this time that Don’s friend Lew Wetzel natural world. Perhaps it is this that in a world of connection. Following support were seemingly unlimited. We always introduced him to water quality monitoring and to the gives us an advantage when it comes to well-worn channels through the dense connections—the physical gatherings looked forward to his visits. Lake Stewards of Maine (then, the Maine Volunteer appreciating the connectivity of things, vegetation, and eyeing the stumps of and community events—that we Lake Monitoring Program). As the child in closest the intricacy and vital interdependency have come to most cherish, that give Don’s wide range of skills came from Don Richardson proximity, Deb became his apprentice, learning to read young trees lined up along the shore professional backgrounds in electrical a Sechhi disk and collect oxygen samples, and following of things in nature. like sharpened pikes, and know we have us strength and replenish our sprits, engineering, community leadership, flight instruction, and a lengthy list Don’s exacting directions on filling in the data sheets for Bringing this inclination to our work as passed into beaver territory long before somehow, in this time of distancing, the of organizations that he volunteered with in addition to LSM. He was a submission. Don liked to get out on the lake to collect IPPers, we soon discover the myriad of thing that I learned most was just how data when there was a satellite flyover, even if it meant pilot for the Life Flight program, and a firewatcher for the Maine Forest ways that aquatic plants are interwoven very dear, how very wondrous, and how going alone. In his last years, it was difficult for him into the fabric of the watery places downright necessary, natural, vital and Service. He is credited with the invention of a portable movie camera first to climb in and out of the boat. But he never lost his they inhabit: how aquatic plants change meaningful, all of these connections are. introduced at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, and the love and commitment to protecting his lake, and other with the seasons and with water level It was connection that weighed most leadership of Sylvania’s educational electronics division. Maine lakes through his volunteer work with LSM. fluctuations; how plant assemblages vary heavily upon our minds back in April of in response to wind and wave exposure, this year, when Maine and much of the to substrate composition, to depth, water country were under strict stay-at-home chemistry, and more. Our watchful eyes orders due to the COVID pandemic, are attuned to detail, which means we and we all suddenly understood that notice signs of connection that others, Perhaps IPPers have a natural advantage when it LSM would not be able to conduct any perhaps—in their hurry to get from here comes to appreciating the connectivity of things. in-person workshops, meetings, events to there—might miss: the delicately- Here, yellow perch swim among the purple bladderwort and waterlily stems. Photo credit: or expeditions for forseeable future. perforated trails left behind by foraging Dennis Roberge. Staying connected became our number herbivores; the vacant exuvia left behind one challenge. How will we maintain Lew Wetzel and Don Richardson invested many hours of their time helping maintain LSM's facilities in Auburn, Maine. on emergent stems by metamorphosed the lodge comes into view. Rounding connection with hundreds of existing insects; the silent schools of tiny fish a point and setting a flock of ducks lake stewards, and with all those who LSM staff, Directors and many of Lew helped facilitate the restructuring of the VLMP (now LSM) that flash suddenly from the safety of suddenly skyward, we methodically would be reaching out to LSM for the Maine’s lake monitoring community when, for many years he volunteered to spend dozens of hours of the leafy shadows into golden shafts of pick our way through the remains— first time for training and support, with were saddened to learn of the recent his time annually assisting staff with the entry of volunteer data sunlight. Our ears alert to the piercing, the tattered bur-reed spikes and the questions or concerns? How will we passing of Lew Wetzel. His past into a database. Not being satisfied with the extent of his efforts, mechanical chatter of kingfishers as they uprooted spatterdock rhizomes—and continue to work closely, and safely, contributions to this organization, he offered his capable services in the maintenance of both hunt the shallows, but also to the low smile to know that the vital carbohydrates with all of our statewide and regional to the Pleasant Lake & Parker our office building in Auburn, and the surrounding grounds. needed to sustain the flock’s southward partners? What would happen to our Pond association, and to his lake Although his professional background was in the field of migration are being harvested. annual conference? How would we, community go far beyond what can electronic engineering, he was a competent plumber, carpenter The connections we see in a single foray as staff, continue to work collectively, be said in this column. and grounds keeper. Late into his 80’s Lew would appear nearly into the littoral zone are too numerous as a tightly-knit team, to manage all every week for several summers with his truck, trailer and mower of this change? It soon became clear Lew introduced himself to us one to count. The connections we don’t see Lew Wetzel summer afternoon nearly 20 years in tow, undertaking all aspects of keeping the grounds looking (as well as those that we may never see, that pretty much every aspect of every well cared for. In 2010 Lew and Don Richardson completely program we had put in place over the ago, when he appeared at our Auburn office with a box of nor ever come to know) are far more rebuilt a utility building at LSM facilities, painted the trim on past few decades through which we underwater photography components, many photos, and a numerous yet. second floor dormers, and undertook aerial feats that none of have carried out our mission—each mind full of ideas about how to survey and document lakes As an ecologist, I must admit, my mind is piece relying to varying degrees upon at for the presence of aquatic invaders. We thanked him for his the staff were willing to do. pretty much always on connection of one least some level of physical connection thoughtful and creative contributions, never imagining how Following his retirement from the board a few years ago, Lew sort or another, so thinking along such and interaction—would have to be energetic and committed to the cause Lew would turn out to be. became LSM’s first “Director Emeritus”. lines is nothing new. But—and here is re-envisioned, re-designed, adapted and Lew quickly became a certified lake monitor, and as his He was an accomplished aircraft pilot and amateur radio the thing—2020 has brought me to see, transitioned to something entirely new. knowledge of lakes increased, he became a mentor to many in operator, and a great story teller, of which there were many. For moreover to feel, the connectivity of the We would need to do our very best to his lake community. He joined the LSM board of Directors, and all of Lew’s generosity of energy, ideas and skills, his greatest gift world and the critical interdependency stay connected in a new way, and that new Kezar reflection – At the most basic level of of all things, more keenly than ever served as Treasurer of the organization for many years. to LSM staff and board was the inspiration that he instilled in us connection, lakes are directly connected to the way was virtually. to believe in the good work of the organization. sky (through the water cycle) and land (through before. In a year when we have all had the watershed). Photo credit: Roberta Hill. to banish ourselves from so many of the The process of making this transition to We care deeply about Maine's volunteer lake monitors. If you would like to share news of a monitor's passing, please contact us. virtual connection has not been without 4 33 its challenges, and frankly we cannot In the process of reimagining what wait for the time when there will be no we do and how we do it, and then Passings barriers to being back within physical setting about to make that happen, proximity of all of you. But the good Lake Stewards of Maine has gained Stuart L. "Stu" Belden, a lifelong John Edward “Ed” Knapp was news is, we did it! With your help, many useful new capabilities and a more resident of Arlington, Mass. and a LSM certified lake monitor on support, engagement and patience, inclusive, resilient and adaptable way of summer resident of Sabbathday McCurdy Pond in Bremen. For we stayed connected! And while virtual carrying out our mission. All of this will Lake, passed away peacefully many years, Ed was also LSM connection will never be a substitute have lasting impact on how LSM carries on October 5, 2020 at age 77. (VLMP) Regional Volunteer for physical connection, there is no out its work from now on. (For more on Coordinator for Knox and Beloved husband of Charlene question that technology has provided what Virtual IPP training and technical Farrington Pond – IPPer Keith Williams, happily (Carroll) Belden. Stu was an Lincoln Counties. He will long be us with many new opportunities for support looked like in 2020 please see emersed in a world of connection. Photo credit: active member of the Sabbathday remembered by those who attended making meaningful new connections How Maine’s Invasive Plant Patrol Went Roberta Hill . Lake Association and participated his well-organized re-certification and enhancing those we already enjoy. Virtual below). workshops as collegial, supportive can help keep a critically-important team Stu Belden in many activities. He was active Ed Knapp and interested in hearing about the In this issue of the Water Column you effort going in a time of need. On page in our last Watershed Survey and most recently he was work and interests of all present. will find many more stories by IPPers 30 you will learn how one IPPer’s milfoil a valued member of the Invasive Plant Patrol surveying that build further on this theme of find in Androscoggin Lake, followed sections on the East side of the lake. He loved the lake and Ed also volunteered his time for the Midcoast Conservancy, connection. In her inspiring article on the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association and the by a timely collaborative response are was most happy while entertaining his family and especially page 10, Debbie Broderick describes providing hope for a threatened lake. being active in the lives of his grandchildren. Stu was always Maine Department of Marine Resources Phytoplankton the many interlocking puzzle pieces that happy to do his part in any way to help protect the lake for Research Program. He was a professional mechanical all came together this past summer to So, what has this challenging year of future generations. Stu will be missed by all that knew him! engineer. Described as a “life-long learner”, Ed had many ensure the detection and swift removal of pandemic taught us? Clearly a great deal, personal interests and pursuits ranging from classical a new invader in Lake Arrowhead. Dale but this for certain . . . Even when we are music, ham radio, beekeeping, bread making, fly-fishing, all physically distant from one another, we David Brown Schultz’s article, on page 11, provides (picture not available) was a Panther Pond skiing and jumping horses, to researching genealogy. The littoral zone provides essential habitat (food, are all working together to keep Maine's IPPer (PPIPPer) for over a decade. He snorkeled many shelter, and living space) for a vast and complex practical guidance for conducting snorkel array of species . Here, two mallards stock up on surveys, while connecting to your lake in lakes clear, clean and healthy. And that is sectors along the north shore of Panther. Fellow PPIPPers carbs in preparation for migration. Photo credit: one powerful connection! remember David as a quiet, diligent observer of the lake, Billy Helprin . a whole new way. In her story on page Recently, we learned of the passing 14, Lucy Leaf describes how a solo IPPer and a valuable member of the team. His wife is now being of Dick Thibodeau, following mentored to take over David's sectors. When not at Panther, a lengthy illness. Dick’s history he and his wife wintered in Ponte Vedra, FL. with LSM and Maine lakes is long How Maine’s Invasive Plant Patrol Went Virtual We regret that additional information was not available and rich. He monitored Little Wilson Pond in Turner for 20 Though we greatly look forward to the day when we will be of these sessions have been archived on the LSM website for at the time of this printing. Years, and served on the LSM/ able to provide face-to-face classroom and on-lake workshops, viewing at any time . We look forward to adding to new plant VLMP board of directors, during to lead survey expeditions to more remote parts of the state groups to the online collection in the months to come . "And into the woods I go, to lose which time he provided wise and once again, and to welcome you and your coolers full of plants As LSM’s COVID-19 plan called for all staff to work remotely back to our office, we are nonetheless pleased with how well my mind and find my soul." steady guidance. A professional most of the time, leaving the office only staffed periodically, our transition to doing things virtually turned out in the end . Master Electrician, he volunteered we realized that receiving packages full of live plant specimens ~ John Muir Here are some highlights from the year IPP went virtual . many hours of his time to update Dick Thibodeau was not going to be possible . So we needed to come up with Brian Steinwand was born in the antiquated wiring of LSM’s The Invasive Plant Patrol 101 (certification) workshop is now, a better way to assist IPPers and members of the public with 1950, in Queens, New York. Auburn headquarters. and will contine to be, offered as a three-part online course: their species identifications . Receiving photos via email had already proven to be unweildy and inefficient, so we created He married Robin Waite in 1983 Dick also served on the Turner Conservation Commission • Part 1 provides a general introduction to the threat of aquatic invaders; a spiffy new online Suspicious Aquatic Organism Reporting and they shared over 40 years for many years, during which time he steadfastly advocated Form that not only provides guidance to users on how to take together across the Caribbean, for the protection of several lakes in his community. He was a • Part 2 provides guidance for conducting an invasive a good quality (readable) photograph, but also allows users to Africa, Maryland, and finally longtime member of the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection plant screening survey, including discussion of tools upload multiple images for review by LSM staff . Brian Steinwand and techniques; Maine. Brian loved the outdoors Commission. He served as an Associate Supervisor for the Most fun of all have been the Tuesday Technical Assistance and sharing it with those close to Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, • Part 3 takes a deep dive into Aquatic Plant ID with a focus sessions! These weekly sessions, which ran throughout the him. He spent his life devoted to these things, from his years where he played a valuable role in lake watershed surveys, on the eleven invasive aquatic plants considered to be summer, provided a wonderful gathering place for IPPers of all at the University of Montana doing backcountry research and assisted with many technical visits. most imminent threats to our state, and their native ages and abilities to share experiences, ask questions, discuss look-a-likes . challenges, organize actions, and celebrate our love of lakes and projects, to working in the Peace Corps to provide African The list of organizations and local initiatives that benefited communities with sustainable fishing methods, to regulating Participants who wish to become LSM Certified Invasive Plant the stewardship work that joins us . The first session, the IPPer from Dick’s participation is lengthy. He was a highly Zoom Room which started at 2PM focused quite generally on pesticide use while at the EPA, to helping Lake Stewards of Patrollers must pass a short online quiz at the conclusion of respected, kind, knowledgeable, and much-loved member any issues that pertain to Invasive Plant Patrol that attendees Maine monitor water quality in Saint Albans on both Big each course section . The quiz is optional for all others . Through of his community, where he could always be counted on to this course, we have been able to train and certify many new wished to discuss . Following at 3PM, was What’s This Aquatic and Little Indian ponds. lend a helping hand to those in need. IPPers this year, and we believe the online option will enable us Plant? a super fun (and often illuminating) aquatic botany fest . In his later years, he enjoyed being a part of the Saint Albans In addition to time spent on Little Wilson Pond in Turner, to engage people who may not have engaged otherwise . More More online gathering opportunities are planned through the community. He served on the town's planning board, the Dick enjoyed fishing, camping and being with friends and trained eyes on the water . All good! winter and early spring, so please stay tuned! Big Indian Pond Lake Committee, and worked on the family on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in the Rangeley area. We also created and offered three new Advanced Plant Thank You! To Cabela’s Outdoor Fund town's comprehensive plan. His passion for Maine’s environment was strong and clear Identification webinars, each covering a different plant group: and Bass Pro Shops for supporting for all who were fortunate to have known him. milfoils, bladderworts, and common pondweeds . Recordings our Invasive Plant Patrol trainings.

32 5 team, surveyed deeper waters of the hope that the infestation very well may such a survey will be completed next Connecting the Drops cove. Four additional plant clusters were have been caught early on. This would summer. Whatever the result of that found this time, again, all in the same be great news indeed, as early detection survey, one thing is eminently clear. Funding Our Way During the Pandemic general area. These plants too, were provides the best chance for successful IPPers and their local, regional and removed within a few days. control. The only way to confirm this of statewide allies, by working together, are ortunately, our staff have been able through our new JustGiving online course, is to complete a comprehensive helping to make sure that Androscoggin to work full time keeping programs fundraising platform. Online fundraisers Though the baseline survey is far from F (Level-3) survey of the entire littoral Lake has a fighting chance to prevail running during the pandemic. This have made raising funds easy and FUN! complete, the fact that, so far, the zone of the lake. And thankfully, much against this newest threat. Please contact was possible because much of LSM’s If you spend any amount of time on variable milfoil seems to be confined to due to the efforts and dedication of the Roberta at [email protected] 2020 budget had been secured through social media, you have probably viewed the wetland at the northwestern corner various partners and IPP volunteers, to learn how you can get involved. state agencies, private foundations and or contributed to a fundraiser posted by of Inner Cove, provides a glimmer of by Alison Cooney plans are already underway to ensure other sources prior to the onset of the a family member or friend who is raising LSM Development Coordinator pandemic. Individual supporters and lake money for a special cause. The ideas are communities have continued to support endless, but here are a few to consider: Communication ... continued from page 22 designer. UI/UX, much simple opportunities for those of you our work through generous donations, TM like proper ergonomics, Ask your family and friends to who would like to help us fundraise. If protocol) in the spring, and Mozilla enabling us to achieve funding goals for TM helps the user of a website celebrate your birthday with this interests you, please contact alison@ the nonprofit that makes the Firefox both the Spring and Lake & Regional better navigate, read, a donation to LSM. lakestewardsME.org who can guide you web browser, has been developing a Watershed Association appeals. interpret, and remember through the process of creating your 3-D virtual environment people can use Organize an independent or TM information and messages Looking ahead to next year, there on-line fundraiser as you organize the called Hubs (more information can be group event or challenge like found at hubs.mozilla.com). on a website. are many uncertainties that could kayaking, paddle boarding, event, activity, or challenge to support This is what we are striving significantly impact our budget. State swimming, walking/running, etc. Funds LSM’s citizen lake science programs. Because of the need to transition and Federal funds represent almost 50% for at LSM, to illustrate raised would benefit LSM and support Please begin by visiting www. to distance engagement with our of LSM’s annual operating budget. We LSM put together a series the importance of this volunteer citizen lake science in your lakestewardsofmaine.org and click stakeholders, are uncertain whether costs associated of webinars in lieu of a traditional work in a clear and concise lake community. on the Donate button. You will be A screenshot of Dr . Alan Baker's webinar on algae, from LSM's with the pandemic could change future annual meeting Fridays at 4 for Lakes way. We develop and enact re-directed to LSM’s charity fundraising . If you did not see summer webinar series . For a complete list of State and Federal funding for our Set an invasive aquatic plant recordings webinars, please see page 23 . easy-to-understand and page where you will find a Fundraise for these presentations, we have programs. Meanwhile, LSM continues survey goal! For example, I have available on the LSM website and our highly-replicable training Us button. Follow the steps to set up able to be heard from, and people who to research and seek grants through set a goal to screen one mile of VimeoTM website sessions, administer the compilation and your special LSM fundraiser. Fundraise . Please see page 23 had conflicts in their schedules were charitable foundations, and we are shoreline for invasive aquatic plants curation of high quality lake data for your way! Be creative! Have fun! Friends for information on the Fridays at 4 for still able to watch the recordings. fortunate to already have multi-year grant this summer. Please support my efforts Maine’s lakes, and engage and inspire our and family, especially those who spend Lakes webinar series. commitments from some interested and through a contribution to Lake Stewards With more people at computers and stakeholders and volunteer network with time on a lake, will want to support We also held a number of virtual sessions supportive foundations. In addition, we of Maine. online our websites have seen an presentations and resources. your fundraiser because they know how including trainings, social events, are seeking major donors to support LSM values and appreciates all our lake increase in traffic. Our dataportal much you care about your lake. Thank roundtable discussions, and weekly Resources: specific budget items or programs. stewards who are already volunteering website, LakesOfMaine.org, passed the you in advance for any help! tech support sessions for both water 1,000,000 page view count in mid- https://cyanos.org/bloomwatch/ One way volunteer lake stewards can many hours of their time. Our intent quality and invasive aquatic species lake September, and it has seen increasing https://vimeo.com/lakestewardsofmaine help us with program development is is not to ask more of you, but to offer monitors this past summer and fall— numbers each year. In order to cultivate https://www.youtube.com/channel/ A Legacy for because of the excellent response a cleaner look and to make our websites UCHvwmCgjVAfvIdeOL2HBzBw LSM Sources of Income* Lake Stewardship these weekly sessions are continuing more user-friendly, we have been throughout the year. Perhaps our Give long-term making small changes to both the LSM 3% greatest takeaway from this was the and the LakesOfMaine websites. We 6% sustainability for LSM’s added value these sessions can provide. are currently working with a user 8% mission through a Legacy Folks not usually able to journey to interface, user experience (UI/UX) gift*. We would be deeply Auburn for in-person meetings were 2% State & Federal Funding honored by and grateful Foundations & Grants for inclusion in your Will. Hand Lens... continued from page 15 several weeks under even slightly moist 1 Authors: J M. . Lavery, J . Kurek, K M. . Rühland, C A. . 48% Lake Communities conditions. Decontamination requires Gillis, M F. J. . Pisaric, and J P. . Smol, Exploring the Corporate Support Lake Stewards of Maine- its spread is seen as the best (and currently environmental context of recent Didymosphenia soaking clothing and equipment in hot Individual Donations Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program only) defense against the harmful effects geminata proliferation in Gaspésie, Quebec, using of this species. Anglers, kayakers and water containing a liberal amount of paleolimnology, Canadian Journal of Fisheries Other Tax ID # 01-0502630 and Aquatic Sciences, 26 February https:// canoeists, boaters and jet skiers can detergent. Thoroughly drying clothing 33% cdnsciencepub .com/doi/full/10 .1139/cjfas-2013- 24 Maple Hill Road all unknowingly spread didymo. The and equipment for a minimum of 0442# .UxtL1IVm6So Auburn, ME 04210 microscopic (and virtually invisible) 48-hours can also be effective, but Every donation is matched *Notifying us of your intentions is algal cells cling to fishing gear, waders, only if completely dry conditions are by the thousands of hours boots and boats, and remain viable for maintained. LSM volunteers dedicate to not necessary, but helpful. * Based on FY2019 Budget lake stewardship . 6 31 Variable Water-Milfoil Confirmed By Lidie Robbins, 30 Mile River Watershed Association and Roberta in Androscoggin Lake Hill, Lake Stewards of Maine QualityQuality Counts!Counts! Signs point to possible early detection. More surveying needed . . . n early September, Katherine By October 3rd, an IPP rapid response Quality Assurance & Quality Control - Do You Know the Difference? IMahoney, a member of Androscoggin team led by Lidie and LSM’s Roberta Lake’s “Eyes on the Water” IPP team, Hill, comprised of fifteen volunteer A/QC, Quality Assurance and recording the correct information. And noticed a bright green bottle-brush-like IPPers, had gathered on the shore of QQuality Control are phrases that examples of Quality Control include stem amidst a particularly thick patch Androscoggin Lake. The focus of the you’ve heard frequently as a citizen Re-certification workshops, the Secchi of darker-colored plants in her survey survey would be Inner Cove and the scientist, but do you know the difference? Simulator, and duplicate readings you by Linda Bacon sector. The suspicious plant was found adjacent Androscoggin Yacht Club Explanations abound - some clear, some take when collecting data. LSM Quality Assurance Officer; Aquatic Biologist, Maine Department of Environmental Protection in Inner Cove at the northern end of basin. Though many of the volunteers obscure. This COVID-19 pandemic When you send in your dissolved the lake, about 400 yards northwest of were members of Androscoggin Lake’s provides an opportunity to look at QA/ oxygen meter to be checked in the check the sponge once a month. If the the state boat launch. Katherine noted plant patrol team, others were IPPs QC from another perspective. Spring, that is a Quality Assurance optical probe caps dry out, they may not the location, bagged the plant, notified from neighboring lakes in the 30 Mile Maine’s Dr. Shah and Governor Mills step you take. Checking the surface function properly next year. Refer to Androscoggin Lake’s IPP team leader, The discovery of a well-established 12-foot watershed, and one, IPP Uber-IPPer have established fundamental Quality dissolved oxygen concentration your owner’s manual for specifics. Buddy Cummings, and IPP Regional diameter patch of variable milfoil suggests the Lucy Leaf, traveled 2-hours in each invader has been present in this part of the lake Assurance guidelines like wearing a against the table of expected readings Both Quality Control and Quality Coordinator for that region, Lidie direction from Toddy Pond in Surry, for at least two seasons . Is this the pioneer colony? face covering indoors and outdoors, for various temperatures is a Quality Assurance activities at LSM have been Robbins, Executive Director of 30 Mile The only way to answer this important question to participate in the survey. By the end is to complete the lakewide survey . Photo credit: and, maintaining social distancing. In Control action; if the meter was giving difficult to implement in 2020 due River Watershed Association. Photos of of the day, several more variable milfoil Roberta Hill . addition, they have established limits readings more than 1.5 ppm off from to COVID-19. On one hand, the the plant were sent to LSM, and though plants and one well-established, 12-foot on the number of people at indoor and expected, corrective action would be lockdown provided time to implement the images clearly confirmed that the Androscoggin Lake, but to all other diameter patch had been found, all very outdoor gatherings. These are Quality needed unless bloom conditions were Zoom approaches for meeting with plant was a milfoil, the distinctive lakes and ponds in the watershed, near to where the original plant had been Assurance measures that are proactive causing the deviation. citizen scientists for classroom-based features (including the emergent flower) and beyond. Because invasive milfoil spotted. The larger patch, especially, and preventative. When one enters a store And winterization of your meter is learning and question-and-answer needed to confirm the identification grows and spreads rapidly, identifying seems to indicate that variable milfoil and a kind attendant hands them a mask, another Quality Assurance step that sessions. And the shift to mail-in meter were not present. The only way to know infested areas early and implementing has been present in the lake for at least this is a reactive or corrective Quality will prolong the life of your meter. It checks was a huge success, with more whether or not Katherine had found an aggressive, immediate control efforts two growing seasons. Control action. If an establishment is particularly important to remove the meters checked in 2020 than in previous invasive milfoil was to send it out for are critical and provide the best hope exceeds the limit on indoor gatherings, batteries from your meter to prevent years. We already have meters being sent DNA testing. Within a day, Katherine of containment. Upon learning the the Health Inspection Program reacts battery leakage from ruining the in for winterization and storage until delivered the live specimen to LSM, and DNA results, a coalition of local, by implementing progressive discipline electronics. We suggest putting the used next year’s meter checks. from there it was taken to the Dr. Lucas regional and statewide partners to correct the situation; another Quality batteries in flashlights or other household Bernacki’s DNA lab at Saint Joseph’s leapt into action. With days, But not being able to safely meet on Control example. items and purchasing fresh batteries for College for analysis. Within a couple of representatives of Androscoggin the boat in groups of 10 was an issue In the LSM water quality realm, the the 2021 season. If you have a galvanic weeks, the results came back: much to Lake Improvement Corporation, 30 in 2020. It is difficult to know if 2021 proactive initial trainings our citizen probe, be sure to remove the membrane everyone’s distress, Katherine’s find was Mile River Watershed Association, will be any different. If you have any scientists receive are Quality Assurance or membrane cap, rinse the probe with indeed invasive variable water-milfoil, Maine Department of Environmental ideas on how we could accomplish actions designed to assure consistency distilled or deionized water and blot it Myriophyllum heterophyllum. Protection, and Lake Stewards of this, please share your thoughts with in how monitoring is conducted and dry to prevent oxidation of the anode Maine were on Zoom, planning a The hunt to determine if there is more variable milfoil us. We very much appreciate your This is the first time an invasive in Inner Cove begins . Photo credit: Roberta Hill . prevent errors from creeping in. Even (silver-coated portion) of the probe. If patience and dedication to keeping a aquatic plant has been found anywhere rapid response strategy for Maine’s the field sheet you complete is a Quality you have an optical probe, make sure watchful eye on our lakes during these in the 30 Mile River watershed, and most recently confirmed infestation. Two days later, Lidie returned to the Assurance tool to make sure you are the sponge is wet and establish a plan to challenging times. it poses a serious threat not only to Once an aquatic invader has been cove with DEP staff, and DEP diver found to be present in a waterbody, Denise Blanchette carefully removed by Contributed by one of the first steps in response is hand all of the invasive milfoil that had Debbie Broderick, to determine the full extent of the been marked in that area. Plants with Pluck IPPer on Lake Arrowhead infestation. This information is needed A second survey was organized for Common Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) to guide management efforts that will October 15th; this time Lidie, Roberta, follow. Ideally the whole waterbody is and Lucy were joined by two additional This carnivorous beauty supplements its nutritional needs by screened during such a baseline infestation Uber-IPPers from ‘away,’ Bunny Wescott trapping living organisms. The little black "bladders" (they're bright survey. However, due to the late season (Panther Pond, Raymond) and Keith green when young) ingest tiny critters with a suction motion when and the fact that many patrollers had Williams (Highland Lake, Windham). triggered. I love seeing them in the lake. Their iridescent green leaves, Searching through a colony of dense native plants already buttoned up their camps and Two divers, one from the DEP and like delicate threads, glow in the underwater light. They remind me for any sign of the invader . Photo credit: Steve had left the lake, efforts this season, Underwood . one from Little Sebago’s milfoil-removal of a fine filigreed piece of jewelry. would of necessity, be more limited. 30 7 Georges Pond Alum Treatment: (originally developed for gold mining operations) to facilitate the process Monitoring Application & Response of getting the plants that have been carefully weeded from the lake bed, eorges Pond (MIDAS# 4406) is survey identified 53 major erosion sites up to the surface by way of a vacuum Ga 358-acre (1.45 km2) freshwater that were contributing significantly to hose. The plant material is collected great pond located in Franklin, Hancock the destabilization of the pond. The in totes on deck, for later disposal on county, Maine. In the summer of 2018, GPA has worked diligently to clean up dry land. NEM divers concentrated the lake experienced a major bloom of stormwater contributions. Unfortunately, their efforts on a dense colongy of cyanobacteria (aka: blue-green algae), in the summer of 2018, the previous variable milfoil to the east of Brittany Uber-IPPers Lucy Leaf (L) and Bunny Wescott (R) kept the survey moving forward in the region despite the pandemic. Photo credits: (L) Steve Underwood; (R) Roberta Hill. turning the pond a murky pea-green years of watershed erosion, and resulting Island where the plants were growing by Tristan Taber; LSM Training & color, diminishing the average water algae growth from this phosphorus, offshore in water that ranged from 3 Technical Outreach Coordinator a swath of suspected variable milfoil “I hope the Downeast boating community transparency to 1.7 meters, and ruining caused dissolved oxygen levels in the to 10 feet deep. The harvest operation growing along the westerly shore in hears the message and heeds the call to a summer of fun for its residents and lake to become critically low. Under bind the phosphorus for periods of time, was a great success with the crew the vicintity of Hanneman Island. The protect Washington County waterways. visitors. The Georges Pond Association this circumstance, phosphorus that had thus reducing the availability of this filling forty-four 20-gallon totes to plants were growing in discrete clumps Learn how to clean your boat; learn how (GPA) and the Maine Department of accumulated in the bottom sediments, limiting nutrient to algae/cyanobacteria. capacity. We can all rest a bit easier and patches along a contiguous line to spot invasive milfoil. For mitigation Environmental Protection (ME DEP) and which normally bonds with iron in a knowing that 880 gallons of varible Alum treatments were first conducted about 40-feet long and 10 to 12 feet efforts to succeed, early action is key. It responded immediately to this threat by stable insoluble compound, was released milfoil are no longer free to grow and wide. Their find (which was mapped, literally takes only a one-inch piece of this conducting a robust sampling routine into the overlying water column. The in Maine during the 1970’s. Since that spread in Big Lake. time, nine lakes have been treated, with and later confirmed by DNA to be plant to re-generate itself, and if you look and working with consultants Ken recycled phosphorus from the sediments variable milfoil) provides yet more at our area on a map, you’ll see blue water varying degrees of success. In some cases, • In early October, Uber-IPPers Ross Wagner and the firm Ecological Insights stimulated algae growth, resulting in the and Bunny Wescott traveled to the evidence that the invasive milfoil has everywhere. If this invasive plant is here on the positive effect has lasted for up to to determine the cause, and to propose cyanobacteria bloom. Big Lake region to meet with some of been spreading freely in Big Lake for Big Lake, there’s a really good chance that two decades. However, alum treatments measures for helping the lake. It was the local shorefront property owners some time. it is somewhere else in the region as well.” Recent research suggests four advantages are very costly, and they will likely not determined that internal phosphorus with whom they had established a cyanobacteria have compared to other be successful over time unless external Maine Warden and longtime Big Lake Planning for next season’s continued loading from the lake sediments was a connection, and to survey portions of organisms in this suddenly nutrient rich (watershed) sources of phosphorus have resident Brad Richard, the person who first response is already underway. If you would major contributor to the sudden decline Big Lake and two nearby waterbodies: system. Many cyanobacteria: been identified and addressed. As I, and noted something suspicious growing in like to learn more about how you can of the pond's health. Pocumcus Lake and Pocomoonshine 1. are small in size. The large ratio of others have written about in previous Clifford Bay and sounded the alarm, was get involved, please contact Roberta at Georges Pond is largely littoral with a Lake. No invasive plants were found recently interviewed by a local reporter for [email protected]. their surface area to volume allows newsletters, the application of alum in Pocumus or Pocomoonshine, but in mean depth of 4.9 meters (16 ft) and a for efficient uptake of phosphorus; should be treated as a last resort effort to an article focused on Big Lake’s plight. In maximum depth of 13.7 meters (45 ft). Big Lake, Bunny and Ross discovered that article, Brad sums things up very well: 2. have a short reproduction time. stabilize or restore an imperiled lake. The residence time— the average estimate This allows them to double their of how long it takes for a water molecule Contributed by Debbie Broderick, population rapidly and “bloom”; to leave a waterbody after entering it— is Botanical Haikus IPPer on Lake Arrowhead around two years. The watershed area 3. contain heterocysts. These are cells is approximately 636 acres and is fairly of a different type and some of Floating bladderwort White water lilies these heterocysts can “fix” nitrogen, heavily developed. The shoreline has over With its radial platform Overwhelm with sweet fragrance 125 buildings on its 4.4 mi (7.1 km) meaning the cyanobacteria are not perimeter, two quarry pits in the vicinity, nitrogen limited; Supports its small blooms. Their cup-shaped beauty. and in early 2018 a thorough watershed 4. grow or overwinter in the benthic (lake bottom) environment, then rise to the White alum flocculant (crystals) settling down surface in the spring and summer, through the water column and coating the lake when sunlight and warmer water may bottom of Georges Pond. Photo taken of the image as it appeared on the display of an underwater stimulate a bloom. This allows them camera . Photo credit: Tristan Taber . to take advantage of the phosphorus- rich waters near the bottom and act as GPA began fundraising for the alum an annual inoculum. treatment in the first months of 2020. It is well known that aluminum and The treatment plan, which must some other elements bind strongly to be authorized through a permitting phosphorus, preventing its remobilization. process by the Maine DEP, requires Several decades ago, lake researchers applicants to closely monitor the effects The HAB barge administering alum is pictured determined that the application of of the application of aluminum sulfate in the foreground, Taber in the monitoring craft aluminum compounds to lakes that were and sodium aluminate to the lake, a is seen towards the left-middle of the picture in Georges Pond; Tunk, Catherine, Caribou, and Black experiencing algal blooms as a result of process that may take several days. Pipewort multitudes, Coiling eelgrass stalks, Mountains are pictured in background from left to the internal release of phosphorus could The GPA contacted Lake Stewards of White buttons on erect stalks ~ Spiral up to the surface, right . Photo credit: Dean Tyler Photography . effectively immobilize and chemically Georges Pond Treatment . . . continued on page 27 Aquatic hatpins. Showing their flowers. 8 29 Big Lake Infestation Update ig Lake is in the very heart of the spread. (Please contact DLLT if Meet Maine's Lake Stewards! Perhaps more than any other year in the history of our despite it all. Even as we kept our physical distance from BPassamaquoddy Tribe’s ancestral you would like to learn how you can homeland. Located in and around the help with this important program organization, 2020 tested Maine’s capacity for widespread one another, we continued to work as a team: organizing town of Grand Lake Stream, near the next year.) lake stewardship. Some volunteer lake monitors never made it and conducting watershed surveys; taking our semi-monthly back to their summer homes on the lakes of Maine. Jobs and Secchi disk readings; searching the shallows for signs of border with New Brunswick, the lake • In August, experienced solo is part of a sprawling and much larger adventurer and certified LSM Invasive lives were disrupted for many, and the day-to-day challenges invasive intruders; inventing and sharing new and improved -roughly 17,000 acre- system known Plant Patroller, Lucy Leaf, struck off associated with the pandemic weighed heavily upon most. monitoring gear and protocols. How was this possible? Perhaps for its remote, wilderness beauty and for the Downeast Lakes Region to All of these added a new layer of complication for volunteers. there is no one answer to that question. But the pieces below, extraordinary fishing. conduct screening surveys on some Variable milfoil is well established in Clifford Nonetheless, as the year comes to an end, one thing is very all contributed by LSM volunteer stewards, especially when Bay . Photo credit: Brad Richard . In October of 2019, an urgent message of the nearby waters connected to Big clear: lake stewardship continued, even thrived here in Maine, taken together, provide some important clues. Enjoy! from Joe Musante (a biologist with Lake. Through her determination and Cass Cove, at the north end of the the Passamaquoddy Environmental careful vigilance, several small patches lake, suggests that invasive milfoil is Department) arrived at Lake Stewards of variable-leaf milfoil were found and moving about at large in Big Lake. Our Life on Abrams Pond 2007, we became officers But the story evolves. Abrams of Maine (LSM) headquarters. The confirmed in downstream Lewey Lake This find is especially concerning, Contributed by Bill & Kathleen Cotter, LSM in the APA. Enthusiasm Pond had a second bloom in invasive aquatic plant, variable-leaf milfoil and Long Lake. The confirmation as variable milfoil spreads readily Certified 13 Years; Abrams Pond, Eastbrook exploding, we began 2012. It lasted from June to (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) had recently that invasive milfoil had spread to through fragmentation and vegetative attending VLMP annual August. It was a summer of been found (and was soon confirmed by downstream waters was bad news, propagation. The plant stems, which he decision came in autumn 2001, meetings. We met Scott finding another lake to take genetic analysis), for the first time in Big indeed, but by finding these (possible) become more brittle as the season Tfinding a property in Downeast Maine Williams who introduced us a swim. The bloom had a Lake. A survey of the immediate area pioneer colonies early, Lucy provided progresses, easily break apart, creating after spending several vacations on Mt. to the Secchi disk. We took positive effect: people were determined that the infestation was well the opportunity for swift removal and numerous viable fragments. Once a Dessert Island. Not only was it a property the certification class. We upset and realized maybe there established and widespread throughout containment. fragment, a clone of the parent plant, of mature evergreen forest and a forest had to admit and still do: the is something to the idea that floor of wildflowers and ground covers, Kathleen and Bill Cotter on much of Clifford Bay, at the southeast • A group of concerned shorefront is set adrift in the waterbody, it is Secchi monitoring makes human activity could impact it was situated on a long sand beach on Lake Louise, 2016 . corner of the lake. Plans were soon property owners has formed in free to move about on currents or to us get out on the water; the water of Abrams Pond. a shallow cove with colorless water and a underway for an LSM-led volunteer team response to the infestation, and, catch a ride on moving objects such it makes us explore and enjoy the lake; it At the encouragement of Scott Williams swimming rock. Abrams Pond in Hancock to conduct a complete level-3 survey of working in partnership with DLLT, as a boats or wildlife. The fragments makes us get to know our pond-owning at LSM and Hancock County Soil and County, what a dream come true! Big Lake during the summer of 2020. the Passamaquoddy Tribe and others, quickly sprout roots, and if they neighbors from their docks. We recall our Water, we lead another watershed survey. Though the COVID-19 pandemic brought the group is helping to facilitate land well, they will anchor into the Of course, it was only the beginning. own conversations, “This is great!” This time we advanced to an application sediments and establish a new colony. the planned team-mobilization to a halt, outreach and response efforts on the Before signing the sales agreement, we From there it was being certified with for a 319 Grant to address the problems we are pleased to report that the response lake, and taking part in the search for • On September 24, LSM and DEP found out there was an algae bloom in a class on dissolved oxygen, then one identified in the survey. That grant was to the Big Lake infestation has continued milfoil around the lake. teamed up once again to offer a 1999. That was its first ever and things on invasive plants, and from there awarded in winter of 2018. All of the work seemed okay since. With the property ours, from that grant has now been completed. in earnest. Here is an overview of progress • Hosted by a founding member of second webinar for the Big Lake Kathleen ascended to the presidency of we visited it for several summers, a day at a We applied for a second grant, and it was made during the 2020 field season. the property owners’ group, DEP community. The session provided APA. We were evolving into people of time, until 2005 when we decided to build awarded to us this summer. It takes effect • Warning buoys were placed in Clifford staff was able to spend a week in an update on the infestation, as lake knowledge. We began educating our the camp of our dreams. January 2021. Pond-front owners are seeing Bay to help boaters steer clear of the region during the month of well as more information on how watershed with the development of a the results of the first grant. The work for known infested areas. September, conducting surveys on to get involved in the search for During the time before building, we rented newsletter. The annual meetings of then the invader. Participants learned the a camp on the pond, met the Abrams VLMP, now Lake Stewards of Maine, and the second grant is lining up. • On June 16, Downeast Lakes Land Big Lake and downstream waters, key features by which variable milfoil Pond Association president and attended also Congress of Lakes, now Maine Lakes, How did we get to where we are? We believe Trust (DLLT) hosted a Facebook Live and carefully removing the small may be positively identified, tips for APA’s annual meeting. We were hooked! So were leading us to additional knowledge it began with getting to know our pond event at which Maine Department of invasive milfoil patches found earlier conducting an effective and efficient hooked that we agreed to head the pond’s and connecting and getting to know on a neighbors; education with a newsletter full Environmental Protection (DEP) and by Lucy. Though they were not able survey, what to do if a suspicious first watershed survey. It was a great success! first-name basis the experts in the State of of awareness of the character of the pond LSM staff were invited to inform the to survey Big Lake in its entirety, plant is found, etc. Here is a link to In mid-May of 2004, at the town hall we Maine. At every meeting we were meeting with “how to” articles including diagrams; Big Lake community about the new the finding of two live (but not yet a recording of the session - https:// had a good crop of volunteers to walk the lake-front owners from lakes all over the and updates of our progress in stopping threat to local lakes, and to encourage rooted) variable milfoil fragments in vimeo.com/462669105/e345cd4e1f mostly waterfront properties of the small state and gained much in our discussions nutrients from entering the water. We did participation in the response effort. • With funding from Maine DEP’s watershed along with APA and the DEP. at break times. This was for us a total not do this alone. We must thank Alan • DLLT implemented a Courtesy Boat Lake and River Protection fund and Not surprisingly, we found camp roads enrichment that has become our avocation Hershey, a pond-front owner who has Inspection (CBI) program at Big housing generously provided by local and properties that were adding nutrients in our early-age retirement. been instrumental in leading the mitigation Lake's primary public boat landing to the pond. But somehow the next step projects of the past and upcoming grants. landowners, professional divers with Abrams Pond, Eastbrook at Greenlaw Chopping. In addition Maine-based New England Milfoil and of applying for a grant to correct these We also must thank all those around the to inspecting boats launching into their DASH (Diver Assisted Suction man-made findings did not evolve. It took pond for their willingness to invest their and leaving the lake, DLLT CBIs Harvester) were engaged for five days some time for camp owners to digest and parts in the undertaking. Through stopping are helping to educate boaters to the New England Milfoil’s Diver Assisted Suction to remove milfoil from Clifford Bay. understand the science of it all. nutrients from entering this colorless-water, threat of aquatic invaders and what Harvester (DASH) . Photo courtesy of New The DASH employs a venturi system Once we were in our new camp home, 2006, sandy-bottom pond, there is hope that algae boaters can do to help prevent their England Milfoil . blooms will not occur as time goes on. Big Lake Infestation... continued on page 31 we were able to become more engaged. In 28 9 Maine's Lake Community sure, she needed to examine a sample, imperative that we remove that infestation If you observe conditions similar to LSM and/or Maine DEP staff well in which I mailed to her. After confirmation before the scheduled disturbance began. those in the accompanying photos, advance of readings declining to the 2.0 Comes Together to Address from fellow taxonomists, she gently let Four days later, Milfoil New England please document the information with meter threshold. New Invader in Lake Arrowhead me know that I was, unfortunately, came in to remove the large mat of plants, a few photos, and the date, time and Late season “turnover blooms”, while Contributed by Debbie Broderick, LSM correct. I was devastated- I had correctly and any others we’d marked during location, and share the information with generally not an indication of a serious Certified IPPer; Lake Arrowhead, Waterboro identified the plant, which made me the subsequent organized surveys by LSM. Similar events involving short problem, could be harbingers of earlier, feel good about my identification skills, YCIASP’s enthusiastic volunteers. The or longer-term algae growth can be y husband, Dale, and I live on more significant blooms in the future, but upset that I had confirmed another Lake Arrowhead Conservation Council documented using the smartphone Lake Arrowhead’s lakefront in York especially as Maine lakes become warmer M invasive for our lake. It was a terrible and DASH team used this as a learning app “BloomWatch”, a product of a County. Our lake is infested with Variable over time from climate change. LSM blow. Now I needed to find where the experience to find out how to adapt our group of agencies and organizations in water-milfoil, and our Conservation Figure 3: A classic October (2013) short-lived trained citizen scientists play critically fragments were coming from. I scoured suction harvesters so that they could tackle New England and the USEPA. If you Council uses a diver assisted suction bloom on Ellis Pond was captured by Ross Swain . important roles in documenting changes the cove in front of our property and this plant next year. choose to use this app, your photos Note the cyano coloring of the surface sheen . harvester (DASH) to keep it from choking in the lakes that they monitor. Thanks found 8 skinny plants growing right and information will reach the Maine up our boating areas. At the beginning Dale and I continued surveying whenever be preceded by declining Secchi disk to all of you who continue to provide under my nose! I felt awful, as if I were DEP and LSM. An indication of a more of July, we participated in the free online we could, especially when the light was readings, in which case you should alert such valuable information concerning harbouring a fugitive. But these few significant algae bloom would typically Aquatic Species Plant identification course good, using the skills we had learned from the health of Maine’s lakes! plants couldn’t account for the fragments run by Lake Stewards of Maine. It was a Laurie’s trained volunteers. We located washing in from the open boating area. perfect thing to do during our COVID-19 another large infestation in better lighting Dale and I started kayak-surveying along Please Remember to Document and Report Your Lake's Ice Cover! shelter-in-place measures. Up until then, we conditions in an area previously surveyed. the shoreline, on both sides of the dam, classified aquatic plants into Variable water- That is the beauty of having a team on site Once winter begins to set in, please remember and came up with nothing. milfoil and NOT Variable water-milfoil. and available when conditions are to document your lake's ice cover . LSM acts as a perfect. Dale donned his wetsuit Part of the LSM coursework was to collect state repository for ice-in and ice-out records, some and began snorkeling in earnest to and identify a few plants, using the online stretching as far back as the mid-1800's . Lake ice cover key and distinguishing characteristics that help get a broader view of plants, data, when paired with water quality data, may improve Roberta had taught us, and share our without the nuisance of surface findings on Zoom. We passed our tests, and winds and ripples. This enabled the our understanding of the Branch Lake; Photo by Nancy Morris became certified Plant Patrollers. discovery of numerous additional relationship between the plants. With the permission of John After the course, I continued looking duration of ice cover and water quality . For more information on determining ice-in/out, please McPhedran of the DEP, he was carefully at the plants and fragments visit our website at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/programs/other-programs/ice- able to dive and harvest individual being washed up in my cove because plants with a deep landing net, in-ice-out/ . You may report ice-in/out dates to LSM using our online form at https://www. I’d discovered a new-found interest. I which he handed to me in my lakestewardsofmaine.org/submit-ice-data/, or by phone at 207-783-7733 . We actively update was fascinated, and keen to practice my kayak to empty into plastic bags. I new skills. It was like a new puzzle or the map of reported ice-in/out dates on our website at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine. floated above the site and scooped sleuthing project, and the detective in org/near-real-time-lake-data/ as part of the Near Real-Time Lake Data initiative . All ice-in/out up any surface fragments with my me kept trying to figure out what I was submissions should include your name, the lake's name and related town, and the date of ice- Najas minor from the kayak . Photo Credit: Dale Schultz . hand net. Though very few escaped seeing. On Aug 21, I became aware of a his net, I nevertheless made sure in/out, in order to be added to the statewide map on the LSM website . plant fragment that looked unfamiliar, The DEP responded rapidly after the to “scoop first, ask questions later.” That and very different from the usual varieties confirmation ID. I got a call on Monday way, I didn’t miss anything. We have that washed up on my shore. I became Georges Pond Treatment... continued from page 8 impacted wildlife. Due to the nature of biota were observed, and other than morning from Laurie Callahan of the since removed over 50 individual plants suspicious. It was crispy to the touch, Maine to request assistance with this alum (both aluminum’s inherent toxicity some normal weather related delays, the York County Invasive Aquatic Species in this manner. With very little time left and had very distinctive teeth along each undertaking. to aquatic organisms and waterfowl, application completed without issue. Project (YCIASP), saying she was at the in the season for removal, we recently curved leaf. It’s quite possible it had and the potential to alter pH) precise boat launch with a team of volunteers constructed an enormous hoop with On a cool and windy day, in May, 2020, One month after the treatment, LSM was showed up previously, but I had not yet application and careful monitoring is and would be in my cove in 20 minutes! mosquito-netting mesh to remove a large I arrived on the shores of Georges Pond. contacted by John and Ginger Eliasberg. reached the level of discernment I needed necessary. Fortunately, no impacts to The response that the DEP had set in stand that won’t be able to be tackled by a I met with the president, board member, They had just measured 6.4 and 6.3 meters to acknowledge its distinctness. motion was amazing! I’m so impressed suction team this year. and vice president of the GPA, John and for Secchi disc transparencies, respectively. I felt alarms going off in my head The deepest transparency LSM has on at how quickly they took action. The Were it not for COVID-19 restrictions, Ginger Eliasberg, and Brian Friedmann when I saw it, and went to the online record for Georges Pond is 6.2 meters. Lake Arrowhead Conservation Council’s I’d likely not have spent time on an online (while still physically distancing) to identification key. It looked like one GPA hopes to begin part two of the DASH team participated too, and located plant ID course. Everything just seemed to discuss the logistics of the monitoring of the 11 invasives listed, and I felt a application in the spring of 2021. They a flourishing mat of the invasive in an fall into place to discover that suspicious process. Two treatments, the first horrible sense of dread. Dale looked at area estimated to be about 50 feet across, plant when I did. If I’d seen it without costing over $140,000 would begin the have continued to work towards limiting it, and came to the same conclusion. I just outside our cove. I felt sick to my benefit of the course, I’d have overlooked it following day. HAB Aquatic Solutions, external phosphorus in their watershed. immediately texted some pics through stomach, as up until now, we’d only seen completely, which is a very scary thought, LLC. administered approximately 35,250 We wish them luck as they continue the to Roberta, explaining that I suspected individuals scattered here and there in our because before this July, I had NO idea gallons of alum and I performed more good work they are doing to limit erosion I’d found the invasive European Naiad cove. More importantly though, the site of what this plant looked like. Additionally, than 35 localized water quality tests and fertilizers, and we are happy we were (Najas minor). Her response was the large infestation was where our Public Dale and I are thrilled to have found a over the span of the next 4 days. The Tristan Taber is pictured in the monitoring craft on able to help in beginning to correct the swift, and concurred with my initial Works crew would be installing a water community of like-minded people who Eliasbergs, Friedmann, and myself all the choppy waters of Georges Pond . Photo credit: lake’s health. identification, but in order to be 100% John Eliasberg . pipeline in the upcoming weeks. It was care about Maine’s lakes as we do. monitored the pond and shorelines for 10 27 by Scott Williams Kayak-Assisted Snorkel Survey to see where by carefully lowering the weight down near Late Season Algae "Flash Blooms" in Lakes the boat is the plant. (Be careful not to stir up silt with A system for searching for, and marking, any Maine lakes periodically the dense bands is often relatively clear, same period suggest that the lake was and where it the weight or clobber the plant, creating suspicious aquatic plants using a experience a fleeting burst of algae which indicates that aside from the area very close to the point of mixing, and is heading. fragments.) Obtain a proper marker from M combination of snorkeling and kayaking growth in the late summer or early fall where the dying cells have concentrated, that the low concentration of DO in Remember to the kayaker and place it, and then retrieve Contributed by Dale Schultz, LSM Certified when they de-stratify or mix (a.k.a. there is no “lake-wide” concern for an the deepest readings could have resulted look all around, the temporary marker. Watch that you do IPPer; Lake Arrowhead, Waterboro turning over). Mixing is a natural process algal bloom. in some release of phosphorus from the there may be not get the two markers tangled up. Take norkeling presents the opportunity for that occurs when the water temperature Although the concentrated areas lake sediments…classic conditions for more than one your time. Once a plant has been properly much clearer observation of items below and density is uniform from the surface generally don’t indicate a problem for the the development of a brief algal bloom S Dale conducting a survey boat. Should marked the kayaker can record the position the surface of a lake than attempts to observe on Lake Arrowhead . Note to the bottom of the lake, at which time lake, people and pets should nonetheless following mixing! the need arise, using the GPS, while the snorkeler goes in things from above, even with scopes. It the dive flag on snorkel, the person wind energy causes a lake to mix. Water avoid contact with them. Concentrated A similar bloom was reported by George temporary marker in search of the next suspicious plant. avoids all surface reflection and disturbance clarity often declines slightly during this cyanobacteria (a.k.a. bluegreen algae) are Fergusson on October 3 on the south foreground, proper marker in the kayak The kayaker should always try to keep process, as particulate debris from the due to water ripples. It also allows things in background . Photo credit: also needs a often the dominant form of algae under shore of Clary Lake in Jefferson (Figure Debbie Broderick . the kayak positioned between snorkeler to be seen to a greater depth, even when lake bottom is swept up through the these circumstances, and areas of dense 2). In October, 2013, Ross Swain way to get the and other boat traffic, and if possible, try swimming at the surface. Snorkeling is water column. cells could potentially be toxic for a brief captured a similar event in Ellis Pond attention of the snorkeler. Banging a weight avoiding shading the area of the snorkeler. nowhere near as complex as SCUBA diving, Phosphorus that may have been released period, especially if ingested. with several excellent photos, including against the bottom of the kayak works. and has minimal equipment requirements. More on the Temporary Marker from bottom sediments, or which Figure 3, which illustrates a classic Experiment with this in advance to make All you really need is a mask and snorkel. You will need a small, smooth weight has been released from “cyano” surface sheen from sure your communication system works Figure 1: Two photos of a recent October ephemeral algae bloom in Little Ossipee Lake If you plan on covering quite a bit of attached to a small float with a lightweight organic matter that has that brief event. under a variety of conditions. Though the in Waterboro . territory, you will want some fins as well, string (nylon works well). The string should broken down near the lake kayak provides a visible presence on the Unusually warm summer but be mindful never let your fins dangle be able to be wrapped around the weight bottom, is also brought surface, (as well as an additional spotter for weather in 2020 caused down where they might disturb the bottom and/or float so that the marker can be closer to the surface during boats) it is also a good idea to attach a dive lakes to become warmer sediments or plants. flag to your snorkel. easily carried in a pocket, or clipped onto a the turnover process. The throughout much of belt. My first marker was a small brass pipe While snorkeling is a great way to conduct Never try to swim under fallen tree logs or amount of phosphorus Maine. As a result, the attached to a 1 cm slice of a foam swimming invasive plant patrol surveys, doing surveys branches. It is very easy for a small branch varies from one lake to process of destratification noodle. The string wrapped easily around this way also poses some safety and logistical to catch on your clothing, wet suit, belt, etc. the next, depending on and mixing likely occurred the pipe and the end of the pipe to be challenges. Here are some of the tips Debbie There is often fishing line tangled up on several factors. Typically, later in the fall, especially pushed into the foam to hold the string in Broderick and I have come up with for branches in the water that can prevent you much of the phosphorus for large and deep lakes. position. When that one came unclipped conducting snorkel surveys in a safe and getting back to the surface if you become is not soluble (biologically Reports of turnover-related from my belt and was lost, I made a second efficient manner. entangled in it. Always swim around fallen available), and therefore blooms were received as late one using two threaded ⅜” rod connectors trees and branches. The same goes for docks has little visible effect on as mid-November, when The system requires two people, one in instead of the brass pipe. (I am pretty sure and any other things in the water, too. Stop water quality. But a small Sally Smith reported the a kayak and the other in the water. In you have something in your garage that immediately, if you get tired or cold. percentage is soluble and Photo taken by Bob Camden, Oct 22, 2020 . Photo taken by Lorraine classic conditions described addition to the basics—kayak, paddles, will do the job nicely.) Having learned a reactive; because this form Marcotte, Oct 23, 2020. above along the shoreline PFD, and snorkeling gear—you will need: Working Efficiently lesson with the clip system, I now keep the of phosphorus is readily of Green Lake in Ellsworth. • Kayaker If the area to be surveyed is some distance temporary marker in available to algae, it can very quickly Ephemeral algae blooms (a.k.a. "flash By the time we had spoken by phone 24 • GPS from where you put in, we suggest that the a small pouch with a be assimilated, resulting in rapid, but blooms") as described above in Figure 1, hours later, all evidence of this bloom • Marker buoys snorkeler uses a second kayak to reach the VelcroTM closure that usually very limited growth, as the recently occurred in late October in Little had dissipated. It is likely that such • Drinking water for both people survey area. Once at the survey area, the is on a belt. I can phosphorus is rapidly depleted and Ossipee Lake in Waterboro. The pictures conditions occurred in many other lakes • Hat second kayak can be towed behind the first. easily get the marker • Optional: Dry clothing & towel for snorkeler other conditions promoting growth were taken at two shoreline locations this year, but due to the timing, were not in and out of the • Optional: Tow rope to tow snorkeler’s kayak One of the challenges of doing this work (water temperature and shorter days) on the lake. Within a very short time observed or documented. flap by feel alone, • Snorkeler while in the water is what to do if/when are not ideal. (less than 48 hours), all evidence of the allowing me to keep • Small temporary marker (clipped onto you spot a suspicious plant. Obviously you The spurt of algal growth typically dies bloom had disappeared as the dying outside of wetsuit, or tucked into pocket are not going to snorkel about with a bag my eyes on the plant off as quickly as it developed, usually cells were dispersed to eventually sink or belt, see below) full of heavy marker buoys in hand. This to be marked. An in a matter of only a day or two, after to the lake bottom and decompose. The • Recommended: Dive flag on snorkel is where the two person team really comes old cell phone belt which cells float to the surface sometimes photos show both “bands” and “sheens” • Optional: Wetsuit in handy. The snorkeler carries a slimmed- pocket with a Velcro Dale’s temporary marker . Photo credit: causing a multi-colored sheen to form associated with the concentration of • Recommended: Diving knife down temporary marker on them at all closure may also Dale Schultz . on the lake surface, or a ribbon along cells. Lake monitoring data gathered Staying Safe times. The person in the kayak always has work well. downwind shoreline areas. The sheens by LSM certified volunteers Robert a heavier, more-permanent marker ready to If you have never tried to conduct an If you are the snorkeler, remember that it and narrow bands of concentrated algae and Sandra Labelle indicate that only go. When you find a suspicious plant, the invasive aquatic plant screening survey is very easy to get disoriented underwater. may or may not be noticed because by a few days prior to observation of the most important thing is not to lose sight of while in the water before, I hope you will Get in the habit of raising your head out of early September and October, many lake bloom, lake water clarity readings were it! It is very easy to lose the plant by drifting try it! In addition to optimizing direct the water every few minutes to look about residents have left for the year. In a short excellent (between 9.1 and 9.9 meters), and or turning in the water. Remaining at observation of your survey area, you will to get yourself oriented, and to make sure time, the algae dissipate from additional indicating very low algal productivity the surface so as not to disturb silt or cause also see and experience your lake in a that your support person in the kayak is wind and wave action, often disappearing in the lake water column. Temperature Figure 2: Flash algae bloom on Clary Lake on fragmentation, and keeping your eye on the whole new way. Get ready to see lots of still nearby. And of course, when you hear a in several hours. The water surrounding and dissolved oxygen data from the October 3 . Photo credit: George Fergusson . plant, place the small, temporary marker wildlife too! boat motor, pop your head up immediately 26 11 Restoring Clary Lake: thwarted DEP's attempts at enforcement bottom, destroying valuable fish habitat changes. This is good evidence for lake lake, the timing and drivers of trophic Works Cited A Success Story! of the WLO. Four years later, in early and depriving lake shore owners of a communities that they need to pay attention change did not always correlate the same Ewing, H. A., Weathers, K. C., to watershed and lake area development. way over time. Contributed by George Fergusson, LSM 2018 the Court finally upheld the WLO. usable waterfront. Cottingham, K. L., Leavitt, P. R., Greer, Certified 13 Years; Clary Lake, Jefferson That should have been the end of the The water level crisis had a profound and One of the difficulties with any ecology or Regardless, this study provides a wealth M. L., Carey, C. C., ... & Sowles, J. P. story, but it wasn't. The dam owner then deleterious impact on lake water quality complex system study, is that there may be of information about the trophic history (2020). “New” cyanobacterial blooms are lary Lake, formerly Pleasant Pond, filed for bankruptcy, providing the Clary significant variation between groups and of these lakes, particularly about the not new: two centuries of lake production is one of the longest continually as evidenced by Secchi disk readings. C Lake Association with the break we'd Between 2009 when the water level crisis among groups. Ewing et al. concluded that incidence of Gloeotrichia and further are related to ice cover and land use. monitored lakes in Maine. According been waiting for and in October 2018 there was no ‘smoking gun’ causing trophic evidence that watershed land use and ice Ecosphere, 11(6), e03170. to DEP's Linda Bacon, my father Stuart began through the end of 2018 when we we were able to purchase the dam from were finally able to take control of and changes, however both the duration of ice cover play important roles in lake health. For a more detailed summary, please visit Fergusson was the first person to start cover and the extent of land use did appear the dam owner's bankruptcy estate. The repair the dam, we experienced severe Maintaining high quality water requires the LSM website: collecting Secchi disk readings on the to be key drivers. The complex interplay of dam was quickly repaired and the water algal blooms (defined as transparency a significant understanding of how these www .LakeStewardsOfMaine .org lake back in 1975. His friend and morphometry, watershed land use, climate level restored. below 2m) five of those years and several factors interact, however limiting stressors neighbor David Hodsdon started at the change, organic matter contributions, and like phosphorus from the watershed will same time and soon took over when my minor blooms (defined as transparency many other unmeasured components of between 2m and 2.5m). The reason was help mitigate the eutrophication of lakes father's health and eyesight precluded the lake environment meant that no single in general. him from continuing. In 2001 another obvious: with lake volume cut almost factor is a clear-cut cause. Even in the same monitor, Jack Holland joined David in half but with normal amounts of on his bi-monthly monitoring trips. I rainfall and runoff, the nutrient load was became certified and started helping significantly higher than had the lake been 2020 Watershed Survey Grant Recipients out in 2013 and for a few years all full of water. Ironically, starting about 2017 and in spite of the ongoing water 3 of us would head out on the lake. Lake Stewards of Maine was pleased We could have used a bigger boat! State boat launch, 2015 . level crisis, transparency and water quality to be able to provide startup grants Then in 2018 Kelsie French joined was much improved due in large part to for four citizen lake watershed surveys our monitoring team. Having plenty The Clary Lake dam, built around summer drought conditions which limits in 2020: China Lake in China, of help monitoring Clary Lake has 1900, raised the level of Clary Lake runoff, to the benefit of many Maine been a blessing. Today Clary Lake is a approximately 5 feet. For eight long years lakes, including Clary. The chart on the Long Pond starting in 2011 and continuing until following page shows 45 years worth in Belgrade, relatively healthy “productive” lake but Bear the CLA bought the dam in the fall of of Secchi disk readings. It is easy to see Lovejoy Pond Pond 2018, the then dam owner kept the gate the impact of reduced water levels on in Fayette/Readfield/Wayne and wide open so as to keep the lake level transparency from 2009 through 2015. Bear Pond in Turner/Harford. as low as possible. The result was wildly The 2nd-order polynomial trendline These photos show the level of fluctuating and generally lower water shows the likelihood of improving determination and commitment of levels, and the effect was devastating. transparency in the future, though we are volunteers who participated (safely!) in these successful The picture above shows the State boat not about to become complacent since projects. Lake Watershed surveys are an efficient and launch on September 26, 2015 when excessive nutrient load in many Maine effective process for engaging lake communities in the the lake level was close to five feet below lakes is a perennial problem. identification and resolution of sources of pollution in (L-R) David Hodsdon, Kelsie French, and George the top of the dam. Needless to say, the Fergusson in 2019 . boat launch didn't get much use when lake watersheds. Many thanks to all who participated, it looked like this. These extreme low and to the Ram Island it hasn't always been that way. Always Conservation plagued over the years to some extent by water conditions recurred every summer China Fund of the Maine occasional water level issues, in 2006 the from 2011 through the end of 2018. Lake Community dam that impounds Clary Lake had fallen Over 300 acres of sensitive wetlands with into disrepair and was sold to a company an average depth of only 2-4 feet were Foundation for who had other plans than repairing it completely drained, reducing the overall helping to facilitate Lovejoy and maintaining a historical lake level. size of Clary Lake by as much as 42% these projects. Pond and the lake volume by over 40%. Every By the Fall of 2011 the Clary Lake Algae bloom, 2013 . Association's negotiations with the dam spring, rain and snow melt would raise owner had failed to resolve the issues so the lake level up typically to within a foot The picture above shows the end result the Clary Lake shore owners filed a water or so of the normal high water mark, of a particularly bad algal bloom that level petition with DEP. The dam owner but it didn't last long; by early summer occurred in 2013. At the height of this fought the petition but ultimately lost, the level would have again fallen four to bloom, our Secchi disk reading was only and two years later in late January 2014, five feet below the top of the dam. The 1.5 meters. The green scum is dead blue- Long entire littoral zone around the lake was a Water Level Order was issued. The dam green algae that floated to the surface. Not Pond owner promptly appealed the Order in drained, exposing dozens and in some conducive to wanting to go swimming! Lincoln County Superior Court which cases hundreds of feet of sensitive lake This bloom was pretty much lake-wide. 12 25 Gloeotrichia – In Time and Space by Tristan Taber early spring when runoff and snow melt brought the n the new study, co-authored by LSM Researchers estimated the age of the lake level up. The rest of IScientific Advisory Board member, sediment subsamples and developed the year it was completely Dr. Holly Ewing, and titled ‘New’ a timeline using radioactive dating dewatered. After a few cyanobacterial blooms are not new: two techniques. Historical land use records years this sensitive wetland centuries of lake production are related to were also used as a study factor. The study area had become a meadow ice cover and land use, Ewing and her factors were compared in the timeline with exclusively terrestrial colleagues discuss their investigation of and to one another using statistics. When vegetation growing on it. Gloeotrichia echinulata in seven lakes with factors correlated, it could mean the Rather than ducks, turtles, varying trophic states (levels of biological shift was due to one or more of those and lily pads it was home to productivity) and morphometry (basin environmental factors. LSM Advisory Board members Holly Ewing [L] and coyotes and growing maple shape and surface area). The team attempts Based on their analysis, it can be said Steve Norton [2nd from R], and Linda Bacon [R] trees and goldenrod. I am to answer questions about the ecology of (MDEP and LSM Director) examine a sediment that Gloeotrichia has been present in happy to report that in the the colonial cyanobacteria and possible core from Lake Auburn . New England lakes even before European two years since historical historical drivers of trophic change in community structure and drive trophic settlement (c. 1750 CE). Gloeotrichia was water levels were restored, Maine lakes. The online version of this change, there was not strong evidence for found in the sediments of all but the most this important wetland is article includes additional figures and a this in all the study lakes, thus it may occur eutrophic lake in the study, Sabattus Pond, recovering nicely. more in-depth discussion of the paper. Sabattus, ME. The authors speculate that only in certain circumstances. In fact, they Gloeotrichia was not found in Sabattus found that Gloeotrichia was not a good In closing, I’d like to take proxy for trophic changes. Algal pigments, this opportunity to thank because it needs light for germination and Trend line (red) shows reduced transparency during period of dam mismanagement . that a highly eutrophic lake with diminished which are associated with specific algae David Hodsdon (pictured transparency cannot provide this. groups, found in the sediments correlated Now, 2 years after historical water levels the lake. A month after this picture was below, using our YSI Pro20 well with trophic shifts. In addition, these were restored, Clary Lake is well on it's taken the lake had fallen another 2 feet DO meter) for his exemplary service Gloeotrichia populations appeared to be algal pigments correlated with ice-out largest in five out of the six lakes (not way to a full recovery, but its going to take and the water had receded an additional as Clary Lake’s principal Water Quality records, a proxy for climate change, much a while longer before the effects of 8 years 75 feet. Periodically the lake shore owners Monitor. This year David decided to including Sabattus) when non-indigenous better than Gloeotrichia did. land clearing was the most pervasive (c. of subpar water levels is fully reversed. would descend on what used to be beach give up the job he’s held for 45 years Concentrated colonies of Gloeotrichia in Long 1780–1860). As agriculture declined, The study found evidence that relatively This year the average transparency was with lawnmowers and weed whackers and let me and Kelsie French take the Pond, Belgrade . Photo credit: Roberta Hill . especially animal husbandry, Gloeotrichia small watersheds were correlated to ice- about 4 meters and the once-devastated in an attempt to preserve their access to reins. I only hope we can bring the same also declined. However, agriculture is not out and pigment changes over the time; wetlands and littoral zone are rapidly the water. Everyone on Clary Lake was degree of dedication, quality control, Ewing et al. examined lake-bottom the only factor, given that other biologists relatively large watersheds showed no returning to their former states. In a few affected by the water level crisis to some and perseverance to the job that David sediments that have captured the last have witnessed Gloeotrichia blooms in correlation. Agriculture and the presence more years the travails of the past will be extent, some more than others. For the 7 did. We owe him that much, and more! several hundred years of conditions in lakes with minimal human influence, such of Gloeotrichia also appeared to be more but a distant memory. years of our water level crisis, the people each lake and watershed. They compared as Katahdin Lake in Baxter State Park. synchronized in lakes with smaller relative who had camps on this shoreline in the influences that watershed and lake watersheds. While these relationships particular didn't have much summer fun characteristics, regional influences like Although some prior research has suggested are likely influenced by factors that at the lake. climate, and anthropogenic (human- that Gloeotrichia is able to change the lake were not part of the study design, it caused) factors had on lake still provides some evidence that Perhaps the most devastating impact of productivity over time. By improving relatively smaller watersheds are more our multiyear water level crisis was the the understanding of lake sensitivity sensitive to watershed changes and complete dewatering of 300 acres of to trophic change and the drivers of regional drivers, like climate change. emergent wetlands at the northwest end that change, they hoped to provide The authors suggest that the effects Years of low water levels transformed this once- of Clary Lake. The picture below, taken better insights for managing these and of agricultural activity, especially sand beach . in early April of 2013 shows a small David Hodsdon - 45 years of lake monitoring! possibly other New England lakes. livestock, relatively closer to the lakes The picture above shows the long-term section of this wetland area and only David has been a mentor to me over the The team took sediment core samples may have distorted this relationship. impact of reduced water levels on a small hints at the devastation. With luck this years, and a true friend. David and I still from the bottom of each lake and Trophic shifts were highly associated section of shoreline on the north side of wetland area might have had water over consult on water quality issues and get sliced them into layers for analysis. with land use change. Gloeotrichia the lake where the water is rather shallow it for about a month in late winter or together every few weeks for a cup of hot They looked at nitrogen, carbon, appeared to be most strongly associated to begin with. Taken in June 2017, the algae pigments, and Gloeotrichia. with changes in watershed land use. water level was only down about 2.5 feet black coffee and a good discussion on all Gloeotrichia was chosen because each The team inferred that because the at the time but it had already receded things Clary Lake. Plans are underway for lake currently supports populations, relationship between population and fully 75 feet from the normal high water a more fitting tribute to David next year they are macroscopic, and persist in trophic indicator shifts in five out mark. Five years of reduced water levels when hopefully this pandemic craziness the sediments. By looking at the of the six lakes with development had turned what was a sandy beach area will be behind us. number in each sediment sample, they (Long Pond was excluded), shoreline into this uninviting weedy shorefront. As George Fergusson is the current Secretary were able to determine the probable Area of study in the northeastern United States . Sediment cores were collected from the lakes outlined and labeled . Watershed related development may have been the water level fell, people would move of the Clary Lake Association and can be population in a lake over time. area of each lake is highlighted in green . a significant driver of those trophic their docks and moorings further out into De-watered wetland . reached at [email protected] 24 13 Keeping the Team Effort Going Catherine Fox, who convinced me to experts, I decided I would best do my In lieu of our Annual Lake Monitoring Conference, Lake on Big Lake choose performance efficiency versus surveying upstream and downstream, Stewards of Maine hosted a series of weekly informational the roominess of a large cockpit in as the water flows, for it might be webinars from June through August, on a wide range of Contributed by Lucy Leaf; LSM Invasive topics pertaining to Maine Lakes. They ran approximately Plant Patroller on Toddy Pond in Surry selecting the right kayak. Not only awhile before much attention could be could I paddle twice as far in my new given to these areas. one hour in length, and included an opportunity for Q&A COVID-19 has catapulted us into for those who attended. All sessions were recorded, and are boat with much greater ease, I enjoyed On my second trip to the region, a reality that most of us never being in it. available for viewing on the Lake Stewards of Maine website anticipated. It’s bad enough that a I did find variable milfoil in two (LakeStewardsOfMaine.org). The complete season of topics and large milfoil infestation was discovered From my participation in several Zoom smaller downstream lakes, (Long Lake speakers is shown below. in a remote region of Maine. Adding sessions organized by LSM, I decided and Lewey Lake). They were very to the challenge was that one of the there was a question that needed an small colonies in highly productive answer. How far had the invasive areas, embedded with look-alike The Crown Jewel Lakes of An Overview of Citizen Lake best volunteer response teams in the Central Maine, and the Threats Watershed Surveys nation was not able to bring full milfoil at Big Lake spread? Big Lake natives. It seemed like pure luck that that They Face forces to bear on Big Lake this year is part of an enormous watershed with I spotted them through the trunk Presented by Amanda Pratt, due to the pandemic. a large littoral zone. Anything I could scope. Roberta’s immediate responses Presented by Matt Scott, Aquatic Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP survey would be a drop in the bucket. to photos sent was extremely helpful, Biologist, Emeritus; Maine DEP, Past Watershed Management Unit Of course, this parallels many other But I knew that even one plant found for I have never seen variable milfoil President of the North American situations where families, schools, Lake Management Society and Lloyd Irland, PhD; further afield would provide a great in its own habitat. Of course, finding Lake Ice Regimes: Some Baffling business owners, service and health Research Scientist, Author & Consultant deal of information. plants in three sites that were later Trends and Challenges for Citizen care workers have simply had to carry confirmed by DNA analysis spurred on the best they can. Life has plenty of Science me to continue looking for more. All The Influence of A Warming twists. Here is mine. together, in five different trips, I was Presented by Lloyd Irland, PhD; Climate on Aquatic Invaders in Research Scientist, Author & Consultant Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) took on a able to do forty hours of on-water Maine Lakes new dimension for me when I began surveying in the region. And—I Presented by Roberta Hill; LSM surveying other lakes besides my own. enjoyed every minute of it. What You Need to Know About Invasive Aquatic Species Director & With every new lake I visited, I learned Lake Algae Later in the summer DEP staff Aquatic Ecologist at least one new native plant. As yet, we traveled to the region with a diver Presented by Alan Baker, PhD; have not found any invasives growing and equipment to remove the small Professor Emeritus of Botanical in Hancock County, where I live, colonies I found, and further explore Metaphyton in Maine Lakes: Sciences, University of New though I myself found Eurasian milfoil the extent of the infestation on Big What Is It? Should We Be Hampshire on a boat trailer while doing Courtesy Lake itself. Additional volunteers, Concerned? Boat Inspections. both local and downstate, also braved Presented by Scott Williams; LSM Healthy Vegetated Buffers – Healthy Lakes. I actually fantasized about having a the flukey fall weather to add to the Executive Director & Limnologist Uber-IPPer, Lucy Leaf, in her element . Working with Mother Nature to Protect the whole summer free to do nothing but bank of knowledge. With all this vital Waters of Maine IPP. Well, be careful what you wish Since I’m used to primitive camping information, locals rallied to begin the Citizen Stewards and Maine Presented by Roberta Hill; LSM Invasive Aquatic Species for. COVID-19 eliminated my usual and my boat could also carry essential work of mitigation, which has already Lakes: Collaborative Approaches Director & Aquatic Ecologist summer job. But simultaneously, a gear, I figured I could go to this started with a commercial team. for Sustainable Systems $1200 check arrived. For eight years more remote region without having I offer this to show that every little Presented by Firooza Pavri, PhD; I have been doing extensive IPP, but contact with anyone, the primary A Guided Tour of LSM’s Lakes of bit counts, even one person in one Professor of Anthropology, University never owned my own boat. That was stumbling block preventing the Maine Website kayak on an enormous watershed. But of Southern Maine about to change. massive coordinated response that had overall, it is One Big Team Effort! Presented by Peter Vaux, PhD; Another bit of fortune was the advice been intended before the pandemic Developer and Manager of LSM's Northeast Climate Trends, from our regional IPP coordinator, struck. Leaving Big Lake itself to the Lakes of Maine Website Tracking Increasing Harmful Algal Blooms, and the Vital Role of Citizen Science in this Research Inspired to share a story of your own? Presented by Hilary Snook; Senior We can’t wait to see it- please contact us today!! Scientist, US EPA Regional Laboratory

[email protected] or (207) 783-7733 All webinars are currently available for viewing at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/2020-summer-webinar-series/

14 23 Changes to Communication & Technology in by Tristan Taber uring the late 1800s, amateur the Past Few Years and the Spurs of CoViD-19 Dnaturalists would pack up their precious microscopes and travel Under Technology at Large rolling out a version of Survey123 that hundreds of miles at great expense to ommunication technologies and could be used for tracking metaphyton waters of the northern US and Canada the Didymo Cmeans of monitoring have been in spring of 2021 We understand in pursuit of the rare glassy diatoms changed drastically by the development there are cyclical concerns raised about known as Didmosphenia geminata. Hand of personal electronic devices and the metaphyton, however until we have a According to Sharon Moen, University home computer. According to Graham better understanding of seasonal, yearly, of Minnesota Sea Grant Program, in her 2009 article How Didymo Became Rock Lens: Kendal, PhD., cellular (smart) phones and spatial variability of metaphyton, Didymosphenia Snot, the tiny silica-shelled organisms geminata have, on average, 4 gigabytes of random it is difficult to elucidate more about were, at that time “as rare as diamonds. access memory (34,359,738,368 bits). it. This new package for the tracking of it will provide us with much of that Diatom collectors who owned a didymo The Apollo 11 guidance computer slide owned a trophy.” Didymo is a single-cell freshwater had 32,768; that is over six orders of critical information. diatom that produces a fibrous stalk magnitude less than the phone many How CoViD-19 Has Changed LSM on A little over a hundred years later, on which it attaches itself to rocks Area of study in the northeastern United States . Didymo—now widely reviled as "rock people have in their pocket. With this Sediment cores were collected from the lakes the Technology Front and vegetation, typically in clear, cool snot”—becomes so abundant at times illustration, it should be easy to see outlined and labeled . Watershed area of each lake streams and rivers, especially those with is highlighted in green . CoViD-19 changed a lot about our in these same waters (and others) that that technology is leaps and bounds moderate, year-round flows and good world. In the past year, we had to it restricts water flows; smothers stream more powerful, portable, and dynamic TM light. (Though more rare, this species like Global Mapper Mobile allow change a great deal of the way our beds killing off native benthic dwellers than it was decades ago. It was just may also occur along the rocky shores for the recording of and modification program functioned. Fortunately, we such as mussels and macroinvertebrates of lakes and ponds.) Didymo may exist a matter of time before these small to these geospatial databases and can have had a very supportive group of (interrupting critical food webs); Didymo mats look and feel like wet for a time as small, relatively benign, portable computers would be employed incorporate base maps to allow for volunteers, donors, and we were lucky depletes dissolved oxygen levels (as the for scientific collection of data. cotton or thick wet felt. Photo courtesy bubbly colonies on submerged rocks, visual interfaces that reflect satellite to be positioned in such a way that we algal mats decompose); and destroys of Missouri Conservation Department. boulders and gravel, and then suddenly At the same time, because of this new imagery, aerial photographs, or other could make use of the communication habitat for cold water fish species such to the snot-evoking Mr. Hyde is not "bloom" into a thick yellowy-brown as brook trout. The mechanism by computing power, science reached a forms of remote sensing. technologies available. One such well understood, but paleolimnological layer, capable of covering wide expanses. TM which this organism made the transition point where scientists who (obviously) technology is Zoom . Zoom has been research conducted in 20141 suggests Unlike other algal species that attach to LSM, in conjunction with the Maine DEP, from the algal equivalent of Dr. Jekell cannot be everywhere at once, suddenly ventured into this territory in 2020 with giving many people, our stakeholders that climate change may be playing a rocks, didymo mats are neither green had the power to analyze far more the mobile application, Survey123TM, included, a crash course in distance significant role. “The climate link is a nor slimy. They look and feel more data than could be gathered in a for use in aquatic plant surveys. If you learning and video communication hypothesis, and much more research is like wet cotton or thick wet felt, and single lifetime. The compilation of were part of a watershed survey in the past platforms. According to Zoom Video needed to determine a cause, but the in a more advanced “rogue” stages, the didymo-stalk streamers—which may citizen science data and generation of few years, you may have used Survey123 Communications, Inc., documents: effects of warming seem to favor the alarmingly grow up to a meter long— big datasets allowed for scientists to when working with the DEP. This tabular • In June 2014 there were approximately species,” writes Michelle Lavery, lead resemble streaming clumps of soggy discover trends that had been previously form and documentation software uses 10 million participants each day; author of the study. toilet paper, with fragments breaking obscured. Downloadable cell phone the GPS system in a phone or tablet to The alarming transition was first programs (applications) like eBird, • In December 2019 there were away and floating downstream. register geospatial coordinates, and by approximately 10 million participants documented in 2006, as didymo began iNaturalist, and EPA’s BloomWatch (a to take on the characteristics of an following a series of prompting questions each day; cyanobacterial bloom documentation notate the occurrence of specific aquatic invasive species in its original range, and reporting software) leverage a species in a lake (or stream). This, • In March 2020 there were over 200 and also began expanding its range range of average citizens however, still requires training in million participants each day; and, to warmer, more nutrient rich waters. to experts in their field the ability to identify at least certain • In April 2020 there were over 300 In the past several years, didymo has to observe, document, aquatic specimens. LSM is seeking two million participants each day. expanded its range in the Western chronicle, discuss, and United States and has infested rivers and major levels of use with this application: Zoom is not alone, however. Google curate the wonders of the those persons who are able to identify streams in several southeastern states, world around them. has updated their Hangouts platform including Virginia, West Virginia, the eleven aquatic invasive plants that TM The microscopic, virtually invisible, algal with the launch of Google Meet. Tennessee and North Carolina. In 2007, Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), threaten Maine lakes; and those persons cells cling to fishing gear, waders, boots YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, didymo was found in the northern and boats, and may remain viable for digital cameras, and photostations, who have a more robust knowledge of the TM has expanded their YouTube Live Scanning electron micrograph of Didymo reaches of the Connecticut River in several weeks. Photo courtesy of Ziga, people are able to capture everything native, as well as the invasive, aquatic program. GoToMeetingTM and geminata. The cell secretes a mucousy Vermont, marking the first official Wikimedia Commons. from phenology (changes to seasonal species for native plant habitat, location, MicrosoftTM TeamsTM are both popular substance through the raphe in order report of Didymosphenia geminata in cycles) to the three-dimensional and identification mapping. Both are offerings as well. There are a number to move across surfaces, and then the Northeastern United States. Blooms There are currently no known methods environment which they develop using important components of monitoring of others, including the DiscordTM, attaches itself by secreting a fibrous have since been detected in New York for controlling or eradicating didymo once it infests a water body. Preventing technologies like photogrammetry the health of Maine lakes. which launched a video component polysaccharide stalk though the porefield and New Hampshire. To date, there at the base of the cell. Image by Sarah and lidar point clouds—think radar In addition to Survey123 for the Aquatic to their VOIP (voice over internet have been no sightings in Maine. Hand Lens . . . continued on page 31 with lasers. Mobile phone applications Spaulding, US Geological Survey. Plant Mapping, we are planning on Communication . . . continued on page 31 22 15 by Scott Williams; LSM Extreme Weather ... continued from page 17 • Sabattus Pond in Sabattus, a lake that Executive Director; Limnologist Influences of Extreme Weather on Maine Lakes in 2020 On July 22, staff from the Auburn has experienced algae blooms of varying limatologists are largely in agreement volunteers on Saturday Pond in Otisfield, Cyanobacteria are well adapted to Water District documented a 12.1 meter intensity and duration for the past few Cthat one effect of a rapidly warming who reported that many small Yellow Perch rapid growth as water temperatures Secchi disk reading in Lake Auburn, an decades, experienced a severe bloom of planet will continue to be an increase in had died and were washing up along the increase. It has been said that exceptionally high reading for any lake! somewhat less severity in 2020. the frequency and intensity of “extreme shoreline. Fish “die-offs” were also reported “Cyanobacteria like it hot”, compared Wynn and Sandra Muller on Wilson Pond • Chickawaukie Lake in Rockport, weather events”. High-profile storms in four northern Maine lakes last summer to true algae, which grow better at in Wilton also commented on unusually which underwent an “Alum” like hurricanes, which include strong (Cross, Square, Long and Madawaska), lower temperatures. This increases the clear conditions in their lake last summer. treatment more than 25 years ago winds, torrential downpours, flooding according to biologists and pathologists potential for “Harmful Algal Blooms” Drought conditions very likely contributed to control algal blooms, experienced and tornadoes, get a lot of coverage by the from the Maine Department of Inland (HAB’s) and associated “cyanotoxin” to this phenomenon. Stewards from other Secchi readings of less than 1.0 meter media. Video coverage of recent historic Fisheries & Wildlife, who indicated that production to occur. lakes have made similar comments. during the summer for the first time wildland fires on the west coast and in the mortality was likely indirectly due to in nearly three decades. • Alterations to lake food webs can However, some lakes throughout the the mid-west have also been featured in the unusually warm water temperatures result in “trophic cascades” that could state did not fare as well, including the • LSM lake monitors, Bill and Kathleen the news. Fortunately, Maine has been which promoted parasite infestations. favor increased algae growth. following, which experienced unusual Cotter, documented a severe late spared from extreme weather events in Algae bloom in Sabattus Pond, Sabattus. Photo planktonic algal blooms last summer, summer bloom in Abrams Pond in 2020. Or has it? credit: Linda Bacon . some of which were characterized as severe Eastbrook. The bloom persisted into In fact, Maine experienced at least two (Secchi transparency readings of less than the month of October. It should be noted that variability in lower-profile, but relatively speaking 2.0 meters depth): lake Secchi data is not just about extreme “extreme” forms of weather last summer. changes! Many additional Maine lakes are • Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, National Weather Service (NWS) summary likely to have trended significantly above Newcastle and Nobleboro, which has data for Portland, Maine indicate this or below their historical averages in 2020, historically experienced overall stable past summer was the “warmest summer without necessarily reaching the point of water quality, but is vulnerable due in on record”, based on data extending from an official algae bloom, or “exceptionally part to low levels of dissolved oxygen the late 1800’s to present. The average clear” conditions. For example, a lake with during the summer, experienced temperature for the area last summer historical Secchi averages of 7.5 meters, unusual “stringy aggregations” was 70.5 degrees F, which is 3.6 degrees which experienced readings in the 4-5 of cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria or above normal for the period. The warmest FIGURE 1: As lakes warm over time, a shift toward greater cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae) is likely to occur. meter range, or in the 8-9 meter range last Planktothrix, and Dolichospermum month of July on record resulted, in part summer, would have had an unusual year - (formerly Anabaena) growth in the because evening temperatures remained Some likely effects of unusually warm one that would have a bearing on the long- • A shortening of the duration of winter lower “South Arm” of the lake in well above normal for most of the month weather on Maine’s lakes include: term average for that lake and perhaps a ice cover (forming later in the fall July. By August, a severe bloom (note that 2019 had the second-warmest foreshadowing of future conditions. • An increase in surface water loss due and melting earlier in the spring) will had occurred in the area near the July on record). June and August were the rd to evaporation. result in profound changes to lake lake outlet. Neurotoxins associated We will not likely have the complete 3 warmest on record for each month, and th ecosystems, including those listed with the cyanobacteria Planktothrix picture of how the extreme weather of this past September was the 7 warmest • An alteration or acceleration of Algae bloom in Long Pond, Parsonsfield. Photo above and more. and Dolichospermum bloom were 2020 influenced Maine’s lakes for several since 1871. Also note that 2018 and biological processes in lakes, the most credit: Linda Bacon . documented. Fortunately, toxin levels months to come. Fortunately, data 2016 previously held the record for the significant of which is likely be an • Gloeotrichia, a cyanobacteria that remained well below the threat to • Long Pond in Parsonsfield, a clear continue to arrive daily from hundreds warmest Maine summers. Despite the large increase in planktonic algae growth, has occurred historically at very low public health. lake with a history of Secchi readings of LSM certified water quality monitors. geographic area covered by Maine, weather resulting in reduced water clarity. densities in some of Maine’s clearest averaging more than 6 meters, That extensive information for several data obtained from Portland last summer • An increase in the number of lakes lakes, was reported to be “more experienced a severe bloom for the hundred lakes throughout Maine, will is reasonably representative of conditions that experience summer thermal prevalent” by citizen scientists on fourth consecutive year. further our understanding of the ways in that occurred throughout much of the stratification, and, an overall some lakes last summer (limited which a changing climate will influence state, with some variation in temperature lengthening of the period during data available at the time this article • Pattee Pond in Winslow and Crowell our lakes. from north to south, and along the coast. which lakes are stratified (from earlier was written). Ongoing research Pond in Chesterville and New Sharon suggests that multiple factors may also bloomed this year. Both lakes Unusually Warm Lake Water! in the spring to later in the fall). This often results in greater dissolved be responsible for its increasing are productive systems, but do not Historically, even in mid-summer, Maine oxygen loss in those lakes, reducing abundance and changing phenology. typically reach bloom conditions. lake water temps have been characterized coldwater fishery habitat. In some The fact that “Gloeo” has recently been Unusually high temperatures likely as cool and refreshing. But anyone who lakes, an increase in phosphorus release documented at very high densities in played a role in both cases. spent much time on (and in) Maine lakes “reference lakes”, situated in remote Blob from algae bloom in North Pond, from lake sediments can also occur, Smithfield. Photo credit: Linda Bacon. • Long-time LSM lake monitor, Peter last summer knows that the water was which can dramatically stimulate the areas away from any human influence, Devine reported a severe bloom in unusually warm. By late July, lake surface growth of planktonic algae. suggests that some aspect of climate • North Pond in Smithfield experienced Garland Pond on July 18th. temperatures for many lakes in the lower half warming could be a factor. the worst algal bloom on record for • Shifts in phytoplankton (algae) • Webber Pond in Vassalboro, a lake of the state were in the low to mid-eighties Another Severe Drought! the lake, developing large clumps assemblage dominance, which most with a history of annual algal blooms (F)! Temperatures in the mid-seventies of gelatinous blobs, which formed notably favor the metabolism and In addition to Maine lakes being unusually mixed with average Secchi readings were more typical in Maine lakes only a from the decay of the bluegreen decade ago. In late July, Lake Stewards growth of cyanobacteria, a.k.a. warm last summer, another significant experienced bloom conditions last Algae bloom in Pattee Pond, Winslow. Photo algae Dolichospermum. credit: Linda Bacon . of Maine (LSM) staff were contacted by bluegreen algae (see Figure 1 above). form of extreme weather occurred summer worse than in recent years. 16 21 List is current as of 11-30-20. throughout the State, and continues as of this writing (November, 2020). According Thank You! to the National Weather Service, the period from mid-May through June was “the In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ driest stretch of weather ever recorded” at the Portland monitoring station! August was the 4th consecutive month of below- Business & Community Supporters Major Funding average precipitation, and by the end of Bath Savings Institution Lake Spirits Photography Major funding for LSM is made possible September, all of the state of Maine was through grants from the Maine Department Casco, Town of Mr. Lakefront experiencing historic drought conditions of Environmental Protection, and the US that ranged from moderate to extreme, as Clark Insurance Ness Oil Company Environmental Protection Agency. Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust OceanView at Falmouth the map in Figure 2 (at right) illustrates. Cumberland Crossing Patagonia In Kind In late October, the Commissioner of the Ellis Pond Sidekicks Portland Water District Maine Department of Agriculture declared Highland Green Rooster Brother, Inc. And for those of you who have donated your a “State of Emergency” for Piscataquis, Hildreth & White YSI, Incorporated time, expertise, and dedication to the work of Sagadahoc and Somerset Counties, due to the LSM in the past year– many thanks! KM Robbins Construction, LLC the extreme, prolonged drought. By late summer, LSM staff had been Lake & Regional Watershed Associations contacted by dozens of lake stewards, THANK YOU to all the Lake and Regional Watershed Associations who Data gathered by LSM citizen lake scientists helps to identify who reported extremely low water levels FIGURE 2: Maine Drought Severity Map supported LSM’s annual association appeal . We anticipate reaching trends, threats and lake phenomena throughout Maine . We share on the lakes that they monitor. Unusually our appeal goal of $20,000 by year’s end! Contributions from this information with lake communities and the general public warm water temperatures, resulting in Lake and Regional Watershed Associations help to cover expenses to help educate and inform people, and ultimately, to increase Ironically (but somewhat predictably) The combined effect of extreme drought increased evaporation, a severely depressed associated with training and ongoing support to volunteers in their efforts to protect our lakes . LSM’s staff and more than 1,000 lake periods of drought dramatically reduce and heat last summer could have caused lake communities, printing and mailing of data forms, ensuring the stewards throughout Maine deeply appreciate the strong support water table, and tributaries from lake stormwater runoff from developed areas Maine’s lakes to have been more productive accuracy and quality of lake data through re-certification of current from Maine’s lake communities . watersheds with very little to no flow due in lake watersheds, and because runoff is (greater algae growth, and less clear) due to volunteers, and detailed quality assurance review of more than to the extended drought, were the primary the transportation vector for the nutrient warmer water temperatures. But many 2000 volunteer data forms and surveys . factors driving this phenomenon. phosphorus, sediment particles from soil might have been overall clearer, because of Overall, prolonged periods of drought do erosion, and other pollutants to lakes from lower nutrient inputs due to the drought. Abrams Pond Association Great East Lake Improvement Association Piper Pond Association not benefit the health of our lakes. Low their watersheds, historical Secchi data from As always, the ways in which individual Alamoosook Lake Association Greater Pushaw Lake Association Pitcher Pond Improvement Association water levels de-water attached wetlands hundreds of LSM certified lake monitors lakes respond to external and internal Alford Lake/Lermond Pond Association Green & Mirror Ponds Association Pleasant Lake & Parker Pond Association and littoral areas which exposes and kills has shown us that many Maine lakes tend influences depends very much on the many Allen Pond Improvement Association Green Lake Association Pleasant Pond Protective Association beneficial rooted lake plants and impairs to be clearer than their historical average ways that Maine lakes differ from each Androscoggin Lake Improvement Corp. Gull Pond Association Pleasant River Lake Association or eliminates invertebrate and fishery during drought years (see Figure 3 below). other. The natural physical characteristics Annabessacook Lake Improvement Assoc. Hosmer Pond Association Portage Lake Association habitat. Some species of invasive aquatic As you might expect, the few Maine of a lake, including variability in depth, Basin, David, Tilton Ponds Association Island Falls Lakes Association Porter Lake Association plants, such as Variable Milfoil are actually lakes that already have high phosphorus the area of the surface, relative to the Bauneg Beg Lake Association, Inc. Kennebunk Pond Association Raymond Waterways Protective Association well adapted to drying conditions, which concentrations often experience greatly lake volume, flushing rate, the shape Bear Pond Improvement Association Keoka Lake Association Sabbathday Lake Association may give them a competitive edge over reduced transparencies because there is no of the lake basin, prevailing winds, the Berry Dexter Wilson Ponds Watershed Assoc. Kezar Lake Watershed Association Sand-Locke Pond Association native plants. rainfall to flush out nutrients. geochemistry of the watershed soils and Branch Lake Association Lake Wesserunsett Association Saturday Pond Watershed Association lake sediments, fisheries and biota, and Cathance Lake Association Lakeville Camp Owners Association Sebasticook Lake Association of course watershed development, are just Citizens Association of Liberty Lakes Little Sebago Lake Association Sebec Lake Association some of the factors that determine how Clary Lake Association Little Wilson Pond Improvement Assoc. Sheepscot Lake Association individual lakes respond. Clearwater Lake Improvement Association Long Pond Association Square Pond Improvement Association Preliminary 2020 Lake Observations… Clemons Pond Association Loon Lake Association Summer Haven Lakes Association Cold Stream Camp Owners' Association, Inc. Lovejoy Pond Improvement Association Swan Lake Association By mid-August, a number of LSM water Community Lakes Association Meddybemps Lake Association Taylor Pond Association quality monitors had commented about Dexter Lake Association Mirror Lake Association Thompson Lake Environmental Association experiencing unusually clear and deep East Pond Association Mousam Lake Region Association Toddy Pond Association Secchi readings in their lakes. Certified Echo Lake Association Muscongus Pond Association Toothaker Pond Association Lake Monitor, Woody Trask, who has Five Kezars Watershed Improvement Assoc. Nickerson Lake Wilderness Preservation, Inc. Torsey Pond Association monitored Taylor Pond in Auburn since Friends of Cross Lake No Name Pond Watershed Management Assoc. Tripp Lake Improvement Association 2010, reported that Secchi readings taken Friends of Lake Winnecook North Pond Association Webb Lake Association in both May (7.0 meters) and September Friends of Quimby Pond Panther Pond Association West Harbor Pond Watershed Association (6.55 meters) broke the all-time high reading in four decades! Friends of Wilson Lake Parker Pond Association, Inc. Wilson Lake Association FIGURE 3. The two pie charts illustrate the percentage of Maine lakes that were clearer than, less clear, or Georges Pond Association Pattee's Pond Association unchanged from their historical averages for the years indicated . Note the bar charts in between that show Extreme Weather annual precipitation (January-July) for the same years. . . . continued on page 21 20 17 Thank You! In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ Thank You! In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ Individuals Individuals

~Anonymous Donors Katie Carville Charlie Evans Len & Leslie Hirsh Robert & Gloria Limoges Whitney Wing Oppersdorff Gerry & Christine Saunders Stephanie Thornton Arnold J. Aho Deborah Cayer Josephine Ewing David & Janette Hodsdon David Lind Daniel J. Orino Nancy Winetrout Schenck Catherine & Robert Thorpe Bob Anderson Robert & Susan Chapin Eileen Fair Roberta Hodson & Herbert Korn David Littell Thomas & Jody O'Rourke Jeanne Schilling Jim & Janet Timmins Diane Anderson Elizabeth & Paul Chesley Bruce & Susan Fenn Holly Hoglund Robert & Martha Lively Dustin Owens Rich & Lonny Schneider Joyce Toman & Scott Lessard Sarah & Donald Andrus Barbara Chisholm Chris Ferguson Colin & Brie Holme Scott A. Lowell Dave & Betty Parsons Claudia & John Scholz Matt & Terri Towle Jim & Margie Arsham Amanda Christian George Fergusson Ellie Hopkins Maggie & John Lowry Pamela Parvin Christine Scott-Deutsch Robert & June Tracy Aspinwall Family Fund David & Sherry Clement Jean S. 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Tunney Edward & Priscilla Simmons Marygrace & Peter Barber Thomas & Sara Costello Eugenie Francine Jennifer Jespersen David & Dorthy McAllister Douglas H.G. Pierson Kim & Wayne Vaccaro Cliff Singer Elwood M. Beach Kathleen & William Cotter Ellen Frankel & Herbert Levine Kay & Ralph Johnson Mark McAuliffe William E. Powell Kay & Ned Van Woert Lee Sligh & Tom Prescott Caroline Beard & Peter Duffey Carmen L. 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Lee Melanie & Steve Ness The Rosenkrans Family Mary & Len Winsky Millie Donahue Iva & Ted Sussman Bill & Linda Cain Jo Harmon & Greg Guerrette Gary Lee Thomas & Marcia Nigro Margaret Teele Rothberg Bob & Ursula Withrow Deidre & Michael Donovan Jane & Dave Swan Charlotte & John Calhoun William & Virginia Hart Peter Leitner Robin Nureck-Bramswig & & Marcie Teele Stanley Wood Craig Doremus & Diana Dowd William Bramswig Ozro & Donna Swett Carol Carey Elin Haugen James LePage Carol & Stan Rothenberg Jeanne & Brian Wright Walter & Cheryl Edgecomb James O'Brien & Patricia Dugan Michael & Donna Taflas Dorothy & Bruce Carlsten Billy Helprin Debbie Leppla Craig & JuleAnn Rule Linda & Heinrich Wurm Martha Ehrenfeld & Carla McKay Charitable Trust Donna & Yasuyuki Tamaki Kimberlee & Robert Caron Charlotte P. Henderson Peter & Kathleen Leslie Elizabeth Ryder Stephan Zeeman Charles Elvin Steve & Karen O'Bryan Barbara & Patrick Tedesco Liz Carter Richard Henry Ilene Leveston Robert & Marti Sampson Ron & Eileen Epstein Jeffrey Heyer Stephen Lewis Diane O'Donnell Sara & Eric Sandberg Hall & Debbie Thompson Family Fund

Charitable Foundations In Memory Of The AmazonSmile Foundation Fidelity Charitable Donor-Advised Fund Orchard Foundation All lost in virus of 2020 ~ John Wasileski Bill & Rae Phillips ~ Denny & Sandy Phillips Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Horne Family Foundation Ram Island Conservation Fund of the Keith Ball ~ Margaret Teele Rothberg & Marcie Teele Dave Sheloske ~ Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association The Benevity Community Impact Fund Roy A. Hunt Foundation Maine Community Foundation John Bardugone ~ Douglas Mixer David Emmett Welsh ~ The Ann & Carden Welsh Charitable Fund The Betterment Fund IBM International Foundation Elmina B. Sewall Foundation Louis & Claire Boeri ~ Charles & Linda Whitten Lewis Wetzel Jane B. Cook 1992 Charitable Trust Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Nancy J. Carpenter ~ Kimberlee & Robert Caron ~ Frederick & Elaine Cummings Davis Conservation Foundation Onion Foundation Vanguard Charitable Kenneth & Joan Faulkner ~ Heidi & Gary Howden ~ Susan & Steven Leunig Diane & Leigh Fucetola ~ Rocco Fucetola ~ Richardson Family Peggy Hallee ~ Karen Holmes ~ Margaret D. Ricker Planned Gift In Honor Of George B. Ice ~ Valyrie Ice ~ Elizabeth Shively Estate of Michael R. Cannon Bickford Pond Lake Association ~ Pamela & David Constantine Richard Lavoie ~ Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association ~ John & Cheryl Welch Donald Cullinane ~ Claire E. Cullinane John R. McGee ~ Beatrice Labbe Bill White ~ Lorraine White George Faltings ~ Warren & Barbara Kinsman James K. Nelson ~ Muriel Maxwell Nelson Karen A. White ~ Norman E. White, Jr. List is current as of 11-30-20. G.E. Mary “Pixie” Williams ~ Susan Montgomery & Michael Williams List is current as of 11-30-20. 18 19 Thank You! In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ Thank You! In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ Individuals Individuals

~Anonymous Donors Katie Carville Charlie Evans Len & Leslie Hirsh Robert & Gloria Limoges Whitney Wing Oppersdorff Gerry & Christine Saunders Stephanie Thornton Arnold J. Aho Deborah Cayer Josephine Ewing David & Janette Hodsdon David Lind Daniel J. Orino Nancy Winetrout Schenck Catherine & Robert Thorpe Bob Anderson Robert & Susan Chapin Eileen Fair Roberta Hodson & Herbert Korn David Littell Thomas & Jody O'Rourke Jeanne Schilling Jim & Janet Timmins Diane Anderson Elizabeth & Paul Chesley Bruce & Susan Fenn Holly Hoglund Robert & Martha Lively Dustin Owens Rich & Lonny Schneider Joyce Toman & Scott Lessard Sarah & Donald Andrus Barbara Chisholm Chris Ferguson Colin & Brie Holme Scott A. Lowell Dave & Betty Parsons Claudia & John Scholz Matt & Terri Towle Jim & Margie Arsham Amanda Christian George Fergusson Ellie Hopkins Maggie & John Lowry Pamela Parvin Christine Scott-Deutsch Robert & June Tracy Aspinwall Family Fund David & Sherry Clement Jean S. Ferrari Heidi & Gary Howden Heidi Lukas Barry & Donna Patrie Cheryl Shattenberg-Plassmann & George & Jackie Tranchemontagne Laura & Ed Atlee Louis & Dorli Cloutier Jeanne & Rick Fifield Ron Hunt David Manke Wallace & Barbara Penrod Carl Plassmann Woody & Susan Trask Keith & Ellen Shaughnessy William & Mary Atwater Jennifer & Jerry Cohen Peter Fischer & Carol Jackson Valyrie Ice Amy March Sherry Pettyjohn Steve Triggs Tim & Danny Sholtis Steven Austerer Robert & Jeri Cohn Katherine & Charles Flood William Inglee Norman & Barbara Marcotte Julianna Pfeiffer Mark & Kathy Tripp Paul Shook Carole B. Ayer Marie Connolly Don & Molly Foster Nancy Innes Steve & Jeri Markarian Elaine Philbrook Kenneth D. Truscott, Jr. Lynn & Alan Sidman Charles Backenstose Alison Cooney Stephen & Patricia Fournier Neil & Peggy Jensen Mary Maxwell & Roy Lambert Robert & Cynthia Phillips Audrey F. Tunney Edward & Priscilla Simmons Marygrace & Peter Barber Thomas & Sara Costello Eugenie Francine Jennifer Jespersen David & Dorthy McAllister Douglas H.G. Pierson Kim & Wayne Vaccaro Cliff Singer Elwood M. Beach Kathleen & William Cotter Ellen Frankel & Herbert Levine Kay & Ralph Johnson Mark McAuliffe William E. Powell Kay & Ned Van Woert Lee Sligh & Tom Prescott Caroline Beard & Peter Duffey Carmen L. Coulombe Kevin & Susan Frewert Rick & Louise Johnson Patricia McGillivary Andree & Jeffrey Pride Peter Vaux Alison Smith Ewald & Susan Bender Dave Courtemanch Fulshaw Family Fund Bambi Jones Diana McLaughlin James & Joan Proctor James Verity Dennis & Ellen Smith Bernhards Family Richard & Catherine Cranston John & Carol Gabranski Susan Kaagan Karen & Daniel McLean Louise Proulx Dennis Volpe & Leslie Muir-Volpe Jeanne & Michael Smith Michael & Joanne Bernstein Bruce Craven Doug & Andrea Gathany Peter & Linda Kallin Alice McMachen Laura & Richard Qualey Sidney Wade Jim Smith Raymond Bersch & Carol Friend Albert P. Croston Virginia Geyer Cindy & Kip Kennett Paulette & Harry McNally Lea & José Ramirez Bob & Jackie Warren Nancy Smith Patricia & John Bickford John E. Crouch & George P. & Lorraine Gilbert Charlotte Kerrigan Paul & Nancy McNulty Giving Fund Jarashow Randall Charitable Fund Virginia & Paul Warren Poppy Connor-Crouch Susan Sokol & Ted Webersinn Janet & Robert Bissell Paul & Carol Gillis Family Fund John & Joanne Kimball Ronald D. & Edith L. McPherson Jeanne E. Raymond Beatty Watts Claire E. Cullinane Christie & Phil Souza Kerry & Doug Black Jim & Diane Gloriant Brigitte & Harold Kingsbury Bret & Sandy Meck Frank Read Barb Welch Karen & Paul Cummings David & Diana Spahn William Blaine John & Janene Gorham Ed & Carol Knapp The Adam & Nathan Mendelson Fund Wayne & Sharyn Reetz John & Cheryl Welch Geoff Cummings & Debbie Mann Darin Spencer Debi Blank Edward & Alexandra Graham Dirk Kokmeyer Charlie Mills William F. Reid, Jr. Karen H. & Gary S. Westerman John Cummings Elaine Spiller Ray Boies Lisa Grant & Jim Ashmore Robert Kramer Paul Mitnik Irene Reilly Lewis & Miriam Wetzel Devin Currens Cheryl & Kirk St. Peter Unn Boucher Thomas Greene Barry M. Kutzen, M.D. Bill Monagle Ron Reinhart Carl & Sookie Weymouth Cyndy Dalton Lea Stabinski Dorothy A. Bowyer Katie & John Greenman Jennifer Lacombe Audrey Moody Linda Rice Kim & Ray White Jane & Libby Davis Lillian Stan Susan F. Breau Joan Gregoire Norton Lamb Earl M. & Joanne C. Morse Brien Richards Lorraine White Ronald Davis Rebecca Stanley & Charles Jacobs Bert & Gloria Breton Dan & Lori Guerette Dennis & Judith Landry Richard Morse Riley Family Fund Willis & Eleanor White Virginia Davis & James Pitney, Jr. Jeff Stern Frank Brooks & Marvin Ellison Bart & Mary Ann Hague John E. Laskey Susan Motley Roger Rittmaster & Jeannie Hutchins G.E. Mary Williams Malcolm & Ellen Dawson Christine Stevens Dianne & James Buck John & Diane Hale William P. & Christina M. Latham Wynn & Sandra Muller Dennis Roberge Robert C. & Ann K. Williams Maggie Denison Ed & Bobbie Stevenson David & Eileen Burnell Bob & Janet Hall Steve & Jo Laurich Michael Munzer Lloyd Roberts Warren & Holly Williams Barry DeNofrio Carl & Sally Stillwell Malcolm Burson & Eleanor Goldberg Thomas R. & Judy A. Hamilton Sydney Lea Janet & Paul Murphy Ed Roche Richard & Patricia Windecker George Derby William & Sara Stockwell Mary H. Bussell Bruce Hanke Lucy Leaf Sue Neal John & Adrienne Rollo Robert Winship Lisa Deschenes Rick Sullivan Charles & Halina Byrne William Hardin Betty P. Lee Melanie & Steve Ness The Rosenkrans Family Mary & Len Winsky Millie Donahue Iva & Ted Sussman Bill & Linda Cain Jo Harmon & Greg Guerrette Gary Lee Thomas & Marcia Nigro Margaret Teele Rothberg Bob & Ursula Withrow Deidre & Michael Donovan Jane & Dave Swan Charlotte & John Calhoun William & Virginia Hart Peter Leitner Robin Nureck-Bramswig & & Marcie Teele Stanley Wood Craig Doremus & Diana Dowd William Bramswig Ozro & Donna Swett Carol Carey Elin Haugen James LePage Carol & Stan Rothenberg Jeanne & Brian Wright Walter & Cheryl Edgecomb James O'Brien & Patricia Dugan Michael & Donna Taflas Dorothy & Bruce Carlsten Billy Helprin Debbie Leppla Craig & JuleAnn Rule Linda & Heinrich Wurm Martha Ehrenfeld & Carla McKay Charitable Trust Donna & Yasuyuki Tamaki Kimberlee & Robert Caron Charlotte P. Henderson Peter & Kathleen Leslie Elizabeth Ryder Stephan Zeeman Charles Elvin Steve & Karen O'Bryan Barbara & Patrick Tedesco Liz Carter Richard Henry Ilene Leveston Robert & Marti Sampson Ron & Eileen Epstein Jeffrey Heyer Stephen Lewis Diane O'Donnell Sara & Eric Sandberg Hall & Debbie Thompson Family Fund

Charitable Foundations In Memory Of The AmazonSmile Foundation Fidelity Charitable Donor-Advised Fund Orchard Foundation All lost in virus of 2020 ~ John Wasileski Bill & Rae Phillips ~ Denny & Sandy Phillips Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Horne Family Foundation Ram Island Conservation Fund of the Keith Ball ~ Margaret Teele Rothberg & Marcie Teele Dave Sheloske ~ Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association The Benevity Community Impact Fund Roy A. Hunt Foundation Maine Community Foundation John Bardugone ~ Douglas Mixer David Emmett Welsh ~ The Ann & Carden Welsh Charitable Fund The Betterment Fund IBM International Foundation Elmina B. Sewall Foundation Louis & Claire Boeri ~ Charles & Linda Whitten Lewis Wetzel Jane B. Cook 1992 Charitable Trust Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Nancy J. Carpenter ~ Kimberlee & Robert Caron ~ Frederick & Elaine Cummings Davis Conservation Foundation Onion Foundation Vanguard Charitable Kenneth & Joan Faulkner ~ Heidi & Gary Howden ~ Susan & Steven Leunig Diane & Leigh Fucetola ~ Rocco Fucetola ~ Richardson Family Peggy Hallee ~ Karen Holmes ~ Margaret D. Ricker Planned Gift In Honor Of George B. Ice ~ Valyrie Ice ~ Elizabeth Shively Estate of Michael R. Cannon Bickford Pond Lake Association ~ Pamela & David Constantine Richard Lavoie ~ Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association ~ John & Cheryl Welch Donald Cullinane ~ Claire E. Cullinane John R. McGee ~ Beatrice Labbe Bill White ~ Lorraine White George Faltings ~ Warren & Barbara Kinsman James K. Nelson ~ Muriel Maxwell Nelson Karen A. White ~ Norman E. White, Jr. List is current as of 11-30-20. G.E. Mary “Pixie” Williams ~ Susan Montgomery & Michael Williams List is current as of 11-30-20. 18 19 List is current as of 11-30-20. throughout the State, and continues as of this writing (November, 2020). According Thank You! to the National Weather Service, the period from mid-May through June was “the In Appreciation of our Recent Generous Donors ~ driest stretch of weather ever recorded” at the Portland monitoring station! August was the 4th consecutive month of below- Business & Community Supporters Major Funding average precipitation, and by the end of Bath Savings Institution Lake Spirits Photography Major funding for LSM is made possible September, all of the state of Maine was through grants from the Maine Department Casco, Town of Mr. Lakefront experiencing historic drought conditions of Environmental Protection, and the US that ranged from moderate to extreme, as Clark Insurance Ness Oil Company Environmental Protection Agency. Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust OceanView at Falmouth the map in Figure 2 (at right) illustrates. Cumberland Crossing Patagonia In Kind In late October, the Commissioner of the Ellis Pond Sidekicks Portland Water District Maine Department of Agriculture declared Highland Green Rooster Brother, Inc. And for those of you who have donated your a “State of Emergency” for Piscataquis, Hildreth & White YSI, Incorporated time, expertise, and dedication to the work of Sagadahoc and Somerset Counties, due to the LSM in the past year– many thanks! KM Robbins Construction, LLC the extreme, prolonged drought. By late summer, LSM staff had been Lake & Regional Watershed Associations contacted by dozens of lake stewards, THANK YOU to all the Lake and Regional Watershed Associations who Data gathered by LSM citizen lake scientists helps to identify who reported extremely low water levels FIGURE 2: Maine Drought Severity Map supported LSM’s annual association appeal. We anticipate reaching trends, threats and lake phenomena throughout Maine. We share on the lakes that they monitor. Unusually our appeal goal of $20,000 by year’s end! Contributions from this information with lake communities and the general public warm water temperatures, resulting in Lake and Regional Watershed Associations help to cover expenses to help educate and inform people, and ultimately, to increase Ironically (but somewhat predictably) The combined effect of extreme drought increased evaporation, a severely depressed associated with training and ongoing support to volunteers in their efforts to protect our lakes. LSM’s staff and more than 1,000 lake periods of drought dramatically reduce and heat last summer could have caused lake communities, printing and mailing of data forms, ensuring the stewards throughout Maine deeply appreciate the strong support water table, and tributaries from lake stormwater runoff from developed areas Maine’s lakes to have been more productive accuracy and quality of lake data through re-certification of current from Maine’s lake communities. watersheds with very little to no flow due in lake watersheds, and because runoff is (greater algae growth, and less clear) due to volunteers, and detailed quality assurance review of more than to the extended drought, were the primary the transportation vector for the nutrient warmer water temperatures. But many 2000 volunteer data forms and surveys. factors driving this phenomenon. phosphorus, sediment particles from soil might have been overall clearer, because of Overall, prolonged periods of drought do erosion, and other pollutants to lakes from lower nutrient inputs due to the drought. Abrams Pond Association Great East Lake Improvement Association Pattee's Pond Association not benefit the health of our lakes. Low their watersheds, historical Secchi data from As always, the ways in which individual Alamoosook Lake Association Greater Pushaw Lake Association Piper Pond Association water levels de-water attached wetlands hundreds of LSM certified lake monitors lakes respond to external and internal Alford Lake/Lermond Pond Association Green & Mirror Ponds Association Pitcher Pond Improvement Association and littoral areas which exposes and kills has shown us that many Maine lakes tend influences depends very much on the many Allen Pond Improvement Association Green Lake Association Pleasant Lake & Parker Pond Association beneficial rooted lake plants and impairs to be clearer than their historical average ways that Maine lakes differ from each Androscoggin Lake Improvement Corp. Gull Pond Association Pleasant Pond Protective Association or eliminates invertebrate and fishery during drought years (see Figure 3 below). other. The natural physical characteristics Annabessacook Lake Improvement Assoc. Highland Lake Association Pleasant River Lake Association habitat. Some species of invasive aquatic As you might expect, the few Maine of a lake, including variability in depth, Basin, David, Tilton Ponds Association Hosmer Pond Association Portage Lake Association plants, such as Variable Milfoil are actually lakes that already have high phosphorus the area of the surface, relative to the Bauneg Beg Lake Association, Inc. Island Falls Lakes Association Porter Lake Association well adapted to drying conditions, which concentrations often experience greatly lake volume, flushing rate, the shape Bear Pond Improvement Association Kennebunk Pond Association Raymond Waterways Protective Association may give them a competitive edge over reduced transparencies because there is no of the lake basin, prevailing winds, the Berry Dexter Wilson Ponds Watershed Assoc. Keoka Lake Association Sabbathday Lake Association native plants. rainfall to flush out nutrients. geochemistry of the watershed soils and Branch Lake Association Kezar Lake Watershed Association Sand-Locke Pond Association lake sediments, fisheries and biota, and Cathance Lake Association Lake Wesserunsett Association Saturday Pond Watershed Association of course watershed development, are just Citizens Association of Liberty Lakes Lakeville Camp Owners Association Sebasticook Lake Association some of the factors that determine how Clary Lake Association Little Sebago Lake Association Sebec Lake Association individual lakes respond. Clearwater Lake Improvement Association Little Wilson Pond Improvement Assoc. Sheepscot Lake Association Preliminary 2020 Lake Observations… Clemons Pond Association Long Pond Association Square Pond Improvement Association Cold Stream Camp Owners' Association, Inc. Loon Lake Association Summer Haven Lakes Association By mid-August, a number of LSM water Community Lakes Association Lovejoy Pond Improvement Association Swan Lake Association quality monitors had commented about Dexter Lake Association Meddybemps Lake Association Taylor Pond Association experiencing unusually clear and deep East Pond Association Mirror Lake Association Thompson Lake Environmental Association Secchi readings in their lakes. Certified Echo Lake Association Mousam Lake Region Association Toddy Pond Association Lake Monitor, Woody Trask, who has Five Kezars Watershed Improvement Assoc. Muscongus Pond Association Toothaker Pond Association monitored Taylor Pond in Auburn since Friends of Cross Lake Nickerson Lake Wilderness Preservation, Inc. Torsey Pond Association 2010, reported that Secchi readings taken Friends of Lake Winnecook No Name Pond Watershed Management Assoc. Tripp Lake Improvement Association in both May (7.0 meters) and September Friends of Quimby Pond North Pond Association Webb Lake Association (6.55 meters) broke the all-time high reading in four decades! Friends of Wilson Lake Panther Pond Association West Harbor Pond Watershed Association FIGURE 3. The two pie charts illustrate the percentage of Maine lakes that were clearer than, less clear, or Georges Pond Association Parker Pond Association, Inc. Wilson Lake Association unchanged from their historical averages for the years indicated. Note the bar charts in between that show Extreme Weather annual precipitation (January-July) for the same years. . . . continued on page 21 20 17 by Scott Williams; LSM Extreme Weather ... continued from page 17 • Sabattus Pond in Sabattus, a lake that Executive Director; Limnologist Influences of Extreme Weather on Maine Lakes in 2020 On July 22, staff from the Auburn has experienced algae blooms of varying limatologists are largely in agreement volunteers on Saturday Pond in Otisfield, Cyanobacteria are well adapted to Water District documented a 12.1 meter intensity and duration for the past few Cthat one effect of a rapidly warming who reported that many small Yellow Perch rapid growth as water temperatures Secchi disk reading in Lake Auburn, an decades, experienced a severe bloom of planet will continue to be an increase in had died and were washing up along the increase. It has been said that exceptionally high reading for any lake! somewhat less severity in 2020. the frequency and intensity of “extreme shoreline. Fish “die-offs” were also reported “Cyanobacteria like it hot”, compared Wynn and Sandra Muller on Wilson Pond • Chickawaukie Lake in Rockport, weather events”. High-profile storms in four northern Maine lakes last summer to true algae, which grow better at in Wilton also commented on unusually which underwent an “Alum” like hurricanes, which include strong (Cross, Square, Long and Madawaska), lower temperatures. This increases the clear conditions in their lake last summer. treatment more than 25 years ago winds, torrential downpours, flooding according to biologists and pathologists potential for “Harmful Algal Blooms” Drought conditions very likely contributed to control algal blooms, experienced and tornadoes, get a lot of coverage by the from the Maine Department of Inland (HAB’s) and associated “cyanotoxin” to this phenomenon. Stewards from other Secchi readings of less than 1.0 meter media. Video coverage of recent historic Fisheries & Wildlife, who indicated that production to occur. lakes have made similar comments. during the summer for the first time wildland fires on the west coast and in the mortality was likely indirectly due to in nearly three decades. • Alterations to lake food webs can However, some lakes throughout the the mid-west have also been featured in the unusually warm water temperatures result in “trophic cascades” that could state did not fare as well, including the • LSM lake monitors, Bill and Kathleen the news. Fortunately, Maine has been which promoted parasite infestations. favor increased algae growth. following, which experienced unusual Cotter, documented a severe late spared from extreme weather events in Algae bloom in Sabattus Pond, Sabattus. Photo planktonic algal blooms last summer, summer bloom in Abrams Pond in 2020. Or has it? credit: Linda Bacon . some of which were characterized as severe Eastbrook. The bloom persisted into In fact, Maine experienced at least two (Secchi transparency readings of less than the month of October. It should be noted that variability in lower-profile, but relatively speaking 2.0 meters depth): lake Secchi data is not just about extreme “extreme” forms of weather last summer. changes! Many additional Maine lakes are • Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, National Weather Service (NWS) summary likely to have trended significantly above Newcastle and Nobleboro, which has data for Portland, Maine indicate this or below their historical averages in 2020, historically experienced overall stable past summer was the “warmest summer without necessarily reaching the point of water quality, but is vulnerable due in on record”, based on data extending from an official algae bloom, or “exceptionally part to low levels of dissolved oxygen the late 1800’s to present. The average clear” conditions. For example, a lake with during the summer, experienced temperature for the area last summer historical Secchi averages of 7.5 meters, unusual “stringy aggregations” was 70.5 degrees F, which is 3.6 degrees which experienced readings in the 4-5 of cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria or above normal for the period. The warmest FIGURE 1: As lakes warm over time, a shift toward greater cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae) is likely to occur. meter range, or in the 8-9 meter range last Planktothrix, and Dolichospermum month of July on record resulted, in part summer, would have had an unusual year - (formerly Anabaena) growth in the because evening temperatures remained Some likely effects of unusually warm one that would have a bearing on the long- • A shortening of the duration of winter lower “South Arm” of the lake in well above normal for most of the month weather on Maine’s lakes include: term average for that lake and perhaps a ice cover (forming later in the fall July. By August, a severe bloom (note that 2019 had the second-warmest foreshadowing of future conditions. • An increase in surface water loss due and melting earlier in the spring) will had occurred in the area near the July on record). June and August were the rd to evaporation. result in profound changes to lake lake outlet. Neurotoxins associated We will not likely have the complete 3 warmest on record for each month, and th ecosystems, including those listed with the cyanobacteria Planktothrix picture of how the extreme weather of this past September was the 7 warmest • An alteration or acceleration of Algae bloom in Long Pond, Parsonsfield. Photo above and more. and Dolichospermum bloom were 2020 influenced Maine’s lakes for several since 1871. Also note that 2018 and biological processes in lakes, the most credit: Linda Bacon . documented. Fortunately, toxin levels months to come. Fortunately, data 2016 previously held the record for the significant of which is likely be an • Gloeotrichia, a cyanobacteria that remained well below the threat to • Long Pond in Parsonsfield, a clear continue to arrive daily from hundreds warmest Maine summers. Despite the large increase in planktonic algae growth, has occurred historically at very low public health. lake with a history of Secchi readings of LSM certified water quality monitors. geographic area covered by Maine, weather resulting in reduced water clarity. densities in some of Maine’s clearest averaging more than 6 meters, That extensive information for several data obtained from Portland last summer • An increase in the number of lakes lakes, was reported to be “more experienced a severe bloom for the hundred lakes throughout Maine, will is reasonably representative of conditions that experience summer thermal prevalent” by citizen scientists on fourth consecutive year. further our understanding of the ways in that occurred throughout much of the stratification, and, an overall some lakes last summer (limited which a changing climate will influence state, with some variation in temperature lengthening of the period during data available at the time this article • Pattee Pond in Winslow and Crowell our lakes. from north to south, and along the coast. which lakes are stratified (from earlier was written). Ongoing research Pond in Chesterville and New Sharon suggests that multiple factors may also bloomed this year. Both lakes Unusually Warm Lake Water! in the spring to later in the fall). This often results in greater dissolved be responsible for its increasing are productive systems, but do not Historically, even in mid-summer, Maine oxygen loss in those lakes, reducing abundance and changing phenology. typically reach bloom conditions. lake water temps have been characterized coldwater fishery habitat. In some The fact that “Gloeo” has recently been Unusually high temperatures likely as cool and refreshing. But anyone who lakes, an increase in phosphorus release documented at very high densities in played a role in both cases. spent much time on (and in) Maine lakes “reference lakes”, situated in remote Blob from algae bloom in North Pond, from lake sediments can also occur, Smithfield. Photo credit: Linda Bacon. • Long-time LSM lake monitor, Peter last summer knows that the water was which can dramatically stimulate the areas away from any human influence, Devine reported a severe bloom in unusually warm. By late July, lake surface growth of planktonic algae. suggests that some aspect of climate • North Pond in Smithfield experienced Garland Pond on July 18th. temperatures for many lakes in the lower half warming could be a factor. the worst algal bloom on record for • Shifts in phytoplankton (algae) • Webber Pond in Vassalboro, a lake of the state were in the low to mid-eighties Another Severe Drought! the lake, developing large clumps assemblage dominance, which most with a history of annual algal blooms (F)! Temperatures in the mid-seventies of gelatinous blobs, which formed notably favor the metabolism and In addition to Maine lakes being unusually mixed with average Secchi readings were more typical in Maine lakes only a from the decay of the bluegreen decade ago. In late July, Lake Stewards growth of cyanobacteria, a.k.a. warm last summer, another significant experienced bloom conditions last Algae bloom in Pattee Pond, Winslow. Photo algae Dolichospermum. credit: Linda Bacon . of Maine (LSM) staff were contacted by bluegreen algae (see Figure 1 above). form of extreme weather occurred summer worse than in recent years. 16 21 Changes to Communication & Technology in by Tristan Taber uring the late 1800s, amateur the Past Few Years and the Spurs of CoViD-19 Dnaturalists would pack up their precious microscopes and travel Under Technology at Large rolling out a version of Survey123 that hundreds of miles at great expense to ommunication technologies and could be used for tracking metaphyton waters of the northern US and Canada the Didymo Cmeans of monitoring have been in spring of 2021 We understand in pursuit of the rare glassy diatoms changed drastically by the development there are cyclical concerns raised about known as Didmosphenia geminata. Hand of personal electronic devices and the metaphyton, however until we have a According to Sharon Moen, University home computer. According to Graham better understanding of seasonal, yearly, of Minnesota Sea Grant Program, in her 2009 article How Didymo Became Rock Lens: Kendal, PhD., cellular (smart) phones and spatial variability of metaphyton, Didymosphenia Snot, the tiny silica-shelled organisms geminata have, on average, 4 gigabytes of random it is difficult to elucidate more about were, at that time “as rare as diamonds. access memory (34,359,738,368 bits). it. This new package for the tracking of it will provide us with much of that Diatom collectors who owned a didymo The Apollo 11 guidance computer slide owned a trophy.” Didymo is a single-cell freshwater had 32,768; that is over six orders of critical information. diatom that produces a fibrous stalk magnitude less than the phone many How CoViD-19 Has Changed LSM on A little over a hundred years later, on which it attaches itself to rocks Area of study in the northeastern United States . Didymo—now widely reviled as "rock people have in their pocket. With this Sediment cores were collected from the lakes the Technology Front and vegetation, typically in clear, cool snot”—becomes so abundant at times illustration, it should be easy to see outlined and labeled . Watershed area of each lake streams and rivers, especially those with is highlighted in green . CoViD-19 changed a lot about our in these same waters (and others) that that technology is leaps and bounds moderate, year-round flows and good world. In the past year, we had to it restricts water flows; smothers stream more powerful, portable, and dynamic TM light. (Though more rare, this species like Global Mapper Mobile allow change a great deal of the way our beds killing off native benthic dwellers than it was decades ago. It was just may also occur along the rocky shores for the recording of and modification program functioned. Fortunately, we such as mussels and macroinvertebrates of lakes and ponds.) Didymo may exist a matter of time before these small to these geospatial databases and can have had a very supportive group of (interrupting critical food webs); Didymo mats look and feel like wet for a time as small, relatively benign, portable computers would be employed incorporate base maps to allow for volunteers, donors, and we were lucky depletes dissolved oxygen levels (as the for scientific collection of data. cotton or thick wet felt. Photo courtesy bubbly colonies on submerged rocks, visual interfaces that reflect satellite to be positioned in such a way that we algal mats decompose); and destroys of Missouri Conservation Department. boulders and gravel, and then suddenly At the same time, because of this new imagery, aerial photographs, or other could make use of the communication habitat for cold water fish species such to the snot-evoking Mr. Hyde is not "bloom" into a thick yellowy-brown as brook trout. The mechanism by computing power, science reached a forms of remote sensing. technologies available. One such well understood, but paleolimnological layer, capable of covering wide expanses. TM which this organism made the transition point where scientists who (obviously) technology is Zoom . Zoom has been research conducted in 20141 suggests Unlike other algal species that attach to LSM, in conjunction with the Maine DEP, from the algal equivalent of Dr. Jekell cannot be everywhere at once, suddenly ventured into this territory in 2020 with giving many people, our stakeholders that climate change may be playing a rocks, didymo mats are neither green had the power to analyze far more the mobile application, Survey123TM, included, a crash course in distance significant role. “The climate link is a nor slimy. They look and feel more data than could be gathered in a for use in aquatic plant surveys. If you learning and video communication hypothesis, and much more research is like wet cotton or thick wet felt, and single lifetime. The compilation of were part of a watershed survey in the past platforms. According to Zoom Video needed to determine a cause, but the in a more advanced “rogue” stages, the didymo-stalk streamers—which may citizen science data and generation of few years, you may have used Survey123 Communications, Inc., documents: effects of warming seem to favor the alarmingly grow up to a meter long— big datasets allowed for scientists to when working with the DEP. This tabular • In June 2014 there were approximately species,” writes Michelle Lavery, lead resemble streaming clumps of soggy discover trends that had been previously form and documentation software uses 10 million participants each day; author of the study. toilet paper, with fragments breaking obscured. Downloadable cell phone the GPS system in a phone or tablet to The alarming transition was first programs (applications) like eBird, • In December 2019 there were away and floating downstream. register geospatial coordinates, and by approximately 10 million participants documented in 2006, as didymo began iNaturalist, and EPA’s BloomWatch (a to take on the characteristics of an following a series of prompting questions each day; cyanobacterial bloom documentation notate the occurrence of specific aquatic invasive species in its original range, and reporting software) leverage a species in a lake (or stream). This, • In March 2020 there were over 200 and also began expanding its range range of average citizens however, still requires training in million participants each day; and, to warmer, more nutrient rich waters. to experts in their field the ability to identify at least certain • In April 2020 there were over 300 In the past several years, didymo has to observe, document, aquatic specimens. LSM is seeking two million participants each day. expanded its range in the Western chronicle, discuss, and United States and has infested rivers and major levels of use with this application: Zoom is not alone, however. Google curate the wonders of the those persons who are able to identify streams in several southeastern states, world around them. has updated their Hangouts platform including Virginia, West Virginia, the eleven aquatic invasive plants that TM The microscopic, virtually invisible, algal with the launch of Google Meet. Tennessee and North Carolina. In 2007, Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), threaten Maine lakes; and those persons cells cling to fishing gear, waders, boots YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, didymo was found in the northern and boats, and may remain viable for digital cameras, and photostations, who have a more robust knowledge of the TM has expanded their YouTube Live Scanning electron micrograph of Didymo reaches of the Connecticut River in several weeks. Photo courtesy of Ziga, people are able to capture everything native, as well as the invasive, aquatic program. GoToMeetingTM and geminata. The cell secretes a mucousy Vermont, marking the first official Wikimedia Commons. from phenology (changes to seasonal species for native plant habitat, location, MicrosoftTM TeamsTM are both popular substance through the raphe in order report of Didymosphenia geminata in cycles) to the three-dimensional and identification mapping. Both are offerings as well. There are a number to move across surfaces, and then the Northeastern United States. Blooms There are currently no known methods environment which they develop using important components of monitoring of others, including the DiscordTM, attaches itself by secreting a fibrous have since been detected in New York for controlling or eradicating didymo once it infests a water body. Preventing technologies like photogrammetry the health of Maine lakes. which launched a video component polysaccharide stalk though the porefield and New Hampshire. To date, there at the base of the cell. Image by Sarah and lidar point clouds—think radar In addition to Survey123 for the Aquatic to their VOIP (voice over internet have been no sightings in Maine. Hand Lens . . . continued on page 31 with lasers. Mobile phone applications Spaulding, US Geological Survey. Plant Mapping, we are planning on Communication . . . continued on page 31 22 15 Keeping the Team Effort Going Catherine Fox, who convinced me to experts, I decided I would best do my In lieu of our Annual Lake Monitoring Conference, Lake on Big Lake choose performance efficiency versus surveying upstream and downstream, Stewards of Maine hosted a series of weekly informational the roominess of a large cockpit in as the water flows, for it might be webinars from June through August, on a wide range of Contributed by Lucy Leaf; LSM Invasive topics pertaining to Maine Lakes. They ran approximately Plant Patroller on Toddy Pond in Surry selecting the right kayak. Not only awhile before much attention could be could I paddle twice as far in my new given to these areas. one hour in length, and included an opportunity for Q&A COVID-19 has catapulted us into for those who attended. All sessions were recorded, and are boat with much greater ease, I enjoyed On my second trip to the region, a reality that most of us never being in it. available for viewing on the Lake Stewards of Maine website anticipated. It’s bad enough that a I did find variable milfoil in two (LakeStewardsOfMaine.org). The complete season of topics and large milfoil infestation was discovered From my participation in several Zoom smaller downstream lakes, (Long Lake speakers is shown below. in a remote region of Maine. Adding sessions organized by LSM, I decided and Lewey Lake). They were very to the challenge was that one of the there was a question that needed an small colonies in highly productive answer. How far had the invasive areas, embedded with look-alike The Crown Jewel Lakes of An Overview of Citizen Lake best volunteer response teams in the Central Maine, and the Threats Watershed Surveys nation was not able to bring full milfoil at Big Lake spread? Big Lake natives. It seemed like pure luck that that They Face forces to bear on Big Lake this year is part of an enormous watershed with I spotted them through the trunk Presented by Amanda Pratt, due to the pandemic. a large littoral zone. Anything I could scope. Roberta’s immediate responses Presented by Matt Scott, Aquatic Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP survey would be a drop in the bucket. to photos sent was extremely helpful, Biologist, Emeritus; Maine DEP, Past Watershed Management Unit Of course, this parallels many other But I knew that even one plant found for I have never seen variable milfoil President of the North American situations where families, schools, Lake Management Society and Lloyd Irland, PhD; further afield would provide a great in its own habitat. Of course, finding Lake Ice Regimes: Some Baffling business owners, service and health Research Scientist, Author & Consultant deal of information. plants in three sites that were later Trends and Challenges for Citizen care workers have simply had to carry confirmed by DNA analysis spurred on the best they can. Life has plenty of Science me to continue looking for more. All The Influence of A Warming twists. Here is mine. together, in five different trips, I was Presented by Lloyd Irland, PhD; Climate on Aquatic Invaders in Research Scientist, Author & Consultant Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) took on a able to do forty hours of on-water Maine Lakes new dimension for me when I began surveying in the region. And—I Presented by Roberta Hill; LSM surveying other lakes besides my own. enjoyed every minute of it. What You Need to Know About Invasive Aquatic Species Director & With every new lake I visited, I learned Lake Algae Later in the summer DEP staff Aquatic Ecologist at least one new native plant. As yet, we traveled to the region with a diver Presented by Alan Baker, PhD; have not found any invasives growing and equipment to remove the small Professor Emeritus of Botanical in Hancock County, where I live, colonies I found, and further explore Metaphyton in Maine Lakes: Sciences, University of New though I myself found Eurasian milfoil the extent of the infestation on Big What Is It? Should We Be Hampshire on a boat trailer while doing Courtesy Lake itself. Additional volunteers, Concerned? Boat Inspections. both local and downstate, also braved Presented by Scott Williams; LSM Healthy Vegetated Buffers – Healthy Lakes. I actually fantasized about having a the flukey fall weather to add to the Executive Director & Limnologist Uber-IPPer, Lucy Leaf, in her element . Working with Mother Nature to Protect the whole summer free to do nothing but bank of knowledge. With all this vital Waters of Maine IPP. Well, be careful what you wish Since I’m used to primitive camping information, locals rallied to begin the Citizen Stewards and Maine Presented by Roberta Hill; LSM Invasive Aquatic Species for. COVID-19 eliminated my usual and my boat could also carry essential work of mitigation, which has already Lakes: Collaborative Approaches Director & Aquatic Ecologist summer job. But simultaneously, a gear, I figured I could go to this started with a commercial team. for Sustainable Systems $1200 check arrived. For eight years more remote region without having I offer this to show that every little Presented by Firooza Pavri, PhD; I have been doing extensive IPP, but contact with anyone, the primary A Guided Tour of LSM’s Lakes of bit counts, even one person in one Professor of Anthropology, University never owned my own boat. That was stumbling block preventing the Maine Website kayak on an enormous watershed. But of Southern Maine about to change. massive coordinated response that had overall, it is One Big Team Effort! Presented by Peter Vaux, PhD; Another bit of fortune was the advice been intended before the pandemic Developer and Manager of LSM's Northeast Climate Trends, from our regional IPP coordinator, struck. Leaving Big Lake itself to the Lakes of Maine Website Tracking Increasing Harmful Algal Blooms, and the Vital Role of Citizen Science in this Research Inspired to share a story of your own? Presented by Hilary Snook; Senior We can’t wait to see it- please contact us today!! Scientist, US EPA Regional Laboratory

[email protected] or (207) 783-7733 All webinars are currently available for viewing at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/2020-summer-webinar-series/

14 23 For a more in-depth overview of the research, please click https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/tWC-2020-21-GloeoArticleTT.pdf early spring when runoff Gloeotrichia – In Time and Space by Tristan Taber and snow melt brought the lake level up. The rest of n the new study, co-authored by LSM Researchers estimated the age of the the year it was completely IScientific Advisory Board member, sediment subsamples and developed dewatered. After a few Dr. Holly Ewing, and titled ‘New’ a timeline using radioactive dating years this sensitive wetland cyanobacterial blooms are not new: two techniques. Historical land use records area had become a meadow centuries of lake production are related to were also used as a study factor. The study with exclusively terrestrial ice cover and land use, Ewing and her factors were compared in the timeline vegetation growing on it. colleagues discuss their investigation of and to one another using statistics. When Rather than ducks, turtles, Gloeotrichia echinulata in seven lakes with factors correlated, it could mean the and lily pads it was home to varying trophic states (levels of biological shift was due to one or more of those productivity) and morphometry (basin environmental factors. coyotes and growing maple LSM Advisory Board members Holly Ewing [L] and trees and goldenrod. I am shape and surface area). The team attempts Based on their analysis, it can be said Steve Norton [2nd from R], and Linda Bacon [R] to answer questions about the ecology of (MDEP and LSM Director) examine a sediment happy to report that in the that Gloeotrichia has been present in core from Lake Auburn. two years since historical the colonial cyanobacteria and possible New England lakes even before European water levels were restored, historical drivers of trophic change in settlement (c. 1750 CE). Gloeotrichia was community structure and drive trophic this important wetland is Maine lakes. The online version of this found in the sediments of all but the most change, there was not strong evidence for recovering nicely. article includes additional figures and a eutrophic lake in the study, Sabattus Pond, this in all the study lakes, thus it may occur more in-depth discussion of the paper. Sabattus, ME. The authors speculate that only in certain circumstances. In fact, they In closing, I’d like to take Gloeotrichia was not found in Sabattus found that Gloeotrichia was not a good this opportunity to thank Trend line (red) shows reduced transparency during period of dam mismanagement. because it needs light for germination and proxy for trophic changes. Algal pigments, David Hodsdon (pictured that a highly eutrophic lake with diminished which are associated with specific algae Now, 2 years after historical water levels the lake. A month after this picture was below, using our YSI Pro20 groups, found in the sediments correlated transparency cannot provide this. were restored, Clary Lake is well on it's taken the lake had fallen another 2 feet DO meter) for his exemplary service well with trophic shifts. In addition, these way to a full recovery, but its going to take and the water had receded an additional as Clary Lake’s principal Water Quality Gloeotrichia populations appeared to be algal pigments correlated with ice-out Monitor. This year David decided to largest in five out of the six lakes (not records, a proxy for climate change, much a while longer before the effects of 8 years 75 feet. Periodically the lake shore owners give up the job he’s held for 45 years including Sabattus) when non-indigenous better than Gloeotrichia did. of subpar water levels is fully reversed. would descend on what used to be beach land clearing was the most pervasive (c. This year the average transparency was with lawnmowers and weed whackers and let me and Kelsie French take the Concentrated colonies of Gloeotrichia in Long 1780–1860). As agriculture declined, The study found evidence that relatively about 4 meters and the once-devastated in an attempt to preserve their access to reins. I only hope we can bring the same Pond, Belgrade. Photo credit: Roberta Hill. especially animal husbandry, Gloeotrichia small watersheds were correlated to ice- wetlands and littoral zone are rapidly the water. Everyone on Clary Lake was degree of dedication, quality control, out and pigment changes over the time; also declined. However, agriculture is not returning to their former states. In a few affected by the water level crisis to some and perseverance to the job that David Ewing et al. examined lake-bottom relatively large watersheds showed no the only factor, given that other biologists more years the travails of the past will be extent, some more than others. For the 7 did. We owe him that much, and more! sediments that have captured the last correlation. Agriculture and the presence have witnessed Gloeotrichia blooms in but a distant memory. years of our water level crisis, the people several hundred years of conditions in of Gloeotrichia also appeared to be more lakes with minimal human influence, such who had camps on this shoreline in each lake and watershed. They compared as Katahdin Lake in Baxter State Park. synchronized in lakes with smaller relative the influences that watershed and lake watersheds. While these relationships particular didn't have much summer fun characteristics, regional influences like Although some prior research has suggested are likely influenced by factors that at the lake. that Gloeotrichia is able to change the lake climate, and anthropogenic (human- were not part of the study design, it Perhaps the most devastating impact of caused) factors had on lake still provides some evidence that our multiyear water level crisis was the productivity over time. By improving relatively smaller watersheds are more complete dewatering of 300 acres of the understanding of lake sensitivity sensitive to watershed changes and emergent wetlands at the northwest end to trophic change and the drivers of regional drivers, like climate change. Years of low water levels transformed this once- of Clary Lake. The picture below, taken that change, they hoped to provide The authors suggest that the effects sand beach. in early April of 2013 shows a small David Hodsdon - 45 years of lake monitoring! better insights for managing these and of agricultural activity, especially The picture above shows the long-term section of this wetland area and only possibly other New England lakes. livestock, relatively closer to the lakes impact of reduced water levels on a small hints at the devastation. With luck this David has been a mentor to me over the may have distorted this relationship. The team took sediment core samples section of shoreline on the north side of wetland area might have had water over years, and a true friend. David and I still from the bottom of each lake and Trophic shifts were highly associated the lake where the water is rather shallow it for about a month in late winter or consult on water quality issues and get sliced them into layers for analysis. with land use change. Gloeotrichia to begin with. Taken in June 2017, the together every few weeks for a cup of hot They looked at nitrogen, carbon, appeared to be most strongly associated water level was only down about 2.5 feet black coffee and a good discussion on all algae pigments, and Gloeotrichia. with changes in watershed land use. at the time but it had already receded things Clary Lake. Plans are underway for Gloeotrichia was chosen because each The team inferred that because the fully 75 feet from the normal high water a more fitting tribute to David next year lake currently supports populations, relationship between population and mark. Five years of reduced water levels when hopefully this pandemic craziness they are macroscopic, and persist in trophic indicator shifts in five out had turned what was a sandy beach area will be behind us. the sediments. By looking at the of the six lakes with development into this uninviting weedy shorefront. As George Fergusson is the current Secretary number in each sediment sample, they (Long Pond was excluded), shoreline Area of study in the northeastern United States. Sediment cores the water level fell, people would move of the Clary Lake Association and can be were able to determine the probable related development may have been were collected from the lakes outlined and labeled. Watershed their docks and moorings further out into De-watered wetland. reached at [email protected] population in a lake over time. area of each lake is highlighted in green. a significant driver of those trophic 13 24 Restoring Clary Lake: thwarted DEP's attempts at enforcement bottom, destroying valuable fish habitat changes. This is good evidence for lake lake, the timing and drivers of trophic Works Cited A Success Story! of the WLO. Four years later, in early and depriving lake shore owners of a communities that they need to pay attention change did not always correlate the same Ewing, H. A., Weathers, K. C., to watershed and lake area development. way over time. Contributed by George Fergusson, LSM 2018 the Court finally upheld the WLO. usable waterfront. Cottingham, K. L., Leavitt, P. R., Greer, Certified 13 Years; Clary Lake, Jefferson That should have been the end of the The water level crisis had a profound and One of the difficulties with any ecology or Regardless, this study provides a wealth M. L., Carey, C. C., ... & Sowles, J. P. story, but it wasn't. The dam owner then deleterious impact on lake water quality complex system study, is that there may be of information about the trophic history (2020). “New” cyanobacterial blooms are lary Lake, formerly Pleasant Pond, filed for bankruptcy, providing the Clary significant variation between groups and of these lakes, particularly about the not new: two centuries of lake production is one of the longest continually as evidenced by Secchi disk readings. C Lake Association with the break we'd Between 2009 when the water level crisis among groups. Ewing et al. concluded that incidence of Gloeotrichia and further are related to ice cover and land use. monitored lakes in Maine. According been waiting for and in October 2018 there was no ‘smoking gun’ causing trophic evidence that watershed land use and ice Ecosphere, 11(6), e03170. to DEP's Linda Bacon, my father Stuart began through the end of 2018 when we we were able to purchase the dam from were finally able to take control of and changes, however both the duration of ice cover play important roles in lake health. For a more detailed summary, please visit Fergusson was the first person to start cover and the extent of land use did appear the dam owner's bankruptcy estate. The repair the dam, we experienced severe Maintaining high quality water requires the LSM website: collecting Secchi disk readings on the to be key drivers. The complex interplay of dam was quickly repaired and the water algal blooms (defined as transparency a significant understanding of how these www .LakeStewardsOfMaine .org lake back in 1975. His friend and morphometry, watershed land use, climate level restored. below 2m) five of those years and several factors interact, however limiting stressors neighbor David Hodsdon started at the change, organic matter contributions, and like phosphorus from the watershed will same time and soon took over when my minor blooms (defined as transparency many other unmeasured components of between 2m and 2.5m). The reason was help mitigate the eutrophication of lakes father's health and eyesight precluded the lake environment meant that no single in general. him from continuing. In 2001 another obvious: with lake volume cut almost factor is a clear-cut cause. Even in the same monitor, Jack Holland joined David in half but with normal amounts of on his bi-monthly monitoring trips. I rainfall and runoff, the nutrient load was became certified and started helping significantly higher than had the lake been 2020 Watershed Survey Grant Recipients out in 2013 and for a few years all full of water. Ironically, starting about 2017 and in spite of the ongoing water 3 of us would head out on the lake. Lake Stewards of Maine was pleased We could have used a bigger boat! State boat launch, 2015 . level crisis, transparency and water quality to be able to provide startup grants Then in 2018 Kelsie French joined was much improved due in large part to for four citizen lake watershed surveys our monitoring team. Having plenty The Clary Lake dam, built around summer drought conditions which limits in 2020: China Lake in China, of help monitoring Clary Lake has 1900, raised the level of Clary Lake runoff, to the benefit of many Maine been a blessing. Today Clary Lake is a approximately 5 feet. For eight long years lakes, including Clary. The chart on the Long Pond starting in 2011 and continuing until following page shows 45 years worth in Belgrade, relatively healthy “productive” lake but Bear the CLA bought the dam in the fall of of Secchi disk readings. It is easy to see Lovejoy Pond Pond 2018, the then dam owner kept the gate the impact of reduced water levels on in Fayette/Readfield/Wayne and wide open so as to keep the lake level transparency from 2009 through 2015. Bear Pond in Turner/Harford. as low as possible. The result was wildly The 2nd-order polynomial trendline These photos show the level of fluctuating and generally lower water shows the likelihood of improving determination and commitment of levels, and the effect was devastating. transparency in the future, though we are volunteers who participated (safely!) in these successful The picture above shows the State boat not about to become complacent since projects. Lake Watershed surveys are an efficient and launch on September 26, 2015 when excessive nutrient load in many Maine effective process for engaging lake communities in the the lake level was close to five feet below lakes is a perennial problem. identification and resolution of sources of pollution in (L-R) David Hodsdon, Kelsie French, and George the top of the dam. Needless to say, the Fergusson in 2019 . boat launch didn't get much use when lake watersheds. Many thanks to all who participated, it looked like this. These extreme low and to the Ram Island it hasn't always been that way. Always Conservation plagued over the years to some extent by water conditions recurred every summer China Fund of the Maine occasional water level issues, in 2006 the from 2011 through the end of 2018. Lake Community dam that impounds Clary Lake had fallen Over 300 acres of sensitive wetlands with into disrepair and was sold to a company an average depth of only 2-4 feet were Foundation for who had other plans than repairing it completely drained, reducing the overall helping to facilitate Lovejoy and maintaining a historical lake level. size of Clary Lake by as much as 42% these projects. Pond and the lake volume by over 40%. Every By the Fall of 2011 the Clary Lake Algae bloom, 2013 . Association's negotiations with the dam spring, rain and snow melt would raise owner had failed to resolve the issues so the lake level up typically to within a foot The picture above shows the end result the Clary Lake shore owners filed a water or so of the normal high water mark, of a particularly bad algal bloom that level petition with DEP. The dam owner but it didn't last long; by early summer occurred in 2013. At the height of this fought the petition but ultimately lost, the level would have again fallen four to bloom, our Secchi disk reading was only and two years later in late January 2014, five feet below the top of the dam. The 1.5 meters. The green scum is dead blue- Long entire littoral zone around the lake was a Water Level Order was issued. The dam green algae that floated to the surface. Not Pond owner promptly appealed the Order in drained, exposing dozens and in some conducive to wanting to go swimming! Lincoln County Superior Court which cases hundreds of feet of sensitive lake This bloom was pretty much lake-wide. 12 25 by Scott Williams Kayak-Assisted Snorkel Survey to see where by carefully lowering the weight down near Late Season Algae "Flash Blooms" in Lakes the boat is the plant. (Be careful not to stir up silt with A system for searching for, and marking, any Maine lakes periodically the dense bands is often relatively clear, same period suggest that the lake was and where it the weight or clobber the plant, creating suspicious aquatic plants using a experience a fleeting burst of algae which indicates that aside from the area very close to the point of mixing, and is heading. fragments.) Obtain a proper marker from M combination of snorkeling and kayaking growth in the late summer or early fall where the dying cells have concentrated, that the low concentration of DO in Remember to the kayaker and place it, and then retrieve Contributed by Dale Schultz, LSM Certified when they de-stratify or mix (a.k.a. there is no “lake-wide” concern for an the deepest readings could have resulted look all around, the temporary marker. Watch that you do IPPer; Lake Arrowhead, Waterboro turning over). Mixing is a natural process algal bloom. in some release of phosphorus from the there may be not get the two markers tangled up. Take norkeling presents the opportunity for that occurs when the water temperature Although the concentrated areas lake sediments…classic conditions for more than one your time. Once a plant has been properly much clearer observation of items below and density is uniform from the surface generally don’t indicate a problem for the the development of a brief algal bloom S Dale conducting a survey boat. Should marked the kayaker can record the position the surface of a lake than attempts to observe on Lake Arrowhead . Note to the bottom of the lake, at which time lake, people and pets should nonetheless following mixing! the need arise, using the GPS, while the snorkeler goes in things from above, even with scopes. It the dive flag on snorkel, the person wind energy causes a lake to mix. Water avoid contact with them. Concentrated A similar bloom was reported by George temporary marker in search of the next suspicious plant. avoids all surface reflection and disturbance clarity often declines slightly during this cyanobacteria (a.k.a. bluegreen algae) are Fergusson on October 3 on the south foreground, proper marker in the kayak The kayaker should always try to keep process, as particulate debris from the due to water ripples. It also allows things in background . Photo credit: also needs a often the dominant form of algae under shore of Clary Lake in Jefferson (Figure Debbie Broderick . the kayak positioned between snorkeler to be seen to a greater depth, even when lake bottom is swept up through the these circumstances, and areas of dense 2). In October, 2013, Ross Swain way to get the and other boat traffic, and if possible, try swimming at the surface. Snorkeling is water column. cells could potentially be toxic for a brief captured a similar event in Ellis Pond attention of the snorkeler. Banging a weight avoiding shading the area of the snorkeler. nowhere near as complex as SCUBA diving, Phosphorus that may have been released period, especially if ingested. with several excellent photos, including against the bottom of the kayak works. and has minimal equipment requirements. More on the Temporary Marker from bottom sediments, or which Figure 3, which illustrates a classic Experiment with this in advance to make All you really need is a mask and snorkel. You will need a small, smooth weight has been released from “cyano” surface sheen from sure your communication system works Figure 1: Two photos of a recent October ephemeral algae bloom in Little Ossipee Lake If you plan on covering quite a bit of attached to a small float with a lightweight organic matter that has that brief event. under a variety of conditions. Though the in Waterboro . territory, you will want some fins as well, string (nylon works well). The string should broken down near the lake kayak provides a visible presence on the Unusually warm summer but be mindful never let your fins dangle be able to be wrapped around the weight bottom, is also brought surface, (as well as an additional spotter for weather in 2020 caused down where they might disturb the bottom and/or float so that the marker can be closer to the surface during boats) it is also a good idea to attach a dive lakes to become warmer sediments or plants. flag to your snorkel. easily carried in a pocket, or clipped onto a the turnover process. The throughout much of belt. My first marker was a small brass pipe While snorkeling is a great way to conduct Never try to swim under fallen tree logs or amount of phosphorus Maine. As a result, the attached to a 1 cm slice of a foam swimming invasive plant patrol surveys, doing surveys branches. It is very easy for a small branch varies from one lake to process of destratification noodle. The string wrapped easily around this way also poses some safety and logistical to catch on your clothing, wet suit, belt, etc. the next, depending on and mixing likely occurred the pipe and the end of the pipe to be challenges. Here are some of the tips Debbie There is often fishing line tangled up on several factors. Typically, later in the fall, especially pushed into the foam to hold the string in Broderick and I have come up with for branches in the water that can prevent you much of the phosphorus for large and deep lakes. position. When that one came unclipped conducting snorkel surveys in a safe and getting back to the surface if you become is not soluble (biologically Reports of turnover-related from my belt and was lost, I made a second efficient manner. entangled in it. Always swim around fallen available), and therefore blooms were received as late one using two threaded ⅜” rod connectors trees and branches. The same goes for docks has little visible effect on as mid-November, when The system requires two people, one in instead of the brass pipe. (I am pretty sure and any other things in the water, too. Stop water quality. But a small Sally Smith reported the a kayak and the other in the water. In you have something in your garage that immediately, if you get tired or cold. percentage is soluble and Photo taken by Bob Camden, Oct 22, 2020 . Photo taken by Lorraine classic conditions described addition to the basics—kayak, paddles, will do the job nicely.) Having learned a reactive; because this form Marcotte, Oct 23, 2020. above along the shoreline PFD, and snorkeling gear—you will need: Working Efficiently lesson with the clip system, I now keep the of phosphorus is readily of Green Lake in Ellsworth. • Kayaker If the area to be surveyed is some distance temporary marker in available to algae, it can very quickly Ephemeral algae blooms (a.k.a. "flash By the time we had spoken by phone 24 • GPS from where you put in, we suggest that the a small pouch with a be assimilated, resulting in rapid, but blooms") as described above in Figure 1, hours later, all evidence of this bloom • Marker buoys snorkeler uses a second kayak to reach the VelcroTM closure that usually very limited growth, as the recently occurred in late October in Little had dissipated. It is likely that such • Drinking water for both people survey area. Once at the survey area, the is on a belt. I can phosphorus is rapidly depleted and Ossipee Lake in Waterboro. The pictures conditions occurred in many other lakes • Hat second kayak can be towed behind the first. easily get the marker • Optional: Dry clothing & towel for snorkeler other conditions promoting growth were taken at two shoreline locations this year, but due to the timing, were not in and out of the • Optional: Tow rope to tow snorkeler’s kayak One of the challenges of doing this work (water temperature and shorter days) on the lake. Within a very short time observed or documented. flap by feel alone, • Snorkeler while in the water is what to do if/when are not ideal. (less than 48 hours), all evidence of the allowing me to keep • Small temporary marker (clipped onto you spot a suspicious plant. Obviously you The spurt of algal growth typically dies bloom had disappeared as the dying outside of wetsuit, or tucked into pocket are not going to snorkel about with a bag my eyes on the plant off as quickly as it developed, usually cells were dispersed to eventually sink or belt, see below) full of heavy marker buoys in hand. This to be marked. An in a matter of only a day or two, after to the lake bottom and decompose. The • Recommended: Dive flag on snorkel is where the two person team really comes old cell phone belt which cells float to the surface sometimes photos show both “bands” and “sheens” • Optional: Wetsuit in handy. The snorkeler carries a slimmed- pocket with a Velcro Dale’s temporary marker . Photo credit: causing a multi-colored sheen to form associated with the concentration of • Recommended: Diving knife down temporary marker on them at all closure may also Dale Schultz . on the lake surface, or a ribbon along cells. Lake monitoring data gathered Staying Safe times. The person in the kayak always has work well. downwind shoreline areas. The sheens by LSM certified volunteers Robert a heavier, more-permanent marker ready to If you have never tried to conduct an If you are the snorkeler, remember that it and narrow bands of concentrated algae and Sandra Labelle indicate that only go. When you find a suspicious plant, the invasive aquatic plant screening survey is very easy to get disoriented underwater. may or may not be noticed because by a few days prior to observation of the most important thing is not to lose sight of while in the water before, I hope you will Get in the habit of raising your head out of early September and October, many lake bloom, lake water clarity readings were it! It is very easy to lose the plant by drifting try it! In addition to optimizing direct the water every few minutes to look about residents have left for the year. In a short excellent (between 9.1 and 9.9 meters), and or turning in the water. Remaining at observation of your survey area, you will to get yourself oriented, and to make sure time, the algae dissipate from additional indicating very low algal productivity the surface so as not to disturb silt or cause also see and experience your lake in a that your support person in the kayak is wind and wave action, often disappearing in the lake water column. Temperature Figure 2: Flash algae bloom on Clary Lake on fragmentation, and keeping your eye on the whole new way. Get ready to see lots of still nearby. And of course, when you hear a in several hours. The water surrounding and dissolved oxygen data from the October 3 . Photo credit: George Fergusson . plant, place the small, temporary marker wildlife too! boat motor, pop your head up immediately 26 11 Maine's Lake Community sure, she needed to examine a sample, imperative that we remove that infestation If you observe conditions similar to LSM and/or Maine DEP staff well in which I mailed to her. After confirmation before the scheduled disturbance began. those in the accompanying photos, advance of readings declining to the 2.0 Comes Together to Address from fellow taxonomists, she gently let Four days later, Milfoil New England please document the information with meter threshold. New Invader in Lake Arrowhead me know that I was, unfortunately, came in to remove the large mat of plants, a few photos, and the date, time and Late season “turnover blooms”, while Contributed by Debbie Broderick, LSM correct. I was devastated- I had correctly and any others we’d marked during location, and share the information with generally not an indication of a serious Certified IPPer; Lake Arrowhead, Waterboro identified the plant, which made me the subsequent organized surveys by LSM. Similar events involving short problem, could be harbingers of earlier, feel good about my identification skills, YCIASP’s enthusiastic volunteers. The or longer-term algae growth can be y husband, Dale, and I live on more significant blooms in the future, but upset that I had confirmed another Lake Arrowhead Conservation Council documented using the smartphone Lake Arrowhead’s lakefront in York especially as Maine lakes become warmer M invasive for our lake. It was a terrible and DASH team used this as a learning app “BloomWatch”, a product of a County. Our lake is infested with Variable over time from climate change. LSM blow. Now I needed to find where the experience to find out how to adapt our group of agencies and organizations in water-milfoil, and our Conservation Figure 3: A classic October (2013) short-lived trained citizen scientists play critically fragments were coming from. I scoured suction harvesters so that they could tackle New England and the USEPA. If you Council uses a diver assisted suction bloom on Ellis Pond was captured by Ross Swain . important roles in documenting changes the cove in front of our property and this plant next year. choose to use this app, your photos Note the cyano coloring of the surface sheen . harvester (DASH) to keep it from choking in the lakes that they monitor. Thanks found 8 skinny plants growing right and information will reach the Maine up our boating areas. At the beginning Dale and I continued surveying whenever be preceded by declining Secchi disk to all of you who continue to provide under my nose! I felt awful, as if I were DEP and LSM. An indication of a more of July, we participated in the free online we could, especially when the light was readings, in which case you should alert such valuable information concerning harbouring a fugitive. But these few significant algae bloom would typically Aquatic Species Plant identification course good, using the skills we had learned from the health of Maine’s lakes! plants couldn’t account for the fragments run by Lake Stewards of Maine. It was a Laurie’s trained volunteers. We located washing in from the open boating area. perfect thing to do during our COVID-19 another large infestation in better lighting Dale and I started kayak-surveying along Please Remember to Document and Report Your Lake's Ice Cover! shelter-in-place measures. Up until then, we conditions in an area previously surveyed. the shoreline, on both sides of the dam, classified aquatic plants into Variable water- That is the beauty of having a team on site Once winter begins to set in, please remember and came up with nothing. milfoil and NOT Variable water-milfoil. and available when conditions are to document your lake's ice cover . LSM acts as a perfect. Dale donned his wetsuit Part of the LSM coursework was to collect state repository for ice-in and ice-out records, some and began snorkeling in earnest to and identify a few plants, using the online stretching as far back as the mid-1800's . Lake ice cover key and distinguishing characteristics that help get a broader view of plants, data, when paired with water quality data, may improve Roberta had taught us, and share our without the nuisance of surface findings on Zoom. We passed our tests, and winds and ripples. This enabled the our understanding of the Branch Lake; Photo by Nancy Morris became certified Plant Patrollers. discovery of numerous additional relationship between the plants. With the permission of John After the course, I continued looking duration of ice cover and water quality . For more information on determining ice-in/out, please McPhedran of the DEP, he was carefully at the plants and fragments visit our website at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/programs/other-programs/ice- able to dive and harvest individual being washed up in my cove because plants with a deep landing net, in-ice-out/ . You may report ice-in/out dates to LSM using our online form at https://www. I’d discovered a new-found interest. I which he handed to me in my lakestewardsofmaine.org/submit-ice-data/, or by phone at 207-783-7733 . We actively update was fascinated, and keen to practice my kayak to empty into plastic bags. I new skills. It was like a new puzzle or the map of reported ice-in/out dates on our website at https://www.lakestewardsofmaine. floated above the site and scooped sleuthing project, and the detective in org/near-real-time-lake-data/ as part of the Near Real-Time Lake Data initiative . All ice-in/out up any surface fragments with my me kept trying to figure out what I was submissions should include your name, the lake's name and related town, and the date of ice- Najas minor from the kayak . Photo Credit: Dale Schultz . hand net. Though very few escaped seeing. On Aug 21, I became aware of a his net, I nevertheless made sure in/out, in order to be added to the statewide map on the LSM website . plant fragment that looked unfamiliar, The DEP responded rapidly after the to “scoop first, ask questions later.” That and very different from the usual varieties confirmation ID. I got a call on Monday way, I didn’t miss anything. We have that washed up on my shore. I became Georges Pond Treatment... continued from page 8 impacted wildlife. Due to the nature of biota were observed, and other than morning from Laurie Callahan of the since removed over 50 individual plants suspicious. It was crispy to the touch, Maine to request assistance with this alum (both aluminum’s inherent toxicity some normal weather related delays, the York County Invasive Aquatic Species in this manner. With very little time left and had very distinctive teeth along each undertaking. to aquatic organisms and waterfowl, application completed without issue. Project (YCIASP), saying she was at the in the season for removal, we recently curved leaf. It’s quite possible it had and the potential to alter pH) precise boat launch with a team of volunteers constructed an enormous hoop with On a cool and windy day, in May, 2020, One month after the treatment, LSM was showed up previously, but I had not yet application and careful monitoring is and would be in my cove in 20 minutes! mosquito-netting mesh to remove a large I arrived on the shores of Georges Pond. contacted by John and Ginger Eliasberg. reached the level of discernment I needed necessary. Fortunately, no impacts to The response that the DEP had set in stand that won’t be able to be tackled by a I met with the president, board member, They had just measured 6.4 and 6.3 meters to acknowledge its distinctness. motion was amazing! I’m so impressed suction team this year. and vice president of the GPA, John and for Secchi disc transparencies, respectively. I felt alarms going off in my head The deepest transparency LSM has on at how quickly they took action. The Were it not for COVID-19 restrictions, Ginger Eliasberg, and Brian Friedmann when I saw it, and went to the online record for Georges Pond is 6.2 meters. Lake Arrowhead Conservation Council’s I’d likely not have spent time on an online (while still physically distancing) to identification key. It looked like one GPA hopes to begin part two of the DASH team participated too, and located plant ID course. Everything just seemed to discuss the logistics of the monitoring of the 11 invasives listed, and I felt a application in the spring of 2021. They a flourishing mat of the invasive in an fall into place to discover that suspicious process. Two treatments, the first horrible sense of dread. Dale looked at area estimated to be about 50 feet across, plant when I did. If I’d seen it without costing over $140,000 would begin the have continued to work towards limiting it, and came to the same conclusion. I just outside our cove. I felt sick to my benefit of the course, I’d have overlooked it following day. HAB Aquatic Solutions, external phosphorus in their watershed. immediately texted some pics through stomach, as up until now, we’d only seen completely, which is a very scary thought, LLC. administered approximately 35,250 We wish them luck as they continue the to Roberta, explaining that I suspected individuals scattered here and there in our because before this July, I had NO idea gallons of alum and I performed more good work they are doing to limit erosion I’d found the invasive European Naiad cove. More importantly though, the site of what this plant looked like. Additionally, than 35 localized water quality tests and fertilizers, and we are happy we were (Najas minor). Her response was the large infestation was where our Public Dale and I are thrilled to have found a over the span of the next 4 days. The Tristan Taber is pictured in the monitoring craft on able to help in beginning to correct the swift, and concurred with my initial Works crew would be installing a water community of like-minded people who Eliasbergs, Friedmann, and myself all the choppy waters of Georges Pond . Photo credit: lake’s health. identification, but in order to be 100% John Eliasberg . pipeline in the upcoming weeks. It was care about Maine’s lakes as we do. monitored the pond and shorelines for 10 27 Big Lake Infestation Update ig Lake is in the very heart of the spread. (Please contact DLLT if Meet Maine's Lake Stewards! Perhaps more than any other year in the history of our despite it all. Even as we kept our physical distance from BPassamaquoddy Tribe’s ancestral you would like to learn how you can homeland. Located in and around the help with this important program organization, 2020 tested Maine’s capacity for widespread one another, we continued to work as a team: organizing town of Grand Lake Stream, near the next year.) lake stewardship. Some volunteer lake monitors never made it and conducting watershed surveys; taking our semi-monthly back to their summer homes on the lakes of Maine. Jobs and Secchi disk readings; searching the shallows for signs of border with New Brunswick, the lake • In August, experienced solo is part of a sprawling and much larger adventurer and certified LSM Invasive lives were disrupted for many, and the day-to-day challenges invasive intruders; inventing and sharing new and improved -roughly 17,000 acre- system known Plant Patroller, Lucy Leaf, struck off associated with the pandemic weighed heavily upon most. monitoring gear and protocols. How was this possible? Perhaps for its remote, wilderness beauty and for the Downeast Lakes Region to All of these added a new layer of complication for volunteers. there is no one answer to that question. But the pieces below, extraordinary fishing. conduct screening surveys on some Variable milfoil is well established in Clifford Nonetheless, as the year comes to an end, one thing is very all contributed by LSM volunteer stewards, especially when Bay . Photo credit: Brad Richard . In October of 2019, an urgent message of the nearby waters connected to Big clear: lake stewardship continued, even thrived here in Maine, taken together, provide some important clues. Enjoy! from Joe Musante (a biologist with Lake. Through her determination and Cass Cove, at the north end of the the Passamaquoddy Environmental careful vigilance, several small patches lake, suggests that invasive milfoil is Department) arrived at Lake Stewards of variable-leaf milfoil were found and moving about at large in Big Lake. Our Life on Abrams Pond 2007, we became officers But the story evolves. Abrams of Maine (LSM) headquarters. The confirmed in downstream Lewey Lake This find is especially concerning, Contributed by Bill & Kathleen Cotter, LSM in the APA. Enthusiasm Pond had a second bloom in invasive aquatic plant, variable-leaf milfoil and Long Lake. The confirmation as variable milfoil spreads readily Certified 13 Years; Abrams Pond, Eastbrook exploding, we began 2012. It lasted from June to (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) had recently that invasive milfoil had spread to through fragmentation and vegetative attending VLMP annual August. It was a summer of been found (and was soon confirmed by downstream waters was bad news, propagation. The plant stems, which he decision came in autumn 2001, meetings. We met Scott finding another lake to take genetic analysis), for the first time in Big indeed, but by finding these (possible) become more brittle as the season Tfinding a property in Downeast Maine Williams who introduced us a swim. The bloom had a Lake. A survey of the immediate area pioneer colonies early, Lucy provided progresses, easily break apart, creating after spending several vacations on Mt. to the Secchi disk. We took positive effect: people were determined that the infestation was well the opportunity for swift removal and numerous viable fragments. Once a Dessert Island. Not only was it a property the certification class. We upset and realized maybe there established and widespread throughout containment. fragment, a clone of the parent plant, of mature evergreen forest and a forest had to admit and still do: the is something to the idea that floor of wildflowers and ground covers, Kathleen and Bill Cotter on much of Clifford Bay, at the southeast • A group of concerned shorefront is set adrift in the waterbody, it is Secchi monitoring makes human activity could impact it was situated on a long sand beach on Lake Louise, 2016 . corner of the lake. Plans were soon property owners has formed in free to move about on currents or to us get out on the water; the water of Abrams Pond. a shallow cove with colorless water and a underway for an LSM-led volunteer team response to the infestation, and, catch a ride on moving objects such it makes us explore and enjoy the lake; it At the encouragement of Scott Williams swimming rock. Abrams Pond in Hancock to conduct a complete level-3 survey of working in partnership with DLLT, as a boats or wildlife. The fragments makes us get to know our pond-owning at LSM and Hancock County Soil and County, what a dream come true! Big Lake during the summer of 2020. the Passamaquoddy Tribe and others, quickly sprout roots, and if they neighbors from their docks. We recall our Water, we lead another watershed survey. Though the COVID-19 pandemic brought the group is helping to facilitate land well, they will anchor into the Of course, it was only the beginning. own conversations, “This is great!” This time we advanced to an application sediments and establish a new colony. the planned team-mobilization to a halt, outreach and response efforts on the Before signing the sales agreement, we From there it was being certified with for a 319 Grant to address the problems we are pleased to report that the response lake, and taking part in the search for • On September 24, LSM and DEP found out there was an algae bloom in a class on dissolved oxygen, then one identified in the survey. That grant was to the Big Lake infestation has continued milfoil around the lake. teamed up once again to offer a 1999. That was its first ever and things on invasive plants, and from there awarded in winter of 2018. All of the work seemed okay since. With the property ours, from that grant has now been completed. in earnest. Here is an overview of progress • Hosted by a founding member of second webinar for the Big Lake Kathleen ascended to the presidency of we visited it for several summers, a day at a We applied for a second grant, and it was made during the 2020 field season. the property owners’ group, DEP community. The session provided APA. We were evolving into people of time, until 2005 when we decided to build awarded to us this summer. It takes effect • Warning buoys were placed in Clifford staff was able to spend a week in an update on the infestation, as lake knowledge. We began educating our the camp of our dreams. January 2021. Pond-front owners are seeing Bay to help boaters steer clear of the region during the month of well as more information on how watershed with the development of a the results of the first grant. The work for known infested areas. September, conducting surveys on to get involved in the search for During the time before building, we rented newsletter. The annual meetings of then the invader. Participants learned the a camp on the pond, met the Abrams VLMP, now Lake Stewards of Maine, and the second grant is lining up. • On June 16, Downeast Lakes Land Big Lake and downstream waters, key features by which variable milfoil Pond Association president and attended also Congress of Lakes, now Maine Lakes, How did we get to where we are? We believe Trust (DLLT) hosted a Facebook Live and carefully removing the small may be positively identified, tips for APA’s annual meeting. We were hooked! So were leading us to additional knowledge it began with getting to know our pond event at which Maine Department of invasive milfoil patches found earlier conducting an effective and efficient hooked that we agreed to head the pond’s and connecting and getting to know on a neighbors; education with a newsletter full Environmental Protection (DEP) and by Lucy. Though they were not able survey, what to do if a suspicious first watershed survey. It was a great success! first-name basis the experts in the State of of awareness of the character of the pond LSM staff were invited to inform the to survey Big Lake in its entirety, plant is found, etc. Here is a link to In mid-May of 2004, at the town hall we Maine. At every meeting we were meeting with “how to” articles including diagrams; Big Lake community about the new the finding of two live (but not yet a recording of the session - https:// had a good crop of volunteers to walk the lake-front owners from lakes all over the and updates of our progress in stopping threat to local lakes, and to encourage rooted) variable milfoil fragments in vimeo.com/462669105/e345cd4e1f mostly waterfront properties of the small state and gained much in our discussions nutrients from entering the water. We did participation in the response effort. • With funding from Maine DEP’s watershed along with APA and the DEP. at break times. This was for us a total not do this alone. We must thank Alan • DLLT implemented a Courtesy Boat Lake and River Protection fund and Not surprisingly, we found camp roads enrichment that has become our avocation Hershey, a pond-front owner who has Inspection (CBI) program at Big housing generously provided by local and properties that were adding nutrients in our early-age retirement. been instrumental in leading the mitigation Lake's primary public boat landing to the pond. But somehow the next step projects of the past and upcoming grants. landowners, professional divers with Abrams Pond, Eastbrook at Greenlaw Chopping. In addition Maine-based New England Milfoil and of applying for a grant to correct these We also must thank all those around the to inspecting boats launching into their DASH (Diver Assisted Suction man-made findings did not evolve. It took pond for their willingness to invest their and leaving the lake, DLLT CBIs Harvester) were engaged for five days some time for camp owners to digest and parts in the undertaking. Through stopping are helping to educate boaters to the New England Milfoil’s Diver Assisted Suction to remove milfoil from Clifford Bay. understand the science of it all. nutrients from entering this colorless-water, threat of aquatic invaders and what Harvester (DASH) . Photo courtesy of New The DASH employs a venturi system Once we were in our new camp home, 2006, sandy-bottom pond, there is hope that algae boaters can do to help prevent their England Milfoil . blooms will not occur as time goes on. Big Lake Infestation... continued on page 31 we were able to become more engaged. In 28 9 Georges Pond Alum Treatment: (originally developed for gold mining operations) to facilitate the process Monitoring Application & Response of getting the plants that have been carefully weeded from the lake bed, eorges Pond (MIDAS# 4406) is survey identified 53 major erosion sites up to the surface by way of a vacuum Ga 358-acre (1.45 km2) freshwater that were contributing significantly to hose. The plant material is collected great pond located in Franklin, Hancock the destabilization of the pond. The in totes on deck, for later disposal on county, Maine. In the summer of 2018, GPA has worked diligently to clean up dry land. NEM divers concentrated the lake experienced a major bloom of stormwater contributions. Unfortunately, their efforts on a dense colongy of cyanobacteria (aka: blue-green algae), in the summer of 2018, the previous variable milfoil to the east of Brittany Uber-IPPers Lucy Leaf (L) and Bunny Wescott (R) kept the survey moving forward in the region despite the pandemic. Photo credits: (L) Steve Underwood; (R) Roberta Hill. turning the pond a murky pea-green years of watershed erosion, and resulting Island where the plants were growing by Tristan Taber; LSM Training & color, diminishing the average water algae growth from this phosphorus, offshore in water that ranged from 3 Technical Outreach Coordinator a swath of suspected variable milfoil “I hope the Downeast boating community transparency to 1.7 meters, and ruining caused dissolved oxygen levels in the to 10 feet deep. The harvest operation growing along the westerly shore in hears the message and heeds the call to a summer of fun for its residents and lake to become critically low. Under bind the phosphorus for periods of time, was a great success with the crew the vicintity of Hanneman Island. The protect Washington County waterways. visitors. The Georges Pond Association this circumstance, phosphorus that had thus reducing the availability of this filling forty-four 20-gallon totes to plants were growing in discrete clumps Learn how to clean your boat; learn how (GPA) and the Maine Department of accumulated in the bottom sediments, limiting nutrient to algae/cyanobacteria. capacity. We can all rest a bit easier and patches along a contiguous line to spot invasive milfoil. For mitigation Environmental Protection (ME DEP) and which normally bonds with iron in a knowing that 880 gallons of varible Alum treatments were first conducted about 40-feet long and 10 to 12 feet efforts to succeed, early action is key. It responded immediately to this threat by stable insoluble compound, was released milfoil are no longer free to grow and wide. Their find (which was mapped, literally takes only a one-inch piece of this conducting a robust sampling routine into the overlying water column. The in Maine during the 1970’s. Since that spread in Big Lake. time, nine lakes have been treated, with and later confirmed by DNA to be plant to re-generate itself, and if you look and working with consultants Ken recycled phosphorus from the sediments variable milfoil) provides yet more at our area on a map, you’ll see blue water varying degrees of success. In some cases, • In early October, Uber-IPPers Ross Wagner and the firm Ecological Insights stimulated algae growth, resulting in the and Bunny Wescott traveled to the evidence that the invasive milfoil has everywhere. If this invasive plant is here on the positive effect has lasted for up to to determine the cause, and to propose cyanobacteria bloom. Big Lake region to meet with some of been spreading freely in Big Lake for Big Lake, there’s a really good chance that two decades. However, alum treatments measures for helping the lake. It was the local shorefront property owners some time. it is somewhere else in the region as well.” Recent research suggests four advantages are very costly, and they will likely not determined that internal phosphorus with whom they had established a cyanobacteria have compared to other be successful over time unless external Maine Warden and longtime Big Lake Planning for next season’s continued loading from the lake sediments was a connection, and to survey portions of organisms in this suddenly nutrient rich (watershed) sources of phosphorus have resident Brad Richard, the person who first response is already underway. If you would major contributor to the sudden decline Big Lake and two nearby waterbodies: system. Many cyanobacteria: been identified and addressed. As I, and noted something suspicious growing in like to learn more about how you can of the pond's health. Pocumcus Lake and Pocomoonshine 1. are small in size. The large ratio of others have written about in previous Clifford Bay and sounded the alarm, was get involved, please contact Roberta at Georges Pond is largely littoral with a Lake. No invasive plants were found recently interviewed by a local reporter for [email protected]. their surface area to volume allows newsletters, the application of alum in Pocumus or Pocomoonshine, but in mean depth of 4.9 meters (16 ft) and a for efficient uptake of phosphorus; should be treated as a last resort effort to an article focused on Big Lake’s plight. In maximum depth of 13.7 meters (45 ft). Big Lake, Bunny and Ross discovered that article, Brad sums things up very well: 2. have a short reproduction time. stabilize or restore an imperiled lake. The residence time— the average estimate This allows them to double their of how long it takes for a water molecule Contributed by Debbie Broderick, population rapidly and “bloom”; to leave a waterbody after entering it— is Botanical Haikus IPPer on Lake Arrowhead around two years. The watershed area 3. contain heterocysts. These are cells is approximately 636 acres and is fairly of a different type and some of Floating bladderwort White water lilies these heterocysts can “fix” nitrogen, heavily developed. The shoreline has over With its radial platform Overwhelm with sweet fragrance 125 buildings on its 4.4 mi (7.1 km) meaning the cyanobacteria are not perimeter, two quarry pits in the vicinity, nitrogen limited; Supports its small blooms. Their cup-shaped beauty. and in early 2018 a thorough watershed 4. grow or overwinter in the benthic (lake bottom) environment, then rise to the White alum flocculant (crystals) settling down surface in the spring and summer, through the water column and coating the lake when sunlight and warmer water may bottom of Georges Pond. Photo taken of the image as it appeared on the display of an underwater stimulate a bloom. This allows them camera . Photo credit: Tristan Taber . to take advantage of the phosphorus- rich waters near the bottom and act as GPA began fundraising for the alum an annual inoculum. treatment in the first months of 2020. It is well known that aluminum and The treatment plan, which must some other elements bind strongly to be authorized through a permitting phosphorus, preventing its remobilization. process by the Maine DEP, requires Several decades ago, lake researchers applicants to closely monitor the effects The HAB barge administering alum is pictured determined that the application of of the application of aluminum sulfate in the foreground, Taber in the monitoring craft aluminum compounds to lakes that were and sodium aluminate to the lake, a is seen towards the left-middle of the picture in Georges Pond; Tunk, Catherine, Caribou, and Black experiencing algal blooms as a result of process that may take several days. Pipewort multitudes, Coiling eelgrass stalks, Mountains are pictured in background from left to the internal release of phosphorus could The GPA contacted Lake Stewards of White buttons on erect stalks ~ Spiral up to the surface, right . Photo credit: Dean Tyler Photography . effectively immobilize and chemically Georges Pond Treatment . . . continued on page 27 Aquatic hatpins. Showing their flowers. 8 29 Variable Water-Milfoil Confirmed By Lidie Robbins, 30 Mile River Watershed Association and Roberta in Androscoggin Lake Hill, Lake Stewards of Maine QualityQuality Counts!Counts! Signs point to possible early detection. More surveying needed . . . n early September, Katherine By October 3rd, an IPP rapid response Quality Assurance & Quality Control - Do You Know the Difference? IMahoney, a member of Androscoggin team led by Lidie and LSM’s Roberta Lake’s “Eyes on the Water” IPP team, Hill, comprised of fifteen volunteer A/QC, Quality Assurance and recording the correct information. And noticed a bright green bottle-brush-like IPPers, had gathered on the shore of QQuality Control are phrases that examples of Quality Control include stem amidst a particularly thick patch Androscoggin Lake. The focus of the you’ve heard frequently as a citizen Re-certification workshops, the Secchi of darker-colored plants in her survey survey would be Inner Cove and the scientist, but do you know the difference? Simulator, and duplicate readings you by Linda Bacon sector. The suspicious plant was found adjacent Androscoggin Yacht Club Explanations abound - some clear, some take when collecting data. LSM Quality Assurance Officer; Aquatic Biologist, Maine Department of Environmental Protection in Inner Cove at the northern end of basin. Though many of the volunteers obscure. This COVID-19 pandemic When you send in your dissolved the lake, about 400 yards northwest of were members of Androscoggin Lake’s provides an opportunity to look at QA/ oxygen meter to be checked in the check the sponge once a month. If the the state boat launch. Katherine noted plant patrol team, others were IPPs QC from another perspective. Spring, that is a Quality Assurance optical probe caps dry out, they may not the location, bagged the plant, notified from neighboring lakes in the 30 Mile Maine’s Dr. Shah and Governor Mills step you take. Checking the surface function properly next year. Refer to Androscoggin Lake’s IPP team leader, The discovery of a well-established 12-foot watershed, and one, IPP Uber-IPPer have established fundamental Quality dissolved oxygen concentration your owner’s manual for specifics. Buddy Cummings, and IPP Regional diameter patch of variable milfoil suggests the Lucy Leaf, traveled 2-hours in each invader has been present in this part of the lake Assurance guidelines like wearing a against the table of expected readings Both Quality Control and Quality Coordinator for that region, Lidie direction from Toddy Pond in Surry, for at least two seasons . Is this the pioneer colony? face covering indoors and outdoors, for various temperatures is a Quality Assurance activities at LSM have been Robbins, Executive Director of 30 Mile The only way to answer this important question to participate in the survey. By the end is to complete the lakewide survey . Photo credit: and, maintaining social distancing. In Control action; if the meter was giving difficult to implement in 2020 due River Watershed Association. Photos of of the day, several more variable milfoil Roberta Hill . addition, they have established limits readings more than 1.5 ppm off from to COVID-19. On one hand, the the plant were sent to LSM, and though plants and one well-established, 12-foot on the number of people at indoor and expected, corrective action would be lockdown provided time to implement the images clearly confirmed that the Androscoggin Lake, but to all other diameter patch had been found, all very outdoor gatherings. These are Quality needed unless bloom conditions were Zoom approaches for meeting with plant was a milfoil, the distinctive lakes and ponds in the watershed, near to where the original plant had been Assurance measures that are proactive causing the deviation. citizen scientists for classroom-based features (including the emergent flower) and beyond. Because invasive milfoil spotted. The larger patch, especially, and preventative. When one enters a store And winterization of your meter is learning and question-and-answer needed to confirm the identification grows and spreads rapidly, identifying seems to indicate that variable milfoil and a kind attendant hands them a mask, another Quality Assurance step that sessions. And the shift to mail-in meter were not present. The only way to know infested areas early and implementing has been present in the lake for at least this is a reactive or corrective Quality will prolong the life of your meter. It checks was a huge success, with more whether or not Katherine had found an aggressive, immediate control efforts two growing seasons. Control action. If an establishment is particularly important to remove the meters checked in 2020 than in previous invasive milfoil was to send it out for are critical and provide the best hope exceeds the limit on indoor gatherings, batteries from your meter to prevent years. We already have meters being sent DNA testing. Within a day, Katherine of containment. Upon learning the the Health Inspection Program reacts battery leakage from ruining the in for winterization and storage until delivered the live specimen to LSM, and DNA results, a coalition of local, by implementing progressive discipline electronics. We suggest putting the used next year’s meter checks. from there it was taken to the Dr. Lucas regional and statewide partners to correct the situation; another Quality batteries in flashlights or other household Bernacki’s DNA lab at Saint Joseph’s leapt into action. With days, But not being able to safely meet on Control example. items and purchasing fresh batteries for College for analysis. Within a couple of representatives of Androscoggin the boat in groups of 10 was an issue In the LSM water quality realm, the the 2021 season. If you have a galvanic weeks, the results came back: much to Lake Improvement Corporation, 30 in 2020. It is difficult to know if 2021 proactive initial trainings our citizen probe, be sure to remove the membrane everyone’s distress, Katherine’s find was Mile River Watershed Association, will be any different. If you have any scientists receive are Quality Assurance or membrane cap, rinse the probe with indeed invasive variable water-milfoil, Maine Department of Environmental ideas on how we could accomplish actions designed to assure consistency distilled or deionized water and blot it Myriophyllum heterophyllum. Protection, and Lake Stewards of this, please share your thoughts with in how monitoring is conducted and dry to prevent oxidation of the anode Maine were on Zoom, planning a The hunt to determine if there is more variable milfoil us. We very much appreciate your This is the first time an invasive in Inner Cove begins . Photo credit: Roberta Hill . prevent errors from creeping in. Even (silver-coated portion) of the probe. If patience and dedication to keeping a aquatic plant has been found anywhere rapid response strategy for Maine’s the field sheet you complete is a Quality you have an optical probe, make sure watchful eye on our lakes during these in the 30 Mile River watershed, and most recently confirmed infestation. Two days later, Lidie returned to the Assurance tool to make sure you are the sponge is wet and establish a plan to challenging times. it poses a serious threat not only to Once an aquatic invader has been cove with DEP staff, and DEP diver found to be present in a waterbody, Denise Blanchette carefully removed by Contributed by one of the first steps in response is hand all of the invasive milfoil that had Debbie Broderick, to determine the full extent of the been marked in that area. Plants with Pluck IPPer on Lake Arrowhead infestation. This information is needed A second survey was organized for Common Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) to guide management efforts that will October 15th; this time Lidie, Roberta, follow. Ideally the whole waterbody is and Lucy were joined by two additional This carnivorous beauty supplements its nutritional needs by screened during such a baseline infestation Uber-IPPers from ‘away,’ Bunny Wescott trapping living organisms. The little black "bladders" (they're bright survey. However, due to the late season (Panther Pond, Raymond) and Keith green when young) ingest tiny critters with a suction motion when and the fact that many patrollers had Williams (Highland Lake, Windham). triggered. I love seeing them in the lake. Their iridescent green leaves, Searching through a colony of dense native plants already buttoned up their camps and Two divers, one from the DEP and like delicate threads, glow in the underwater light. They remind me for any sign of the invader . Photo credit: Steve had left the lake, efforts this season, Underwood . one from Little Sebago’s milfoil-removal of a fine filigreed piece of jewelry. would of necessity, be more limited. 30 7 team, surveyed deeper waters of the hope that the infestation very well may such a survey will be completed next Connecting the Drops cove. Four additional plant clusters were have been caught early on. This would summer. Whatever the result of that found this time, again, all in the same be great news indeed, as early detection survey, one thing is eminently clear. Funding Our Way During the Pandemic general area. These plants too, were provides the best chance for successful IPPers and their local, regional and removed within a few days. control. The only way to confirm this of statewide allies, by working together, are ortunately, our staff have been able through our new JustGiving online course, is to complete a comprehensive helping to make sure that Androscoggin to work full time keeping programs fundraising platform. Online fundraisers Though the baseline survey is far from F (Level-3) survey of the entire littoral Lake has a fighting chance to prevail running during the pandemic. This have made raising funds easy and FUN! complete, the fact that, so far, the zone of the lake. And thankfully, much against this newest threat. Please contact was possible because much of LSM’s If you spend any amount of time on variable milfoil seems to be confined to due to the efforts and dedication of the Roberta at [email protected] 2020 budget had been secured through social media, you have probably viewed the wetland at the northwestern corner various partners and IPP volunteers, to learn how you can get involved. state agencies, private foundations and or contributed to a fundraiser posted by of Inner Cove, provides a glimmer of by Alison Cooney plans are already underway to ensure other sources prior to the onset of the a family member or friend who is raising LSM Development Coordinator pandemic. Individual supporters and lake money for a special cause. The ideas are communities have continued to support endless, but here are a few to consider: Communication ... continued from page 22 designer. UI/UX, much simple opportunities for those of you our work through generous donations, TM like proper ergonomics, Ask your family and friends to who would like to help us fundraise. If protocol) in the spring, and Mozilla enabling us to achieve funding goals for TM helps the user of a website celebrate your birthday with this interests you, please contact alison@ the nonprofit that makes the Firefox both the Spring and Lake & Regional better navigate, read, a donation to LSM. lakestewardsME.org who can guide you web browser, has been developing a Watershed Association appeals. interpret, and remember through the process of creating your 3-D virtual environment people can use Organize an independent or TM information and messages Looking ahead to next year, there on-line fundraiser as you organize the called Hubs (more information can be group event or challenge like found at hubs.mozilla.com). on a website. are many uncertainties that could kayaking, paddle boarding, event, activity, or challenge to support This is what we are striving significantly impact our budget. State swimming, walking/running, etc. Funds LSM’s citizen lake science programs. Because of the need to transition and Federal funds represent almost 50% for at LSM, to illustrate raised would benefit LSM and support Please begin by visiting www. to distance engagement with our of LSM’s annual operating budget. We LSM put together a series the importance of this volunteer citizen lake science in your lakestewardsofmaine.org and click stakeholders, are uncertain whether costs associated of webinars in lieu of a traditional work in a clear and concise lake community. on the Donate button. You will be A screenshot of Dr . Alan Baker's webinar on algae, from LSM's with the pandemic could change future annual meeting Fridays at 4 for Lakes way. We develop and enact re-directed to LSM’s charity fundraising . If you did not see summer webinar series . For a complete list of State and Federal funding for our Set an invasive aquatic plant recordings webinars, please see page 23 . easy-to-understand and page where you will find a Fundraise for these presentations, we have programs. Meanwhile, LSM continues survey goal! For example, I have available on the LSM website and our highly-replicable training Us button. Follow the steps to set up able to be heard from, and people who to research and seek grants through set a goal to screen one mile of VimeoTM website sessions, administer the compilation and your special LSM fundraiser. Fundraise . Please see page 23 had conflicts in their schedules were charitable foundations, and we are shoreline for invasive aquatic plants curation of high quality lake data for your way! Be creative! Have fun! Friends for information on the Fridays at 4 for still able to watch the recordings. fortunate to already have multi-year grant this summer. Please support my efforts Maine’s lakes, and engage and inspire our and family, especially those who spend Lakes webinar series. commitments from some interested and through a contribution to Lake Stewards With more people at computers and stakeholders and volunteer network with time on a lake, will want to support We also held a number of virtual sessions supportive foundations. In addition, we of Maine. online our websites have seen an presentations and resources. your fundraiser because they know how including trainings, social events, are seeking major donors to support LSM values and appreciates all our lake increase in traffic. Our dataportal much you care about your lake. Thank roundtable discussions, and weekly Resources: specific budget items or programs. stewards who are already volunteering website, LakesOfMaine.org, passed the you in advance for any help! tech support sessions for both water 1,000,000 page view count in mid- https://cyanos.org/bloomwatch/ One way volunteer lake stewards can many hours of their time. Our intent quality and invasive aquatic species lake September, and it has seen increasing https://vimeo.com/lakestewardsofmaine help us with program development is is not to ask more of you, but to offer monitors this past summer and fall— numbers each year. In order to cultivate https://www.youtube.com/channel/ A Legacy for because of the excellent response a cleaner look and to make our websites UCHvwmCgjVAfvIdeOL2HBzBw LSM Sources of Income* Lake Stewardship these weekly sessions are continuing more user-friendly, we have been throughout the year. Perhaps our Give long-term making small changes to both the LSM 3% greatest takeaway from this was the and the LakesOfMaine websites. We 6% sustainability for LSM’s added value these sessions can provide. are currently working with a user 8% mission through a Legacy Folks not usually able to journey to interface, user experience (UI/UX) gift*. We would be deeply Auburn for in-person meetings were 2% State & Federal Funding honored by and grateful Foundations & Grants for inclusion in your Will. Hand Lens... continued from page 15 several weeks under even slightly moist 1 Authors: J M. . Lavery, J . Kurek, K M. . Rühland, C A. . 48% Lake Communities conditions. Decontamination requires Gillis, M F. J. . Pisaric, and J P. . Smol, Exploring the Corporate Support Lake Stewards of Maine- its spread is seen as the best (and currently environmental context of recent Didymosphenia soaking clothing and equipment in hot Individual Donations Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program only) defense against the harmful effects geminata proliferation in Gaspésie, Quebec, using of this species. Anglers, kayakers and water containing a liberal amount of paleolimnology, Canadian Journal of Fisheries Other Tax ID # 01-0502630 and Aquatic Sciences, 26 February https:// canoeists, boaters and jet skiers can detergent. Thoroughly drying clothing 33% cdnsciencepub .com/doi/full/10 .1139/cjfas-2013- 24 Maple Hill Road all unknowingly spread didymo. The and equipment for a minimum of 0442# .UxtL1IVm6So Auburn, ME 04210 microscopic (and virtually invisible) 48-hours can also be effective, but Every donation is matched *Notifying us of your intentions is algal cells cling to fishing gear, waders, only if completely dry conditions are by the thousands of hours boots and boats, and remain viable for maintained. LSM volunteers dedicate to not necessary, but helpful. * Based on FY2019 Budget lake stewardship . 6 31 its challenges, and frankly we cannot In the process of reimagining what wait for the time when there will be no we do and how we do it, and then Passings barriers to being back within physical setting about to make that happen, proximity of all of you. But the good Lake Stewards of Maine has gained Stuart L. "Stu" Belden, a lifelong John Edward “Ed” Knapp was news is, we did it! With your help, many useful new capabilities and a more resident of Arlington, Mass. and a LSM certified lake monitor on support, engagement and patience, inclusive, resilient and adaptable way of summer resident of Sabbathday McCurdy Pond in Bremen. For we stayed connected! And while virtual carrying out our mission. All of this will Lake, passed away peacefully many years, Ed was also LSM connection will never be a substitute have lasting impact on how LSM carries on October 5, 2020 at age 77. (VLMP) Regional Volunteer for physical connection, there is no out its work from now on. (For more on Coordinator for Knox and Beloved husband of Charlene question that technology has provided what Virtual IPP training and technical Farrington Pond – IPPer Keith Williams, happily (Carroll) Belden. Stu was an Lincoln Counties. He will long be us with many new opportunities for support looked like in 2020 please see emersed in a world of connection. Photo credit: active member of the Sabbathday remembered by those who attended making meaningful new connections How Maine’s Invasive Plant Patrol Went Roberta Hill . Lake Association and participated his well-organized re-certification and enhancing those we already enjoy. Virtual below). workshops as collegial, supportive can help keep a critically-important team Stu Belden in many activities. He was active Ed Knapp and interested in hearing about the In this issue of the Water Column you effort going in a time of need. On page in our last Watershed Survey and most recently he was work and interests of all present. will find many more stories by IPPers 30 you will learn how one IPPer’s milfoil a valued member of the Invasive Plant Patrol surveying that build further on this theme of find in Androscoggin Lake, followed sections on the East side of the lake. He loved the lake and Ed also volunteered his time for the Midcoast Conservancy, connection. In her inspiring article on the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association and the by a timely collaborative response are was most happy while entertaining his family and especially page 10, Debbie Broderick describes providing hope for a threatened lake. being active in the lives of his grandchildren. Stu was always Maine Department of Marine Resources Phytoplankton the many interlocking puzzle pieces that happy to do his part in any way to help protect the lake for Research Program. He was a professional mechanical all came together this past summer to So, what has this challenging year of future generations. Stu will be missed by all that knew him! engineer. Described as a “life-long learner”, Ed had many ensure the detection and swift removal of pandemic taught us? Clearly a great deal, personal interests and pursuits ranging from classical a new invader in Lake Arrowhead. Dale but this for certain . . . Even when we are music, ham radio, beekeeping, bread making, fly-fishing, all physically distant from one another, we David Brown Schultz’s article, on page 11, provides (picture not available) was a Panther Pond skiing and jumping horses, to researching genealogy. The littoral zone provides essential habitat (food, are all working together to keep Maine's IPPer (PPIPPer) for over a decade. He snorkeled many shelter, and living space) for a vast and complex practical guidance for conducting snorkel array of species . Here, two mallards stock up on surveys, while connecting to your lake in lakes clear, clean and healthy. And that is sectors along the north shore of Panther. Fellow PPIPPers carbs in preparation for migration. Photo credit: one powerful connection! remember David as a quiet, diligent observer of the lake, Billy Helprin . a whole new way. In her story on page Recently, we learned of the passing 14, Lucy Leaf describes how a solo IPPer and a valuable member of the team. His wife is now being of Dick Thibodeau, following mentored to take over David's sectors. When not at Panther, a lengthy illness. Dick’s history he and his wife wintered in Ponte Vedra, FL. with LSM and Maine lakes is long How Maine’s Invasive Plant Patrol Went Virtual We regret that additional information was not available and rich. He monitored Little Wilson Pond in Turner for 20 Though we greatly look forward to the day when we will be of these sessions have been archived on the LSM website for at the time of this printing. Years, and served on the LSM/ able to provide face-to-face classroom and on-lake workshops, viewing at any time . We look forward to adding to new plant VLMP board of directors, during to lead survey expeditions to more remote parts of the state groups to the online collection in the months to come . "And into the woods I go, to lose which time he provided wise and once again, and to welcome you and your coolers full of plants As LSM’s COVID-19 plan called for all staff to work remotely back to our office, we are nonetheless pleased with how well my mind and find my soul." steady guidance. A professional most of the time, leaving the office only staffed periodically, our transition to doing things virtually turned out in the end . Master Electrician, he volunteered we realized that receiving packages full of live plant specimens ~ John Muir Here are some highlights from the year IPP went virtual . many hours of his time to update Dick Thibodeau was not going to be possible . So we needed to come up with Brian Steinwand was born in the antiquated wiring of LSM’s The Invasive Plant Patrol 101 (certification) workshop is now, a better way to assist IPPers and members of the public with 1950, in Queens, New York. Auburn headquarters. and will contine to be, offered as a three-part online course: their species identifications . Receiving photos via email had already proven to be unweildy and inefficient, so we created He married Robin Waite in 1983 Dick also served on the Turner Conservation Commission • Part 1 provides a general introduction to the threat of aquatic invaders; a spiffy new online Suspicious Aquatic Organism Reporting and they shared over 40 years for many years, during which time he steadfastly advocated Form that not only provides guidance to users on how to take together across the Caribbean, for the protection of several lakes in his community. He was a • Part 2 provides guidance for conducting an invasive a good quality (readable) photograph, but also allows users to Africa, Maryland, and finally longtime member of the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection plant screening survey, including discussion of tools upload multiple images for review by LSM staff . Brian Steinwand and techniques; Maine. Brian loved the outdoors Commission. He served as an Associate Supervisor for the Most fun of all have been the Tuesday Technical Assistance and sharing it with those close to Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, • Part 3 takes a deep dive into Aquatic Plant ID with a focus sessions! These weekly sessions, which ran throughout the him. He spent his life devoted to these things, from his years where he played a valuable role in lake watershed surveys, on the eleven invasive aquatic plants considered to be summer, provided a wonderful gathering place for IPPers of all at the University of Montana doing backcountry research and assisted with many technical visits. most imminent threats to our state, and their native ages and abilities to share experiences, ask questions, discuss look-a-likes . challenges, organize actions, and celebrate our love of lakes and projects, to working in the Peace Corps to provide African The list of organizations and local initiatives that benefited communities with sustainable fishing methods, to regulating Participants who wish to become LSM Certified Invasive Plant the stewardship work that joins us . The first session, the IPPer from Dick’s participation is lengthy. He was a highly Zoom Room which started at 2PM focused quite generally on pesticide use while at the EPA, to helping Lake Stewards of Patrollers must pass a short online quiz at the conclusion of respected, kind, knowledgeable, and much-loved member any issues that pertain to Invasive Plant Patrol that attendees Maine monitor water quality in Saint Albans on both Big each course section . The quiz is optional for all others . Through of his community, where he could always be counted on to this course, we have been able to train and certify many new wished to discuss . Following at 3PM, was What’s This Aquatic and Little Indian ponds. lend a helping hand to those in need. IPPers this year, and we believe the online option will enable us Plant? a super fun (and often illuminating) aquatic botany fest . In his later years, he enjoyed being a part of the Saint Albans In addition to time spent on Little Wilson Pond in Turner, to engage people who may not have engaged otherwise . More More online gathering opportunities are planned through the community. He served on the town's planning board, the Dick enjoyed fishing, camping and being with friends and trained eyes on the water . All good! winter and early spring, so please stay tuned! Big Indian Pond Lake Committee, and worked on the family on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in the Rangeley area. We also created and offered three new Advanced Plant Thank You! To Cabela’s Outdoor Fund town's comprehensive plan. His passion for Maine’s environment was strong and clear Identification webinars, each covering a different plant group: and Bass Pro Shops for supporting for all who were fortunate to have known him. milfoils, bladderworts, and common pondweeds . Recordings our Invasive Plant Patrol trainings.

32 5 peaking Lifelong Lake Love Contributed by Debra Smith, Littorally S Passings Sandra, Laura & Don Richardson, Jr. An Invasive Plant Patroller’s Musings on the Don Richardson was a certified volunteer lake When we were growing up, our family moved a lot monitor on Crystal Lake in Gray, Maine. He because of our father’s job . The one constant was our family camp on Crystal Lake in Gray . This special spot Wonders of Connection also served on LSM’s Development Committee, continues to be an anchor for us, our children and along with his lifelong friend, and fellow grandchildren . have found one thing that all dedicated thrum of an unseen pollinator barely ham radio operator, Lew Wetzel. Don made Invasive Plant Patrollers (IPPers) seem amplified (but just enough) by the waxy Our father, Don Richardson, spent summers on Crystal I many improvements to the plumbing, electrical Lake growing up . It wasn’t until he retired that he to have in common. We are, by nature interior of a Nuphar blossom. by Roberta Hill system and infrastructure of LSM’s facilities in was able to once again spend the entire summer at and inclination, careful observers of the As patrollers we are directly emersed LSM Invasive Species Program Director Auburn. His generosity of spirit, and friendly camp . It was at this time that Don’s friend Lew Wetzel natural world. Perhaps it is this that in a world of connection. Following support were seemingly unlimited. We always introduced him to water quality monitoring and to the gives us an advantage when it comes to well-worn channels through the dense connections—the physical gatherings looked forward to his visits. Lake Stewards of Maine (then, the Maine Volunteer appreciating the connectivity of things, vegetation, and eyeing the stumps of and community events—that we Lake Monitoring Program) . As the child in closest the intricacy and vital interdependency have come to most cherish, that give Don’s wide range of skills came from Don Richardson proximity, Deb became his apprentice, learning to read young trees lined up along the shore professional backgrounds in electrical a Sechhi disk and collect oxygen samples, and following of things in nature. like sharpened pikes, and know we have us strength and replenish our sprits, engineering, community leadership, flight instruction, and a lengthy list Don’s exacting directions on filling in the data sheets for Bringing this inclination to our work as passed into beaver territory long before somehow, in this time of distancing, the of organizations that he volunteered with in addition to LSM. He was a submission . Don liked to get out on the lake to collect IPPers, we soon discover the myriad of thing that I learned most was just how data when there was a satellite flyover, even if it meant pilot for the Life Flight program, and a firewatcher for the Maine Forest ways that aquatic plants are interwoven very dear, how very wondrous, and how going alone . In his last years, it was difficult for him into the fabric of the watery places downright necessary, natural, vital and Service. He is credited with the invention of a portable movie camera first to climb in and out of the boat . But he never lost his they inhabit: how aquatic plants change meaningful, all of these connections are. introduced at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, and the love and commitment to protecting his lake, and other with the seasons and with water level It was connection that weighed most leadership of Sylvania’s educational electronics division. Maine lakes through his volunteer work with LSM . fluctuations; how plant assemblages vary heavily upon our minds back in April of in response to wind and wave exposure, this year, when Maine and much of the to substrate composition, to depth, water country were under strict stay-at-home chemistry, and more. Our watchful eyes orders due to the COVID pandemic, are attuned to detail, which means we and we all suddenly understood that notice signs of connection that others, Perhaps IPPers have a natural advantage when it LSM would not be able to conduct any perhaps—in their hurry to get from here comes to appreciating the connectivity of things. in-person workshops, meetings, events to there—might miss: the delicately- Here, yellow perch swim among the purple bladderwort and waterlily stems . Photo credit: or expeditions for forseeable future. perforated trails left behind by foraging Dennis Roberge . Staying connected became our number herbivores; the vacant exuvia left behind one challenge. How will we maintain Lew Wetzel and Don Richardson invested many hours of their time helping maintain LSM's facilities in Auburn, Maine. on emergent stems by metamorphosed the lodge comes into view. Rounding connection with hundreds of existing insects; the silent schools of tiny fish a point and setting a flock of ducks lake stewards, and with all those who LSM staff, Directors and many of Lew helped facilitate the restructuring of the VLMP (now LSM) that flash suddenly from the safety of suddenly skyward, we methodically would be reaching out to LSM for the Maine’s lake monitoring community when, for many years he volunteered to spend dozens of hours of the leafy shadows into golden shafts of pick our way through the remains— first time for training and support, with were saddened to learn of the recent his time annually assisting staff with the entry of volunteer data sunlight. Our ears alert to the piercing, the tattered bur-reed spikes and the questions or concerns? How will we passing of Lew Wetzel. His past into a database. Not being satisfied with the extent of his efforts, mechanical chatter of kingfishers as they uprooted spatterdock rhizomes—and continue to work closely, and safely, contributions to this organization, he offered his capable services in the maintenance of both hunt the shallows, but also to the low smile to know that the vital carbohydrates with all of our statwide and regional to the Pleasant Lake & Parker our office building in Auburn, and the surrounding grounds. needed to sustain the flock’s southward partners? What would happen to our Pond association, and to his lake Although his professional background was in the field of migration are being harvested. annual conference? How would we, community go far beyond what can electronic engineering, he was a competent plumber, carpenter The connections we see in a single foray as staff, continue to work collectively, be said in this column. and grounds keeper. Late into his 80’s Lew would appear nearly into the littoral zone are too numerous as a tightly-knit team, to manage all every week for several summers with his truck, trailer and mower of this change? It soon became clear Lew introduced himself to us one to count. The connections we don’t see Lew Wetzel summer afternoon nearly 20 years in tow, undertaking all aspects of keeping the grounds looking (as well as those that we may never see, that pretty much every aspect of every well cared for. In 2010 Lew and Don Richardson completely program we had put in place over the ago, when he appeared at our Auburn office with a box of nor ever come to know) are far more rebuilt a utility building at LSM facilities, painted the trim on past few decades through which we underwater photography components, many photos, and a numerous yet. second floor dormers, and undertook aerial feats that none of have carried out our mission—each mind full of ideas about how to survey and document lakes As an ecologist, I must admit, my mind is piece relying to varying degrees upon at for the presence of aquatic invaders. We thanked him for his the staff were willing to do. pretty much always on connection of one least some level of physical connection thoughtful and creative contributions, never imagining how Following his retirement from the board a few years ago, Lew sort or another, so thinking along such and interaction—would have to be energetic and committed to the cause Lew would turn out to be. became LSM’s first “Director Emeritus”. lines is nothing new. But—and here is re-envisioned, re-designed, adapted and Lew quickly became a certified lake monitor, and as his He was an accomplished aircraft pilot and amateur radio the thing—2020 has brought me to see, transitioned to something entirely new. knowledge of lakes increased, he became a mentor to many in operator, and a great story teller, of which there were many. For moreover to feel, the connectivity of the We would need to do our very best to his lake community. He joined the LSM board of Directors, and all of Lew’s generosity of energy, ideas and skills, his greatest gift world and the critical interdependency stay connected in a new way, and that new Kezar reflection – At the most basic level of of all things, more keenly than ever served as Treasurer of the organization for many years. to LSM staff and board was the inspiration that he instilled in us connection, lakes are directly connected to the way was virtually. to believe in the good work of the organization. sky (through the water cycle) and land (through before. In a year when we have all had the watershed) . Photo credit: Roberta Hill . to banish ourselves from so many of the The process of making this transition to We care deeply about Maine's volunteer lake monitors. If you would like to share news of a monitor's passing, please contact us. virtual connection has not been without 4 33 Welcome, New LSM Board Members!

Sue Motley has been a water Joe Musante is the Lakeside Notes quality monitor on Quimby water resources Navigating Turbulent Waters Pond in Rangeley for almost biologist for the twenty years. She serves as a Passamaquoddy utum leaves have fallen, and on workshops, personal meetings, plant patroller and a regional Tribe at Indian Arecent brisk November mornings the nearly-continuous flow of coordinator for water quality Township, having we have been clearly reminded of constituents and the general public monitors in Franklin and worked in their what is soon to come. During the past coming to our work place in Somerset counties. She has been a environmental several weeks, data from LSM citizen Auburn, the annual lake monitoring by Scott Williams LSM Executive Director team leader for watershed surveys department since lake monitors have been arriving in conference, meetings with our Sue Motley and a LakeSmart evaluator/ Joe Musante 2004. Previously, droves. And while all of this sounds partners, and much more. We are and webinars, and dealing with lower coordinator. She formed a lake he graduated “normal”, given the time of year, six genuinely energized and inspired by profile, but nonetheless essential association, The Friends of Quimby Pond, and headed with a BoA and a BoS from the University of Maine months ago we were uncertain about our many personal connections with organizational and administrative up the organization for 11 years. She compiled and wrote at Machias in 2002, all while working with his the extent to which LSM volunteers all of you! issues, summer went by very quickly! a handbook titled Caring for Quimby Pond. mentor, Norman Famous. The pair conducted all would be able to undertake their Our obvious highest priority was We have been deeply heartened by manner of environmental field work around Maine, Prior to her retirement several years ago, she spent nearly valuable work during the upcoming to ensure the safety of both staff the continuous encouragement and but predominantly in Washington County. forty years working as an Emergency Medicine Physician summer season. We should have and volunteers. With that in mind, support offered by many partner Assistant. She has worked in various hospitals in the state Joe now spends most of his summer field seasons known better than to doubt a group we made the difficult decision to organizations, lake communities including MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville/ tracking the water quality of the lakes on the West of extraordinary people who have not conduct in-person workshops, and others. Supporting charitable Augusta, Maine Medical Center in Portland, and Eastern Branch of the St. Croix River Watershed, as well as time and again demonstrated their meetings or conferences last summer. foundations showed empathy and Maine Medical Center in Bangor. She has a bachelor’s surveying for invasive aquatic plants. In his spare time determined commitment to “getting Fortunately technology would allow compassion, offering to do what degree in biology from St. Andrews University in North Joe thoroughly enjoys gardening, foraging for wild the job done”. us to continue to communicate they could to reduce the stresses of Carolina and a Physician Assistant certification from mushrooms, fishing, and spending time outdoors Even so, the last several months have regularly with all existing volunteers, uncertainty. Most of our wonderful Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Whether where he lives in Machiasport. been anything but normal. When whether by phone, email or volunteers were able to get out on it’s Quimby Pond, the Kennebec River, the Kenduskeag LSM staff and board of directors were videoconference. New volunteers the water and do what they have Stream, Casco Bay, or the Rappahannock River, she has confronted with the circumstances of were also able to participate in been doing for decades – helping never lived far from the water. an impending pandemic in April, online training workshops, but the to protect the health of Maine’s In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, including planning for the busy summer season important on-the-water component lakes by monitoring water quality, bicycling, photography, and travel. was already well underway. For several was necessarily delayed until such screening for invasive aquatic species, days, everything came to an abrupt time when it will be safe to work with identifying and helping to resolve halt while we attempted to become people in person. problems in their watersheds, and informed about the implications of We all anticipated a somewhat less- spreading their wise stewardship Despite these challenging times, these the COVID-19 virus, so that we hectic summer than normal, but throughout their lake communities. businesses have provided funds to help with might formulate a safe, effective and quickly learned that reinventing the On behalf of all LSM staff and efficient work plan for ourselves and the printing and production of this newsletter. wheel is both time-consuming and a members of the board of directors, all of you. bit stressful! Between restructuring, we wish all of you and your families You can help to thank them for supporting LSM, During normal times, the summer replying to thousands (really) of good health, and hope that the New by patronizing their business! months are filled with daily personal phone and email inquiries, planning Year will bring better times. interactions through training and conducting online workshops

2021 LSM Annual Conference ROOSTER BROTHER THE STORE FOR COOKS LSM plans to hold an annual conference in AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM www .nessoil .com www .roosterbrother .com July, 2021. Details will be made available at a later date.

34 3 What’s Inside: President's Message ...... 2 President’s Lakeside Notes ~ Navigating Turbulent Waters . . . . . 3 Littorally Speaking ~ Wonders of Connection ...... 4 Connecting the Drops ~ Funding During the Pandemic . . . 6 Quality Counts ~ Quality Assurance & Quality Control . . . 7 Message Georges Pond Alum Treatment ...... 8 Barb Welch Meet Maine's Lake Stewards! ...... 9 President, LSM Board of Directors Under the Hand Lens ~ Didymo ...... 15 Influences of Extreme Weather on Maine Lakes . . . 16 his has been a different kind on blooming lakes, as well as meeting Thank You to our Generous Donors! ...... 18 of year for all of us, and a very with monitors from individual lakes Changes to Communication & Technology . . . . . 22 T Fridays at 4 For Lakes Webinar Series . . . . . 23 difficult year for many. I hope you are that were experiencing problems. Gloeotrichia in Time & Space ...... 24 doing okay and you and your families They answered more email and 2020 Watershed Survey Grant Recipients . . . 25 are well. telephone questions than ever before. Late Season Algae "Flash Blooms" in Lakes . . . 26 Despite, as well as considering the In addition, staff continued to apply Big Lake Infestation Update ...... 28 COVID-19 situation this year, I am for grants, looked for new ways Variable Water-Milfoil in Adroscoggin Lake . . . 30 so proud of what the LSM staff to connect with donors, and tried Passings ...... 32 and hundreds of volunteer monitors some innovative fundraising to keep Welcome New LSM Board Members! ...... 34 accomplished this sampling season. programs running. LSM Staff Come April, in the face of COVID- And staff were all in their separate Scott Williams Executive Director Roberta Hill Invasive Species Program Director 19, LSM’s usual protocols for gearing homes; no heads together over the Jonnie Maloney Program Coordinator up for trainings, developing schedules, conference table. They were still a Christine Guerette Project Facilitator checking equipment, sampling, team, though, and each used their Alison Cooney Development Coordinator attending lake association and skills, experience, and ingenuity to Tristan Taber Training & Technical Outreach Coordinator professional meetings were obsolete. put together programs that gathered Board of Directors So, at first, we thought it would be a water quality data as accurately as Barb Welch, President (Whitefield) quiet summer, since not much could before, supported Invasive Plant It’s the Bill Monagle, Vice President (Winthrop) be accomplished because in-person Patrollers from afar, and kept LSM Sibyl French, Treasurer (Raymond) training, meetings, even traveling running and afloat. Phoebe Hardesty, Secretary (New Gloucester) together were no longer advisable. time of your life! Linda Bacon QA/QC Advisor (Maine DEP) The volunteers were intrepid. They Locally owned and managed, with a proud 30+ year history Robert French (Raymond) Staff soon figured out, however, they collected data on hundreds of lakes. If Sue Motley (Rangeley) of excellence in sustainable retirement living, OceanView could still train and support volunteers someone out-of-state couldn’t make it Joe Musante (Princeton) using technology. They learned back to Maine, they found substitutes. is just minutes from Portland. Offering an independent, Advisory Board how to do remote training, host Some of the Invasive Plant Patrollers Aria Amirbahman, PhD Steve Norton, PhD active lifestyle on 80 beautifully wooded acres, you can enjoy seminars, do quality control, identify (IPPers), we call them Uber IPPers, Roy Bouchard, MS Firooza Pavri, PhD maintenance-free living in a wide variety of cottages and Holly Ewing, PhD Matt Scott, MS specimens… over Zoom. Thank took it upon themselves to organize C . Barre Hellquist, PhD Ken Wagner, PhD goodness for Zoom. They hosted local teams to survey new lakes. apartments, with peace of mind for the future. Lloyd Irland, PhD Pixie Williams, MS weekly seminars for 9 weeks with Some found some new infestations David Littell, JD Karen Wilson, PhD an average attendance of 50 people, (ugh). Maine’s citizen lake scientists Layout & Design by Jonnie Maloney, LSM Program Coordinator twice-weekly workshops for Invasive continued to monitor our lakes Cover Photo: Nymphaea odorata, taken by Dennis Plant Patrollers, a weekly support efficiently, effectively, and safely. Roberge . Please enjoy this photo as much as we do— session for water quality monitors, My thanks, respect and admiration it's lovely, mesmerizing, peaceful, and tranquil—a weekly conferences with EPA, DEP to all who helped make this summer’s little something we could all use right now, and a true and other New England collaborators work of art, courtesy of Mother Nature . . monitoring season so successful.

Funding for this newsletter is made This newsletter is printed on 30% possible in part by grants from the Maine post-consumer recycled paper, and For more information about virtual tours Department of Environmental Protection, is produced and mailed by Penmor visit our website or call today! the US Environmental Protection Agency, Lithographers, Lewiston, Maine. oceanviewrc.com • 207-781-4460 the Lake and River Protection Sticker Fund, Foundation Grants, individual donations 20 Blueberry Lane, Falmouth, ME 04105 To Contact Us and corporate underwriting. (207) 783-7733 Stewards@LakeStewardsME org. 24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, Maine 04210 This locally owned and managed retirement community is proud www .LakeStewardsOfMaine .org If you would like to go green and receive the Water Column in electronic format, www .LakesOfMaine .org please contact LSM at (207) 783-7733 or [email protected]. to underwrite the important work of the Lake Stewards of Maine 2 35 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID the Lewiston, ME Permit # 82 Water C lumn ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED The Newsletter of Lake Stewards of Maine - Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program

Vol. 25, No. 1 Celebrating the Work of Maine's Citizen Lake Stewards Winter 2020-21

Would you like to contribute to the growth and sustainability of LSM? Consider Becoming an LSM Board Member re you enthusiastic about the work of LSM? Looking well as various experience and skills to the job; others are Ato support a good cause, for a way to give back to in the field of lake science or environmental conservation. your community, or to help the lakes of Maine? The LSM The Board of Directors meets 4-6 times annually at Board of Directors welcomes you to apply for a position the LSM Center for Citizen Lake Science, in Auburn, on our board, or one of our subcommittees. Maine, and also through videoconferencing. Meetings The Board develops policy, oversees fiduciary matters, typically take place on weekday mornings, and may last and works with an enthusiastic staff. We help with the until early afternoon. annual conference, fundraising, and outreach to the Please contact LSM Executive Director, Scott public, and some of us even volunteer in the Williams, if you are interested in a position on field, working alongside LSM staff. We the LSM Board, joining a subcommittee, or are particularly interested in bringing if you have questions. Following an initial on new board members who have discussion, candidates will be interviewed knowledge and experience in the areas by a subcommittee of the Board, and the of marketing, fundraising and program Board will act upon all applications. These development. Some of our Directors are are volunteer positions. monitors who bring that background, as 36