Protecting the Pierce Pond watershed for thirty-one years Threats from Afar Winter 2020 newsletter—volume 9 When conserving land isn’t enough —Jerry Bley submerged aquatic plants that, when introduced into a lake or pond, can quickly The Pierce Pond Watershed Trust expand to create dense beds and mats. has excelled in conserving land over the past 30 years, success- According to the Maine DEP, milfoil fully eliminating development infestations, “have the potential to be rights in the Pierce Pond devastating with dense mats impairing watershed. Today, our full efforts boating, fishing and swimming.” Hydrilla (an are focused on acquiring lands to invasive native to Africa, Australia, and parts greatly improve stewardship of of Asia) is a prolific weed that forms stems up the watershed. to 30 feet long which can dominate freshwater ecosystems quickly. All three can reproduce However, even when we achieve from fragments created by boats, swimmers, our objective of owning most or animals. DEP states that “the introduction watershed land, there will be of one single fragment of this plant can result many threats from afar – most in the infestation of an entire lake. Once A Variable-Leaf-Milfoil-Infested Lake in Maine notably those posed by invasive introduced into a lake, they are virtually and introduced plants and impossible to eradicate.” animals that have the potential to disrupt the watershed’s natural When asked about the vulnerability of Pierce ecosystems. To better understand Pond and other ponds in the watershed, DEP’s today’s and tomorrow’s threats, McPhedran noted that the watershed has the we spoke with two experts; following factors working in its favor that Biologist John McPhedran of the reduce the risk of invasive species infestation: Invasive Aquatic Species Program Most reports of aquatic invasives have been of the Maine Department of within the southwest quadrant of the state on Environmental Protection (Maine ponds that are far more accessible than Pierce DEP), and Assistant Regional Pond. However, McPhedran notes that there Fisheries Biologist Elizabeth has been a documented report of variable-leaf Thorndike, who is based in the milfoil in Big Lake in Washington County. Maine Department of Inland Grand Lake Stream, with its renowned Fisheries & Wildlife (Maine landlocked salmon fishery, flows into Big IF&W) Region D Office in Strong. Lake from West Grand Lake. Known threats in Maine The most common aquatic invasives favor Under Maine law, eleven plant shallow areas (<20' deep), so would not likely species have been designated as thrive in most of Pierce Pond. invasive aquatics: introduced Pierce Pond has limited public boat-access foreign plants that can grow points. Travelers to the most utilized boat rapidly, displace native species, access site, Lindsay Cove, must pass the and disrupt ecosystems. The most gatehouse, where the keeper is trained to notable invasives on this list are Northern Pike, Torsey Pond, Readfield, Maine inspect incoming boats and educate users. Once a non-native fish species is illegally introduced, that two types of milfoil – variable- water is forever changed. leaf milfoil and Eurasian milfoil – Many of the boats used in Pierce Pond and along with hydrilla. All three are the outlying ponds are rental boats from continued on page 7 page 2 Winter 2020—Volume 9 Pierce Pond Watershed Trust Message from the President Board of Directors We are entering our 31st year with a new first came to their Abbe Island camp in the name, a name that clearly and unequivocally 1940s, and Anne and other members of the President: Carl Freeman, Hampden, ME expresses our mission and focus: the Pierce extended Abbe clan have enjoyed Pierce Pond 1st Vice Pres: Bud Meader, Rochester, NH Pond Watershed Trust. Nearly half of our ever since. members took the trouble to send a postcard, 2nd Vice Pres: Eric Saunders, Cumberland, ME The Board of Directors, recognizing the e-mail, or call to share their opinion and importance of the next generation to the Treasurer: Mike Peluso, Oakham, MA comments, and 94 percent of those preservation of our watershed, approved a Secretary: David B. Soule, Jr., Wiscasset, ME responding voted in favor of the new name. new $5 youth membership for those 17 People on both sides of the issue submitted and under. Directors: impassioned comments. Some felt that the Charles Burnham, Strafford, NH history and spirit of “Maine Wilderness We were able to accelerate trails renovation Watershed Trust” should not be abandoned, work thanks to a generous match-grant Anne Dougherty, Plymouth Meeting, PA but most felt strongly that our name should opportunity from Glen and Linda Grigerek, Benjamin Gale, Middleburg, VA reflect our mission, which is “to protect the and the generosity of members who stepped up with qualifying gifts to meet the match! A Jack Gibson, Norridgewock, ME wild character, natural resources, and scenic beauty of the Pierce Pond watershed, and total of 31 members donated gifts of $1,000 or Chas Gill, Bowdoinham, ME preserve traditional public recreational use of more to be used for future care and Christina Jackson, Yarmouth, ME the area.” Some members told us that they stewardship of the watershed, thereby enabling us to obtain a $50,000 grant for trail Lisa Langburd, Poland, ME would have joined a long time ago if they’d renovation and construction. known that Pierce Pond was our focus. By far Gene McKenna, Bowdoinham, ME the most common comment Last summer’s (2nd Annual) Ann Messinger, Portland, ME was “Yes! Change the Trail-Clearing Day was once Jim Norris, Winthrop, ME name!!!” So we are now again a great success. Loyal “doing business as” Pierce volunteers showed up on July David Peppard, Eddington, ME Pond Watershed Trust, while 27 armed with tools, work Derek Pierce, Portland, ME Maine Wilderness Watershed gloves, and bug spray to clear Jane Podkaminer, Jamesville, NY Trust remains our legal and blaze a rerouted trail from name, preserving the validity Upper Pond to Kilgore Pond. Advisory Committee of pre-existing legal The old trail to Kilgore John Cashwell, Bangor, ME instruments. Special thanks follows a low, wet route. The are owed to Allison (Peluso) new route is on high-and-dry Andy Cobb, North Anson, ME Mathieu for designing our ground that makes for a really Gary Cobb, N. New Portland, ME new Pierce Pond Watershed nice hike. This trail is the first segment of a planned five-mile Greg Drummond, Highland Plantation, ME Trust logo in a way that both updates and maintains loop trail that will link Upper Yasmin Fahr, New York, NY consistency with our Trail-Day Volunteers, July 2019 Pond, Kilgore Pond, King Robert Haynes, Skowhegan, ME previous MWWT logo. Pond, Split Rock Pond, and Middle Pond. The loop will use a combination Larry Valentine, Norton, MA Other recent developments include the of existing trails, rerouted trails, and the Roland Ware, Portland, ME following: woods road along Pierce Pond, as well as some new sections of trail. The loop trail will We have been offered the donation of a Contracted Services be the first of its kind in the water-shed, strategic one-acre parcel of land from the Jerry Bley, Readfield, ME providing a high quality hiking route that Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust Coordinator connects numerous watershed ponds. (MATLT). It is adjacent to the Appalachian Kyle McCaskill, Lisbon Falls, ME Trail corridor as well as to Harrison’s Camps. The continued and growing support (both Administrative Manager financial and physical) for our trails We have completed much-needed repairs to development activities reflects the generational Otter Pond Cove Road to ensure that people changes taking place within our membership. can drive to Otter Pond Cove and the Otter Pierce Pond Watershed Trust Our anglers are being joined by family- Pond Mountain trailhead. Also, Bud Meader PO Box 5660 and his crew cleaned and renovated the oriented members seeking different ways to Augusta, Maine 04332-5660 caretakers cabin. enjoy the watershed and the ponds. Their (207) 835-4535 involvement is strong and growing, and they In 2019 we were pleased to welcome a new are part of the future of the Pierce Pond [email protected] director to the Board, Anne Stallman Watershed Trust. www.piercepondwatershed.org Dougherty. Anne’s grandfather, Charles Abbe, [email protected] Pierce Pond Watershed Trust page 3 longer than we expected. It grew dark, and Rediscovering Paradise we were becoming nervous. Suddenly we Pearning —Kyle McCaskill came over the hill and saw the water. “Holy —Sarah Corbett (reprinted from New York smoke,” I said, “This place is absolutely Magazine with permission) I caught up with Ben Gale recently and asked him beautiful.” When I got out of the car, I had a why he has always been so supportive of the Trust. sudden flash, and was flooded with memories. Each July, a very small group of friends and This is what he told me: I knew this would be my new paradise. I spend seven days together on a remote, When I was little, my I joined the Maine Wilderness Watershed miles-long pond in Maine. (I don’t know grandmother Blossom Trust during that first visit to Pierce Pond. I why it’s called a pond as opposed to a lake.) in Florida had a told them I sat on a charitable foundation that To get there, you drive about two hours on gardener—a man might be able to help. I wasn’t able to get the highway, then another hour on country named Eddie Pierce, back to Cobb’s until 1996, but I never forgot roads, then 20 minutes down a dirt logging who taught me how to that special place, and was able to procure the road, and then you catch a boat to this fish, drink beer, smoke first grants for the Trust in 1993 and 1995.