PROGRAM OVERVIEW
In the summertime, you’re likely to see them wandering carefree in town, swimming, fishing or perhaps reefing a sail when there’s a chop on the water. Not so visibly, these people on the BLA Water Quality Committee translate their love of the lakes into volunteer activities designed to “Protect and Preserve” the lakes for everyone.
Their programs target phosphorous pollution, pollution results like Gloeotrichia blooms, invasion by exotic plants and animals, and nuisance infestations like Duck Itch
This year they will concentrate on establishing a long term water quality monitoring program built upon the 2005-6 Gloeotrichia Research Project conducted with Colby College and the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)ˇXsee Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
For the short term, in response to everyone’s concern about the recent Gloeotrichia blooms, field trials of possible localized remedies are on the docketˇXsee Green Upon the Water
Added emphasis will be given to “LakeSmart”, an award program developed by the DEP to effectively educate and assist property owners to manage their property in an environmentally friendly manner.
Well established now, the Volunteer Courtesy Boat Inspection Program with participation by a Water Quality committee members will be overseen by BRCA Lake Trust.
To be sure that invasive plants will be detected at the earliest possible moment, five public boat landings and the Belgrade Stream will again be surveyed by volunteers in canoes, kayaks and scuba gearˇXsee Invasive Plant Patrol.
Secchi disk readings and Dissolved Oxygen measurements, indications of water quality, will again be taken by BLA members through the Volunteer Lake Management Program (VLMP), and some further sampling will be added to extend established research interests.
Committee members are: Mark Heuberger (Chair), Michael Bernstein, Alan Charles, Pat Donahue, Dave Estey, Blaine Kopp, Bob Manning, Peter McManus, Sarah Melvin, Phil Milville, Dean Peterson, Maggie Shannon, Bruce Williams, and Bill Witkin.
If you have an idea, send it along with one of the committee members, e-mail us, or better yet, come yourself and tell us about it. We welcome your thoughts and are always on the lookout for new volunteers.
LakeSmart Program
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