Update:

The first meeting of the Sebasticook Lake Watershed Plan/Grant Committee met with Jennifer Jesperson of Ecological Instincts, Environmental Consulting and EcoDesign on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 to review the draft scope of work for the 604(b) grant application before DEP releases the request for application (RFA) on March 9, 2022.

1. Track down benthic mapping study conducted by PhD student from Unity College. Jen review and determine if data is adequate to use for volume/depth/area calculations for internal loading analysis.
2.  Confirm ability of SLA to collect P samples in the lake in April, May, and October (or until turn-over) when Allen is away. Develop list of interested volunteers to be trained and help with sampling.
3.  Check with DEP regarding plankton data collected by Dave Halliwell
4.  Follow-up with Nate Gray at DMR regarding recent alewife monitoring efforts
5. Track down 2002/2003 septic survey data
6. Report back to Jen on # of developed parcels on the shoreline of the lake.
7. Develop a strategy and estimated hours for creation of a septic system database and tracking system
8. Discussion about municipal ordinance review
9. SLA programs and estimated hours and costs for newsletters, website updates and other outreach that can be counted as match for the grant

Other Project Considerations

1. What are the impacts of legacy pollutants in the stream from the Eastland Woolen Mill in Corinna?
2. What are the long-term temperature trends in the lake?
3. What is the current extent of internal phosphorus loading and what are the management recommendations to address it?
4. Waterfowl counts- Is there local interest in doing bird counts? Or utilize the Cornell eBirds data? Is fecal coliform a concern?
5. SLA’s Role- Help lead volunteer shoreline survey with help from DEP, recruit volunteers, outreach (newsletters, public meeting), conduct in-lake monitoring with training from DEP, assist with septic survey

Your gift of TIME this summer will really help this project come to fruition; you could take photographs of the shoreline from your boat and email it to Jennifer at jen@ecoinstincts.com, and/or share any salient information you may have regarding the ‘Other Project Considerations’, collect some water samples in your area, complete a check-list of your property – no hideously time-consuming projects and nothing too strenuous…. it IS SUMMERTIME, after all!!! 

I will keep you in the loop.

SLA President Muf Pare