BACKGROUND REVIEW: Due to the declining water quality and development pressures within the watershed, Horne Pond is listed by the Maine DEP on the Maine Nonpoint Source Priority Watersheds List and
Watersheds Most at Risk from Development.
In June 2011, a watershed survey was conducted on Horne Pond and compiled in the Horne Pond (Pequawket Lake)
Watershed Survey Report.
Volunteers recorded 48 sites within the Horne Pond water-shed with erosion issues that are directly or indirectly jeopard-izing the pond’s water quality. Residential sites accounted for the largest number of sites impacting the Pond.
With these findings, the project partners were able to apply for more funding for implementation work to improve many of these problem sites.
The purpose of this project is to reduce erosion and polluted runoff sources to Horne Pond by installing conservation prac-tices at five (5) private road erosion sites and fifteen (15) pri-ority residential sites and providing technical assistance to at minimum twenty (20) landowners; Ultimately, the goal is to protect and improve the water quality of Horne Pond and the downstream water bodies of the Ossipee and Saco Rivers.
PROJECT UPDATE:
A steering committee has been formed consisting of mem-bers of the project partner groups which will meet regularly to guide the progression of projects and provide project over-sight.
Workshops called septic socials will
take place both this summer and next in key neighborhoods.
Erosion control projects will begin this summer and will include high prior-ity road and residential sites, as well as Moy-Mo-Da-Yo-Beach.
Technical assistance is available! Please contact York SWCD for a site visit if you think your property or camp road has an erosion issue.
Horne Pond Horne Pond Horne Pond (Pequawket Lake)(Pequawket Lake)(Pequawket Lake)
Watershed Watershed Watershed Improvement Improvement Improvement
Protection ProjectProtection ProjectProtection Project Survey Volunteers, June 2011
Project Partners: Pequawket Lake Preservation Association
(PLPA) Pequawket Lake Road Management Associ-
ation (PLRMA) Moy-Mo-Da-Yo Recreation Oversight Com-
mittee (MMDYROC) The Town of Limington
Maine Department of Environmental Protec-tion (MDEP)
York County Soil and Water Conservation
District (YCSWCD)
Every land use has aspects that can be improved and there are numerous resources to aid in this improvement. The Maine DEP and Portland Water District developed a series of fact sheets that answer many common how-to questions
about conservation practices. Download from: http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/docwatershed/materials.htm
Technical assistance is available! For a visit, please contact:
York County SWCD Theresa Galvin, Project Manager
http://www.yorkswcd.org 207.324.0888 ext. 208
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Pequawket Lake Preservation Association
http://theplpa.org
Wendy Garland Maine DEP
Theresa Galvin York County SWCD
[email protected] 207-324-0888
How can you become involved in this project?
Contact the PLPA to volunteer, find out more information or become a member.
Offer to host a septic social at your camp. A septic social is an informal gathering of friends and neighbors (usually 8-15 people) for a relaxed, infor-mal presentation by YCSWCD about septic system maintenance. Who knew septic systems could be so much fun?
Schedule a site visit at your residence if you think you have an erosion
problem.
What else can you do to help? Everyone can do their part to keep Pequawket Lake clean – not just the folks who own property right on the shore! Even if your house is across the street from the pond, how you manage your land and household activities can affect the water. Here are a few simple actions you can take to protect the lake:
Prevent soil erosion – re-seed or mulch areas of bare soil. Plant trees, shrubs, and groundcovers to reduce the size of your lawn and absorb excess nutrients.
Reduce or eliminate the use of phosphorus in fertilizers. Use phosphorus-free fertilizer if you must fertilize, and consider alternatives such as spot treat-ments, lime or compost.
Maintain your driveway and camp road by re-grading and crowning regularly to keep the water off the road. Sediment washed from the road surface or ditches usually ends up in the lake.
Funding for this project, in part, is provided by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water
Act. Section 319 grants are administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with EPA.
