Current News and Updates
1/30/12 Looking for a place to walk, ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile this winter?
Check out the West Branch Preserve in Somerville and Jefferson or the Davis Stream Preserve in Jefferson. Click here for directions and maps.
1/17/12 District forester Morton Moesswilde will talk about managing your timber harvest at DLWA in February -- sign up today!
On Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 6-8 p.m. Maine Forest Service District Forester Morten Moesswilde will talk about harvest planning, working with professional foresters and loggers, different harvest methods, wood values, closing out the job, and other aspects of harvesting. Proper harvesting can meet several goals - providing income, improving growth for the future, maintaining aesthetics, enhancing certain types of wildlife habitat, etc. This program is geared toward any landowner who has ever considered having some of their timber cut. There is no fee, but pre-registration is required. Maximum of 25, minimum of 10 participants. Please register by contacting DLWA at 207-549-3836 or Julia@dlwa.org.
1/9/12 Learn about tracking animals in winter with Nancy Holmes
Nancy will be leading her popular indoor and outdoor tracking workshops twice this winter -- once in the south (Damariscotta and Newcastle) and once in the north (Jefferson). Check out the Events Calendar for more details.
11/28/11 Join us this Sunday to cut your own Christmas tree
 This Sunday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. DLWA is hosting its second annual Christmas tree cutting in the West Branch Preserve in Somerville. Join us for family fun, a wagon ride courtesy of County Fair Farm, and hot drinks and sweets. Choose, cut and take home your own traditional Christmas tree. The cost is a $25 donation to DLWA.
Only half an hour from Damariscotta, Camden and Augusta, the West Branch Preserve is accessed off North Mountain Road in Somerville, just across the Jefferson line. From downtown Jefferson, follow Village Street past the post office and take a left on North Mountain Road. Stay on North Mountain Road until you see a sign for the event on the right. From Route 17, turn onto Jones Road then take a left on North Mountain Road and look for a sign on the left.
While spending time enjoying the outdoors with your family, you can discover the beauty of the West Branch Preserve, which is open to the public for many forms of recreation, including hunting, snowmobiling, hiking, mountain biking and more.
For more information, contact Julia McLeod at 549-3836 or Julia@dlwa.org.
11/17/11 DLWA is on Facebook!
Check it out and stay in touch at www.facebook.com/DamariscottaLake.
9/22/11 Hydrilla found in Davis Stream
The invasive plant, hydrilla, has been discovered in Davis Stream, which is one of the major tributaries to Damariscotta Lake. The Maine DEP and DLWA staff and volunteers surveyed the stream to gauge the extent of the infestation (which isn't huge) and removed the plants by hand. Containing this dangerous plant will require an ongoing effort by volunteers. Please contact DLWA at 207-549-3836 or Julia@dlwa.org if you are interested in helping out.
Check out news stories about the infestation in the Lincoln County News and on the Channel 6 news.
As of Sept. 23 there will be a surface use restriction on Davis Stream, meaning that DEP and IF&W have banned all boats from traveling in the area 400 feet upstream of the Jefferson Market's dock upstream to Route 126. This will be in place until the stream ices over this winter.
9/6/11 Fall is our time for trail work, and we could really use your help
We've scheduled two trail work days for Oct. 1 and Oct. 29, both starting at 9:30 a.m. at the DLWA office.
From there we'll carpool to the West Branch Preserve or Davis Stream Preserve. We'll be lopping branches, cutting blowdowns, painting blazes, fixing bridges, and more. Please bring your own gloves and pruners if you have them. Please let Julia know if you plan to come by sending an email to Julia@dlwa.org.
9/2/11 Milfoil caught before entering Damariscotta Lake!
On August 14, our summer staff person, Amanda Moeser, picked several plants of Eurasian water-milfoil off two jet skis that were about to be put in Damariscotta Lake at the Bunker Hill Road boat launch in Jefferson. Eurasian water-milfoil is an invasive species that outcompetes native species and negatively impacts recreation and the local economy. It can start a new infestation from a small fragment. Finding this plant just before it entered the lake reinforces the importance of boat inspections, as boats and trailers are the most common way invasive plants move between water bodies. Click here to download and read the press release DLWA sent to local papers. Click here to read more about what you can do to help protect Damariscotta Lake from invasive plants. Nice catch Amanda!
9/1/11 Our condolences to the friends and family of past DLWA president Charles "Bud" Day
We're sorry to report that Charles "Bud" Day passed away August 17. A former DLWA president, he split his time between a lakefront cottage in Nobleboro and a year-round home in Damariscotta. He is survived by his wife, Jean and daughters, Amy and Beth. Memorial services will take place on September 10 at 2 p.m. at the St. Andrews Church on Glidden Street in Newcastle.
The family has asked that memorial donations be given to DLWA to protect the lake he cared so much about. Donations can be mailed to DLWA, PO Box 3, Jefferson, ME 04348. Please note in the subject line, "In memory of Bud Day."
8/5/11 Check out our summer newsletter
6/17/11 New book of historic photographs of Damariscotta Lake and its surrounding communities comes out in July
 Reserve your copy of the new Images of America book, "Damariscotta Lake." Through photographs and text, the book shows how people around the lake have used and enjoyed it since the first European settlers came in the 1700s. This book makes a great gift! All profits from the book sales go to the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association and the Nobleboro, Newcastle and Jefferson Historical Societies. Please support these four nonprofits by buying the book directly from us and not from a bookstore or online. To reserve a book, contact Julia McLeod at 207-549-3836 or Julia@dlwa.org. The books will be available for pick-up starting July 11, and they will be for sale at our annual meeting on July 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the Willow Grange in Jefferson.
6/1/11 Link to weekly Courtesy Boat Inspection calendar.
To our dedicated CBI volunteers-- you can now access the weekly CBI calendar by clicking this link: www.google.com/calendar. You will still need to enter the username (dlwacbi@gmail.com) and password (hydrilla). Click on the open slot of your choice, and simply replace "Need Volunteer" with your name and phone number. Thanks again for your time and hard work this summer!
5/5/11 Sign your child up for a free fishing trip!
You're invited to the second annual Damariscotta Lake Hooked on Fishing event on Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Damariscotta Lake State Park. Children can sign up in advance for free one-hour fishing trips on the lake with experienced anglers. Food and activities will be available on shore. The first 50 families to register get into the park for free. Contact Julia to register at 549-3836 or Julia@dlwa.org.
3/31/11 Need help with your camp road?
The Maine DEP and the soil and water conservation districts are offering free technical assistance to a limited number of road associations. Click here to download a flyer or contact Kathy Hoppe at DEP for more information at Kathy.M.Hoppe@Maine.gov or 207-760-3134.
3/18/11 Our winter newsletter focuses on land protection
Check it out! Click here to download a PDF.
1/26/11 Woodcocks, wood ducks, land protection and more
You're invited to one or more of a series of events and activities we're hosting this winter and spring, starting with maintenance on wood duck nesting boxes and an animal tracking workshop next week. All are welcome. Check out our online Events Calendar for more information.
12/13/10 New Ice Safety Website
Do you enjoy skating, walking, snowmobiling, sailing or fishing on frozen lakes and ponds? Stay safe by learning more about
how ice behaves and what sorts of hazards you might find in various circumstances by visiting http://lakeice.squarespace.com/.
12/6/10 Family fun in Somerville: DLWA's first cut-your-own Christmas tree event a success at the West Branch Preserve
 DLWA held it’s first cut-your-own Christmas tree event at the West Branch Preserve on Dec. 5.
Eighteen families brought home trees, at $25 each, and DLWA brought in $455. This is around 70% of the $650 DLWA pays in annual taxes on the property to the town of Somerville.
It was a fun event, thanks to numerous volunteers. Some families traveled quite a distance to come, and many were visiting the preserve for the first time.
Thanks to the Events Committee, who organized the activity and volunteered the day of: Sandy Andrejcak, Mary Sheldon, Suzanne Dwyer, Meradith Hill, Joni Jackson and Linda Pierpont.
Thanks also to other event volunteers: Bill Hill, Al Andrejcak, John Hartman, Joy Knowlton, Brad Craig and Andy McLeod.
A big thank you goes out to Sue Williamson of County Fair Farm for providing wagon rides with her tractor. The West Branch Preserve is open to the public for many forms of recreation, including hunting, snowmobiling, hiking, mountain biking and more. Download a trail map here.
8/30/10 Invasive plant survey update
Thanks to more than 175 volunteers and several interns and staff members, it looks like we're going to be able to check nearly the entire shoreline of Damariscotta Lake for signs of Hydrilla! No more Hydrilla has been found! Click here for more information on the invasive plant survey.
8/23/10 Prehistoric creatures and carnivorous plants in Damariscotta Lake
Click here to download and read a fascinating article written by one of our seasonal invasive plant program staff members, Amanda Moeser, about all the interesting things we've seen in the lake this summer.
7/22/10 Think you found Hydrilla?
We're happy to have people call us when they find suspicious plants. Here's some information and pictures so you know what to look for.
Hydrilla grows under the water surface, with the exception of a small white flower that can extend above the surface on a stalk.
Hydrilla's leaves are arranged in whorls, meaning that more than two leaves are attached to the stem at the same place, creating a circular pattern. Hydrilla has three to ten leaves in each whorl.
The leaves themselves are slender and lance-shaped. If you look closely with a hand lens (and sometimes with the naked eye) you can see teeth (like a steak knife) on the edges of the leaves.
 Hydrilla looks very similar to two native waterweeds, also called elodea. Waterweed, however, almost always has three leaves in each whorl and the leaf edges are not toothed.
If you find a suspicious plant, count the number of leaves in each whorl and look for serrations on the edges of the leaves.
If you think you might have found Hydrilla, please call DLWA at 549-3836.
Learn more about the lake survey for invasive plants and browse training materials by clicking here. Learn more about Hydrilla by clicking here.
7/13/10 DLWA annual meeting this Sunday
Come join us at DLWA's 45th annual meeting this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the North Nobleboro Community Hall on Upper East Pond Road in Nobleboro. Paul Gregory will speak about Hydrilla and Sandy Buck will speak about land conservation. Short presentations will be given on DLWA's programs.
There will be a potluck dinner at 5:15 p.m. A short business meeting will follow dinner. All are welcome.
7/12/10 Invasive plant prevention program off to a great start
In an effort to survey Damariscotta Lake for any signs of the invasive plant, Hydrilla, DLWA has trained 56 volunteers to identify Hydrilla and conduct a survey. We've assiged 1/3-1/2-mile sections of the shallow areas of the lake to 36 teams. With 45 miles of shoreline, we expect to divide the lake into 90-135 sections. With four more trainings to go and four staff members spending part of their time on patrol, we're feeling optimistic about our ability to cover the whole littoral area (anywhere sunlight reaches the bottom).
Meanwhile, the DEP has been working to control the current Hydrilla infestation. The following two articles describe their work so far. Click here for an article published in the Lincoln County News. Click here to read the June 2010 Milfoil Newsletter.
Our Courtesy Boat Inspectors have already checked more boats this year than they checked all of last year! Thanks to new volunteers and money from the DEP that helped fund two summer staff members, we've expanded our hours at the State Boat Launch in Jefferson and added the Vannah Road Launch in Nobleboro.
6/22/10 Check out photos from our first annual Damariscotta Lake Hooked on Fishing.
Click here to visit the online photo album.
5/12/10
Children invited to fishing event on Damariscotta Lake
Children and parents or other adults are invited to Damariscotta Lake State Park on June 12 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for a Hooked on Fishing event sponsored by the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association (DLWA) and other area groups. The rain date for this event will be June 13.
Experienced boaters will bring children to the best fishing spots on the lake, and there will be plenty of activities on shore to keep families occupied. During this fun and educational event, children will have the chance to learn about fishing, invasive plants, the Maine State Parks new Passport Program and other topics. Equipment, bait, boats, lifejackets and food will be provided free of charge. The first 50 participants to register will get into the park for free. Park admission is $4 for people ages 12 and up and $1 for children ages 5-11.
This Hooked on Fishing program is a collaboration between Knox County Bass Masters, Lincoln County Fish & Game, Kieve-Wavus Camps, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Whitefield Lions Club and DLWA. 4/28/10 Sign up for sailing camp
The Central Lincoln County YMCA, in conjunction with the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, now offers sailing camp on Damariscotta Lake. Operated out of the DLWA headquarters, this program will use a combination of boats to teach students to sail. Half-day weekly sessions are available for children ages 8-16 from July 5-July 30. The cost is $115 for YMCA members and $160 for nonmembers. For more information or to sign up, contact the YMCA at 563-3477 or visit the YMCA's website.
3/22/10 Lots of April events
Check out our Events Calendar for lots of fun April events, including an open house at the DLWA office and Earth Day fun at historic Chimney Farm!
2/15/10 DLWA winter skating party
We had a great time at DLWA's winter party last Saturday! If you missed it, there will be more opportunities to check out DLWA's lakefront office. We have an open house event scheduled for April 11.
1/14/10 Looking for a place to go cross-country skiing?
Come to DLWA's West Branch Preserve. Around 4 miles of groomed trails are waiting for you, as well as ungroomed trails. Download a trail map. To get there, turn off North Mountain Road in Somerville where you see the sign for the Rocky Mountain Ranch. Park by the side of the road before the gate. Enjoy!
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