2009 Accomplishments

• DLWA completed its 20th consecutive year of systematic water quality monitoring of the three basins of Damariscotta Lake in collaboration with the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP).  Despite a very rainy summer, secchi disk readings indicated that water clarity was close to the historical average.  Dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus readings were also typical.
• At the Annual Meeting of the VLMP, DLWA was presented the 2009 Outstanding Lake Stewardship Award for our “outstanding, sustained commitment to the protection of Maine Lakes and their watersheds.”
• In July, DLWA hosted an invasive aquatic plant patrol identification workshop conducted by the VLMP Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants.  Among others, volunteer Dick Butterfield of Jefferson attended.
• In September, while on patrol looking for invasive plants, Dick discovered the first known invasive plant infestation on Damariscotta Lake and only the second occurrence of the species Hydrilla in Maine. 
• The Maine Department of Environmental Protection was able to contain the plants in a small lagoon and remove the bulk of the existing plant mass.  Efforts to eradicate the plant will continue in 2010 and beyond.  Tarps were anchored to the lake bottom just outside the lagoon to prevent new plants from becoming established.
• Meanwhile, before cold weather set in, an ad hoc plant patrol team made up of more than 50 volunteers, was able to patrol more than 50% of the lakeshore.  Only one other plant was found outside the lagoon described above.  In 2010, a more intensive systematic study will be made of the entire shore to depths of up to fifteen feet. 
• The Courtesy Boat Inspection Program, staffed by volunteers, continued this year at the Bunker Hill Road boat launch.  A “stop” was made of a fragment of the invasive plant, fanwort, which was attached to a boat about to enter the Lake. 
• The number of alewives entering the lake in 2009, over 380,000 fish, was higher than at any time since official counting began in 1987.  Over $100,000 was raised last year by the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration Project to continue the rebuilding of the fish ladder structure.  DLWA has made annual contributions to support this work, which will continue in 2010.
• Despite unfavorable weather conditions for the annual loon count, 35 adult loons and 2 chicks were counted on Damariscotta Lake.  Ice went out on April 12.
• Last summer, DLWA started a LakeSmart award program, which recognizes property owners who manage and landscape their properties, so as to protect the water quality of the Lake.  The program is sponsored by the Congress of Lake Associations, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection.  Of the landowners who volunteered to have their properties evaluated, five received LakeSmart awards, which are based on four-part evaluations conducted by trained local volunteers.  Recommendations for improvements were made to others, who can reapply in 2010.
• DLWA continued making trail improvements on its trails, including the construction of a bridge near the headwaters of Little Dyer Stream (Mountain Preserve) and construction of an information kiosk (West Branch Preserve) near the Mountain Road on the divide between the Damariscotta Lake and Sheepscot Valley watersheds.   Materials for these projects were funded by a grant from the Fields Pond Foundation.  Supervision was provided by DLWA and labor by the Maine Volunteers of America program in cooperation with Kieve-Wavus.  A new trail guide, Midcoast Trails, was published by a collaborative of eight Midcoast land trusts in 2009 and is available from DLWA.  Fifty trails are identified with excellent maps.
• In July, an open house at Chimney Farm in Nobleboro featured a tour of the restored “writer’s shack.” Later in the day, a celebration of the lives of authors Henry Beston and Elizabeth Coatsworth was held at the Nobleboro Grange.
• In August DLWA moved its headquarters to a new building at Damariscotta Lake Farm (38 Lake Farm Circle).  The space features a 19- by 38-foot public program area overlooking the Lake. 

• Once again this year, DLWA worked with Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to perform maintenance on about two dozen duck nest boxes.

• DLWA continued its education with sixth graders in Jefferson, Somerville, Nobleboro and Washington. In April, Jefferson & Somerville students participated in Big Melt Walk, learning about erosion control methods, the water cycle and map-making. In May, all sixth graders participated in pre-Water Wonder Day, learning about watersheds and water quality. In June, sixth grade students attended Water Wonder Day at Wavus Camp. In October, Jefferson & Somerville students attended a fall walk on Davis Stream Trail, learning about the forest floor composition, the changing of the leaves, animal tracking, and water quality. In November, DLWA visited all watershed schools for Maine Recyles Week.

©2003 Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association
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