Wilson Lake Association
Newsletter
May 2011
WILSON LAKE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FORM
Protecting the environment needs to begin in “our own back yard.” The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the York County Soil and Water Conservation District lend important support, but they don’t have the resources to monitor and protect the quality of Wilson Lake year in, year out. The Wilson Lake Association is committed to keeping Wilson Lake clean today and for future generations.
Your $20 membership in the WLA helps maintain our ongoing programs for water quality monitoring and protection. Your additional generous donation/contribution to the WLA will further the mission.
You can help even more by participating on our Executive Board or other action committee. Just contact any one of the Board members, listed in this newsletter.
Thank you,
Teg Rood, President WLA 2010-2011
Yes, I want to help protect and preserve Wilson Lake by becoming a member of the Wilson Lake Association. Enclosed are my annual dues of $20. (Make checks payable to Wilson Lake Association.)
I am making an additional of $______ to further the WLA’s mission
Name_
Mailing Address_
Telephone_
Lake Information:
Map & Lot Number:_ Owner? Yes____ No_____
Shown on your tax bill. If you are a new owner, please give us the name of the previous owner.
Lake Address_
Lake Telephone_
Mail this form with your check to: Wilson Lake Association
P.O. Box 162
Acton, ME 04001
or bring your dues to the annual meeting –
9:00AM, July 9, 2011 at the ACTON TOWN HALL
TRANQUILITY BASE HERE
It’s been almost 10 years since the World Trade Center was attacked, a year since the Deepwater Horizon rig sank and fouled the Gulf of Mexico. The Arab world is in turmoil and the world economy is still shaky. Wow! How lucky we are to have Wilson Lake!! I remember watching Neal Armstrong go to the moon at our neighbor’s camp in 1969. Glad I don’t have to go that far to find Tranquility Base!
How many other places can you go to leave the world behind, or let it in as you choose? Would you be able to do that so easily if there were a carpet of algae on the lake’s surface each summer – or if the water was tinged brown instead of so incredibly clear?
Wilson Lake Association volunteers support efforts to protect Wilson Lake’s water resource year round. As the State of Maine and Town of Acton show increasing interest in maintaining the lake, the WLA is helping channel that interest into effective action. You’ll read about some exciting news just ahead in this newsletter.
Your membership dues are important – but so are your brains, your hands and your heart. It’s you as a full member that makes us successful! See you at the Annual Meeting!
ROAD ASSOCIATIONS FORMING
With the help of information gathered by the WLA, both Eagle Road and Hawk Road are creating statutory road associations. The road associations will create a platform for maintaining these two roadways and so protecting Wilson Lake for everyone. They will also become conduits for support from both the town and the state going forward. Congratulations to everyone involved!
NEXT WLA BOARD MEETING
The next board meeting will be June 18 at Jeanne Achille’s house 9:30 AM. The meeting is open to all.
HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Do you have a favorite photo at the Lake? A view, family, friends? Send a copy by email to Jeanne Achille. We’ll create a slide show to run just before the annual meeting.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Each year we elect four volunteers to serve as officers – President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Nominations are made at the annual meeting. Motions for nomination must be seconded by a WLA member, but otherwise are open to all members. Currently, the WLA executive committee believes the following people will be nominated :- President, Teg Rood; Vice President, Jeff Brown; Secretary, Jeanne Achille; Treasurer, Ann-Marie Nadeau.
WILSON LAKE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING – JULY 9, 2011 9:00AM
The Annual Meeting will be held Saturday, July 9, at the Acton Town Hall, starting at 9:00am. The agenda will include –
How you can help protect your Wilson Lake and your investment.
Fire Chief, Ed Walsh will speak on Fire Safety and Permits
Lake Water Quality results and news from the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
Membership and Treasurer’s Report
Loon, Fishing and Boating News
Road Associations News
News from AWWA- The Acton Wakefield Watershed Alliance
Nomination and Election of Officers
The meeting has a serious purpose of course, but it’s also a great way to catch up with your neighbors on a weekend morning. Come join us!
ANNUAL CLEANUP DAY
Unfortunately, not everyone who uses the roads around Wilson Lake cares about it as much as you do. So every year a group of volunteers walks those roads to pick up their trash. It’s another good way to meet your neighbors – and help protect the lake.
This year, the Annual Cleanup will follow the Annual Meeting on July 9. Volunteers can pick up trash bags at the annual meeting and pick up along their assigned routes in the afternoon. Leave the full bags on the roadside. WLA volunteers will pick them up about 3:00pm and take them to the dump. For safety and comfort, consider wearing garden gloves and boots suitable for the woods.
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT WILSON LAKE FROM INVASIVE PLANTS!
2011 Volunteer Training Workshops by Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP)
Invasive Plants have been identified in both Great East Lake and Balch Pond in recent years. Only early detection prevented major problems. Volunteers are needed to enable early detection and protect Wilson Lake. The VLMP is offering a free Invasive Plant workshop on July 6 from 2:30 to 8:00 pm in the Acton/Shapleigh area for volunteers who want to help. The workshop will provide the information and guidance needed to get started and certify attendees as Invasive Plant monitors You will be amazed how quickly time flies by at this workshop and as a monitor you’ll be making an important difference on your lake.
To learn where the workshop will be conducted and to register, contact VLMP at 207-783-7733 or vlmp@mainevlmp.org
PHOSPHATE FREE FERTILIZER
A primary reason for controlling non-point source pollution into the lake is that it contains phosphates that can feed algae blooms. The lake is so sensitive to phosphates that we measure the phosphate level in Parts per Billion. Most fertilizers that are used on lawns and in gardens contain significant levels of phosphates. When these fertilizers are used around the lake, they significantly add to the phosphate load on the lake.
Phosphate free fertilizers are now readily available where you buy your lawn care products. We urge you to use them.
ACTON TRANSFER STATION
Transfer Station Permit Stickers are available at the Town Hall and at the Transfer Station.
WEB SITE FOR WLA
WLA would like to create a web site. If you have experience with web site design and would like to help, please call or email Jeff Brown.
AWWA Clean Lakes Campaign Kickoff
“Lake Protection – It’s Everyone’s Job”
Saturday, June 11, 9 AM – 12 PM Wakefield Opera House
2 High Street, Sanbornville, NH
The Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance is hosting the Clean Lakes Campaign Kickoff on Saturday, June 11 from 9:00 AM to 12 noon at the Wakefield Opera House to celebrate the precious Acton and Wakefield lakes and strategize how to keep them that way. The program is targeted at lake association members but anyone who cares about clean water is encouraged to attend.
Experts from both Maine and New Hampshire will be on hand to talk about issues that are threatening the health of our lakes and drinking water and offer solutions we can manage right here. You’ll have the opportunity to play the entertaining Watershed Game to learn ways we can each make a difference. Each lake association will go away with a tool kit to help them plan projects to protect their lake for now and generations to come. Please call (603) 473-2500 or email: info@AWwatersheds.org to register.
AWWA’s FLOATING CLASSROOM
Take a 3 hour guided tour of the Lake with the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance. You’ll practice water quality sampling, learn how to identify invasive plants and meet some of the critters that share your lake. The program is fun and interesting for all ages 8 and above. Children and adults are encouraged to participate. To indicate your interest and get more information regarding time and date, please call AWWA at 603-473-2500. Or email info@AWwatersheds.org.
WILSON LAKE ASSOCIATION MISSION STATEMENT
The Wilson Lake Association will establish and maintain a program that will reverse any trend of degrading the water quality in Wilson Lake and result in continuous improvement in water quality. The Association will also encourage all the Lake’s stakeholders to be involved and support a cooperative effort to reduce or eliminate the impact of contaminants on lake water quality.
____________________________________________________________________________________
WLA EXECUTIVE BOARD
Email: wilsonlakeas@gmail.com
Teg Rood
President
Jeff Brown
Vice President
Jeanne Achille
Secretary
Ann-Marie Nadeau
Treasurer
Bob Cronin
Peter Holtby
Dan Orino
Bill Pimental
Ed Walsh
Glenn and Betty Wildes