Wilson Lake Association Newsletter

May 2012

WLA has a web site! Check it out! www.wilsonlake.net

WILSON LAKE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FORM

Your $20 membership in the WLA helps maintain our ongoing programs for water quality monitoring and protection.  In 2009 WLA conducted a Watershed Survey which has led to the formation of statutory road associations on Hawk Road and Eagle Road. This in turn, enabled Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance and York County Soil and Water Conservation District to apply for and receive a Maine 319 Grant funded by the Federal Clean Water Act. Also, the Survey led many of our homeowners to ask for technical assistance for plans to reduce their soil erosion. Some become Project Hosts and had AWWA’s Youth Conservation Corps complete work on their land. These are just a few of the many ways WLA works to protect Wilson Lake and your financial investment! 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 at the end of this newsletter.

Thank you,

Teg Rood, President WLA 2010-2012

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 donation for a total 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 7, 2012 at the ACTON PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING (FIRE STATION)

 

 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK: A GROWING THREAT!

It has been a lifelong pleasure to reach this time of year and look forward to being at Wilson Lake. So, I might be forgiven if I took for granted that the lake would always be the same. But I don’t. I can’t. Threats to the lake persist. One, in particular, is becoming much more dangerous – invasive plants.

Variable Milfoil was found in Great East Lake by a sharp-eyed patroller, and was successfully removed. Balch Lake was not so lucky. This year they will spend almost $14,000 to treat 27 acres of variable milfoil with herbicide. They have also used divers and a vacuum equipped boat to remove the milfoil! There can be little question that an invasive plant will someday find its way into our lake. The question is – will we be ready?

Some larger lakes, like Kezar in Lovell or Great East Lake, Square Pond and Mousam Lake in Acton, use Courtesy Boat Inspectors at their boat launches to reduce the threat during the summer. These lakes have large populations to draw on for volunteers or paid inspectors, and a comparatively large number of non-resident boats using the lake, so the inspectors are often busy. These conditions don’t exist at Wilson Lake.

A viable boat inspection at our boat launch could cost $20,000 or more per season, at minimum wage. That’s certainly prohibitive. Beyond that, though boats are the main carrier of invasive plant fragments, they are not the only way for these plants to arrive. Just about any animal that travels between lakes is a possible carrier.

Unfortunately, we are unlikely to catch the invader before it finds a home in our lake. Our best option, then, is to recognize the invader early enough to beat it – as happened at Great East.

Jeanne Achille and Pete Holtby are our only trained and certified Invasive Plant monitors. Monitoring the entire lake with just two people is a big job. So far, they have protected us well. But think how much better we’d be protected if every road on the lake was represented by at least one monitor – or better yet, if every camp/home owner knew how to recognize an invader near their dock.

The Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) offers Invasive Plant Patrol Training around the state each summer. This year, the nearest Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop for New Volunteers will be Tues., July 3, 3-9 pm at the Town Hall in Waterboro. The training is free and very interesting! For more details please visit: http://www.mainevlmp.org

Thanks to your membership and volunteering, the WLA has actively and successfully carried out its mission. Wilson Lake’s water quality has been maintained. But invasive plants are a growing threat that we all need to be able to fight. Please consider attending a workshop. We’ll also be looking for volunteers for the VLMP “Plant Paddles” program, so we can bring training directly to our lake.

Hope to see you at the Annual Meeting!!

Teg Rood, President

 

NEXT WLA BOARD MEETING

The next board meeting will be May 19 at Jeanne Achille’s house 9:00 AM.  The meeting is open to all.

 

GOT PHOTOS????

Do you have a favorite photo at the Lake?  A view, family, friends?  Send a copy by email to Jeanne Achille – jach28@gmail.com.  We’ll include it in our slide show to run just before the annual meeting and add it to the web site.

 

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.  President Teg Rood has announced his decision to step down as President. We are grateful for his long dedication to WLA.

 

WILSON LAKE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING – JULY 7, 2012 9:00AM

***note change of venue!! ***

The Annual Meeting will be held Saturday, July 7, at the Acton  Public Safety Building (Fire Station,) starting at 9:00am.   The agenda will include –

• 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
• Clean-up Patrol

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.

Once again we will ask members to volunteer a little time for the Annual Cleanup of roads surrounding Wilson Lake. Trash bags will be distributed at the Annual Meeting on July 7.  Volunteers can pick up along their assigned routes after the meeting or when convenient during the following week.  Leave the full bags on the roadside where WLA volunteers will pick them up or take them to the transfer station yourself.  For safety and comfort, consider wearing garden gloves and boots suitable for the woods.

PHOSPHATE FREE FERTILIZER

Phosphate free fertilizers are now readily available where you buy your lawn care products.  We urge you to use them. Remember phosphates are the nutrient that feeds the algae in our lakes, ponds and streams. If you must fertilize, please use a phosphate free fertilizer.

SEPTIC TANKS NEED ATTENTION, TOO!

Regular septic tank pumping and inspection will prolong the life of your septic system. Keep in mind that a septic system costs less than $400 to pump but $12,000 or more to replace and can affect the re-sale of your property. If your system shows signs of failure, is in coarse sandy soils, or is within 100 feet of a lakeshore or stream, plan to replace it. In the meantime, reduce your waste load, don’t use a garbage disposal, and, if necessary, consider a composting toilet or similar alternative.”

For a complete list of ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for protecting our lake from septic system contamination, please refer to the brochure: : “Septic Systems: How They Work and How to Keep Them Working (www/maine.gov/dep/water/groundwater/septic_systems.pdf)

 

BOATING SAFELY ON WILSON LAKE

No one wants to see friends, family or neighbors injured in a boating accident! That’s why we encourage all owners of motorized boats to take the Boat Safety class. It is only $5 and certifies you for your lifetime in all 50 states. The following is a very brief summary of some of the laws/rules you need to know, although it cannot begin to take the place of being certified.

• All motorized vehicles on lakes must be registered and have a Milfoil Sticker
• There is a 200 foot “NO WAKE ZONE” around the shoreline of every Maine lake. This is indicated by the red buoys and/or “No Wake” signs on Wilson Lake. A smart boater knows that if you are close to these markers you should adjust your speed accordingly! Exception: A watercraft may enter or leave the 200 foot zone as directly as possible to pick up or drop off a water skier.
• Life jacket information: Children under 10 years of age must wear a Type I, II or III PFD while on board! All persons using a jet ski must wear a PFD!
• ALL boats must have a PFD for everyone on board.
• Every motor boat must have an efficient whistle, horn  or other sound productive device.
• Boating and Alcohol: Any person who operates or attempts to operate any watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or while having a 0.08% or more blood alcohol content is guilty of a criminal violation.
• Imprudent operation: engaging in prolonged circling, informal racing, wake jumping, or other types of continued and repeated activities that harass another person.

Any law enforcement officer may enforce this subsection or a person may bring a private nuisance action for a violation of this subsection.

Wilson Lake Association wants everyone to enjoy the recreational activities which are available in a safe and neighborly manner.

This summary was prepared by Bob Cronin, Maine Certified Boating Instructor. For boating class call Chief Boating Instructor Bob Anderson at 477-8588.

 

NEWS FROM AWWA:

REDUCE YOUR PHOSPHORUS FOOTPRINT PLEDGE

The Clean Lakes Campaign is in full swing on the lakes in the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) region and the members of the Wilson Lake Association (WLA) are jumping in.
Seven WLA members have signed the “Reduce Your Phosphorus Footprint” pledge and promised to adopt lake-friendly practices. Other lakes in the AWWA region have more pledges so let’s aim to get those numbers up! (see last page or http://www.wilsonlake.net/wp-contents/uploads/2011/11/Shrink-Your-P-Footprint.pdf  to download the form).  All of the practices listed reduce the amount of phosphorus to the lake which, in excess, causes algae blooms, reduced water clarity and habitat decline. It’s important that we each do our part to keep Wilson Lake clean and healthy.

 

AWWA YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS

The 2009 Watershed Survey identified 51 Wilson Lake properties that might have erosion problems. As a result, the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) has now installed 34 erosion control measures on 11 properties around Wilson Lake. It is estimated that these projects are keeping over 13 tons of sediment and 11 pounds of phosphorus out of the lake each year. In addition, 18 lake residents have received site specific designs for do-it-yourself projects. Since 2006, the AWWA YCC has installed 354 erosion controls on 103 properties throughout Acton and Wakefield. Our high school crew is so proud of their accomplishments!
If you have any questions about how your property might become more lake friendly contact AWWA Program Manager Dustin Johnson at (603)473-2500 or email djohnson@AWwatershed.org.

 

319 GRANT HELP ON EAGLE AND HAWK ROADS

WLA, The Eagle and Hawk Road Associations, AWWA and the York County Soil and Water Conservation District are partnering on a Maine Department of Environmental Protection grant for 2012-13 to fix some chronic problems along Eagle and Hawk Roads that will prevent tons of polluted run-off flowing into the lake each year. Great collaboration!

FUTURE WATER QUALITY LEADERS

Educating our future leaders at the Acton Elementary School and the Wakefield Paul School about water resource protection is one of AWWA’s favorite priorities. We love it when the kids exclaim “We know you, you’re the watershed people!” as we bring in live critters and watershed activities. AWWA received a grant for 2012 to work with teachers in both schools to expand and strengthen the programs. AWWA will be looking for volunteers to help out, so let us know if you’d like to join the AWWA Outreach Team.

WATER QUALITY DISCOVERY CRUISE

Last summer, 35 lake residents sailed with AWWA for our Discovery Cruises on Wilson, Lovell and Great East Lakes where they learned how to determine water quality, met some of the local zooplankton and identified aquatic plants. All would enthusiastically recommend the cruise to friends and all signed the Phosphorus Footprint Pledge. Keep an eye out for the schedule this summer and plan to bring your family on a fun, interesting adventure.

It is great to see all the energy and support for projects and activities that are helping to keep the focus on clean water and healthy habitats. The WLA-AWWA partnership is so important to the health of Wilson Lake!

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

web site: www.wilsonlake.net

 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

WHAT DID WLA EVER DO FOR ME?

Many Wilson Lake camp and homeowners really don’t know much about WLA or how their dues help our mission.

-WLA has been collecting water quality data including clarity and dissolved oxygen and sending the info to VLMP
-WLA was one of the first associations in Maine to conduct a watershed survey in 1994
-WLA conducted another survey in 2009. As a result:
– 72 sites were identified as needing remediation to correct soil erosion.
-11 homeowners became AWWA/YCC Project Hosts and had 34 BMPs installed saving 11 pounds
of phosphorus and 13 tons of sediment, from entering the lake. 18 homeowners asked for and received
free Technical Assistance site-specific plans for DIY projects.
-2 statutory road associations were formed enabling application for a MEDEP 319 Grant which will
provide $11,760 for road improvement on Hawk and Eagle Roads
-WLA maintains a web site with up-to-date information
-WLA publishes a Newsletter every year
-WLA contributes to important lake organizations both financially and by active participation: VLMP, AWWA, LEA, COLA, YCSWCD, Three Rivers Land Trust. This participation has resulted in our lake getting significant help from these organization and the DEP.
-WLA has been a part of the Salmon Falls Headwaters Management Plan which recently received national recognition for outstanding work in protecting our water.
-WLA puts out and maintains the 200 foot red buoy and “No Wake” markers.
-WLA controls the boards in the dam which regulate the depth of the lake water. These are removed in the Fall and replaced in the Spring. However, constant vigilance is necessary when heavy storms are imminent.
-WLA maintains 2 bulletin boards with pertinent boating information or other association news
-WLA conducts an annual meeting with a business component and guest speakers
-WLA members volunteer their own time and money to become certified water quality and plant patrol monitors
-WLA members conduct Boat Safety classes which certify those who take the class to boat legally in all 50 states.
-WLA has provided phosphorus-free fertilizer for homeowners before it became readily available.
-WLA has provided financial support for Hawk and Eagle Road Associations to help them meet their required match for the 319 Grant
-WLA has assisted homeowners who have had difficult soil erosion problems.
-WLA has worked with Town of Acton Road Commissioners to upgrade roads and reduce soil erosion
-WLA has installed a boat ramp on Young’s Ridge Road.
-WLA and AWWA conducted the first “Discovery Cruise” in 2011
-WLA is planning a 4th of July Boat Parade for 2012 – Get your boat (anything that floats) ready!
-WLA volunteers picked up and hauled debris from all around the lake after the big ice storm of (’98?)
-WLA has highlighted lake owners’ concerns to the town, road commissioners and State officials
-WLA volunteers monitor our loon population
-WLA volunteers provide fishing reports and keep track of stocking by the Inland Fish and Game Department.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP WLA?

We realize most don’t live here year round and can’t give much time, but everyone can become a member and encourage their neighbors to join and be as active as they desire or their time permits.

Things that don’t require much time include:
-renew your membership and, if you can, add an additional donation
-Sign and return the Phosphorus Footprint Pledge. Return it with your dues and we’ll get it to AWWA
-Keep your eyes alert to unusual plant growth around your dock.
-Boat safely and observe the 200’ no wake law
-Observe from a distance, and enjoy, but don’t feed the waterfowl
-Always obtain a fire permit when burning
-Tell us about your concerns

Things that require a little more time include:

-Attend the Annual Meeting on July 7 and help with Clean-up Day

-Take the Boating Safety Class and/or Invasive Plant Training
-Attend a WLA Board meeting. Meet the volunteers who work to keep our lake healthy.
-Become a volunteer

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WLA ADD TO OUR LIST?

PHOSPHORUS FOOTPRINT PLEDGE

I pledge to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Wilson Lake by implementing at least one of the
behaviors listed below: