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OAKLAND — The Friends of Messalonskee will conduct a survey of the developed land areas in the Messalonskee Lake watershed on Sept. 29 and 30.
The watershed includes land in Oakland, Belgrade, Sidney, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Manchester and Augusta. The purpose of the survey is to identify and prioritize sources of erosion and stormwater runoff that may affect lake water quality. Messalonskee is on the state’s priority list of threatened kakes. The last survey of the watershed was in 2003.
Current information is needed to help develop a watershed-based protection plan that will help protect and improve water quality in the lake. An updated survey is required in order for the organization to apply for state and federal grants from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The money can provide cost-sharing opportunities to landowners, road associations, and towns to complete improvements for sites identified during the survey. Acquiring grant funding is a two to three-year process that begins with the volunteer-assisted watershed survey.
Property owners in the Messalonskee Lake watershed were notified by mail the week of Sept. 6. Participation in the survey is voluntary and landowners do not need to be present to participate. All survey work will be completed in compliance with state COVID-19 guidelines.
For more information call 207- 618-8723 or email friendsofmessalonskee@gmail.com.
