Bauneg Beg
LakeAssociation
Home Page
P.O. Box 538, N.Berwick, ME 03906 www.baunegbeg.net
Background and the above picture contributed by Larry Gaudreau
Bulk of the content provided by Mary Blood
Update from the BBLA Board
At a meeting on Feb. 28, 2012, BBLA Board was joined by Forrest Bell of F.B. Environmental Associates, and his associate Pat Marass to review the Bauneg Beg Lake 2011 Water Quality Report. Pat Marass has accepted our invitation to join the BBLA General Membership meeting on July 27th where he will address water quality issues and relative questions from members.
Also addressed at this meeting and decided upon at the subsequent March 28th BBLA Board meeting was the issue of phosphorous level readings at the Sanford Country Club outflow into Bauneg Beg Lake. The ph readings at the site have consistently been higher than the EPA recommends for waters in our area. The Board agreed by vote to once again approach Sanford Country Club (SCC) in regards to the issue, especially since learning that there are grant funds potentially available to SCC to support implementation of a buffer expansion and/or enhancements to the containment pond and run-off sites for those few holes that drain into Bauneg Beg Lake. In addition F.B. Environmental has offered to contribute a day of services for analysis of current conditions and/or grant preparation. As further incentive, if greater design or prep is required beyond the above offer, BBLA Board offered to present a measure at our May General meeting to split the costs of such with SCC. A letter from BBLA Board was sent to SCC dated March 29, 2012 summarizing the above. The Board should be able to report the SCC response at our May meeting, and entertain comments and/or questions from the membership about the proposal.
BBLA 2012 Board Members:
Anne Whitten, President (207) 676-2624
NOTE: emailed questions will be answered more quickly then phone calls, so please submit an email question or comments with a return phone number
Steve Gray, Vice-President (207) 676-9283
Mary Blood, Treasurer (207) 324-7239
Larry Gaudreau, Secretary (207) 676-7602
Dana Peterson, Trustee (207) 324-2221
Ray Neal, Trustee (239) 338-8585
BBLA Dam Committee:
Roger Bisson (207) 324-8392
Steve J. Saltmarsh (207) 324-5394
Tony Lombardi (603) 944-0318
Dana Peterson (207) 324-2221
BBLA Webmaster
BBLA 2012 Calendar:
2012 General Meetings last Sundays of 3 months - May 27th, July 29th and August 26th, Sanford Fish & Game Club, Rte. 4. Doors open at 8:00 AM for coffee & chat, meeting at 9:00, usually over by 10:00.
June 23 & 24 GIANT Annual Yard Sale & Bake Sale - at Sanford Fish & Game, Rte. 4. Come help set-up June 21 & 22 at 4 PM. Donations of good stuff welcomed! Contact BBLA Board members for pick-up assist, if needed.
July 7th Boat Parade – Saturday the 7th at 1:00 PM. Our parade will take place on Saturday after July 4th. Judging, prizes for decorated boats. Pick your own theme!! Chairman Tony Lombardi #603-944-0318.
July 3rd MVLMP - Introductory Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) Workshop – classroom session 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Waterboro Town Hall, 24 Townhouse Road.
July 28th - MVLMP Invasive Plant Patrol Field Workshop, Saturday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, Mike Taflas, 310 Webber Road, Little Ossipee Lake.
August 25th - Bauneg Beg Seaplane rides
To reserve a ride please email Anne at rides@maine.rr.com
Rides begin at 9 a.m. and the last reservation is at 3 p.m.
Normally we have three airplanes for this event, this year one airplane pilot has been called away and can not participate.
The money raised goes to the Lake Association except for the funds the Lake Association voted on to reimburse the pilots for their fuel.
Donations accepted:
Folks ask what is an acceptable donation. The not so clear answer is $50.00 per adult person. BUT, this fundraiser is not all about the money, but to give anyone who wants chance to go for a float plane ride be able to and to enjoy the day! With that said, give what you can!
The rides will be at Roger and Wendy Bisson's house on Javica Lane.
Hamburgers, hot dogs and soda will be sold: price to be determined. Again funds go to the Lake Association!
BBLA clothing will be on sale.
Thank you for helping out with this fundraiser.
Sept 1, 2012 - Labor Day Weekend Dance
-10.00 per person.
Tickets available at door or email maryblood@metrocast.net for advance tickets
- BYOB and snacks
- Please, what you bring in, you need to take out ; the hall needs to be left clean. Please clean your own space.
- Door prizes, raffles and 50/50
- Location: Wormwood Conference Center, Dunaway Road, Sanford Maine
“Spring into Outdoors” - Waban Projects event
Get outside and get active at the ‘Spring into Outdoors’ event on Saturday, May 12th from 10 am to 2 pm at Camp Waban on the shores of Bauneg Beg Lake. BBLA has been invited to partner with York County Soil & Water in providing an ‘Educational Corner” with BBLA focusing on the history of Bauneg Beg Lake area and YCSW focusing on our watershed. We welcome participation of other BBLA members. Please contact Mary Blood at #207-324-7239 or Ann Rossignal at Waban #207-324-7955 ext. 644 to help out.
This free event is hosted by Waban Projects Inc., and includes a variety of demonstrations and hands on activities including fly-fishing, bicycling, kayaking, environmental education and a campfire marshmallow contest. All ages and abilities are welcome. .
Waban is working with volunteers and community partners including the Nasson Community Center Bike Coop, the Bauneg Beg Lake Association, St. Thomas School, the Sanford High School Key Club, the York County Soil & Water Conservation District, the Maine Conservation Corps, the Kittery Trading Post and the Waban Adventure Program. Activities will take place at Waban’s Therapeutic Recreation and Experiential Education (TREE) Center at Camp Waban. The Tree center offers a variety of opportunities for folks including summer camp and day services, special event programming, therapeutic recreation and leadership development. It is located just past the Waban Main Office campus at 5 Dunaway Drive off Rte 4 in Sanford.
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10 Ways to Make a Difference
In Your Watershed
1) We all live in a ‘watershed’ – learn about yours!
2) Prevent polluted runoff from your home
3) Protect our marine resources & our coast
4) Become involved in land use decisions in your
watershed
5) Create a wildlife habitat in your backyard or
school yard
6) Coordinate a May wetlands event to celebrate
American Wetlands Month
7) Protect drinking water resources
8) Participate to raise awareness about watershed
protection
9) Sponsor a Watershed Festival to raise watershed
awareness
10) Fundraise for watershed outreach & public education
Bauneg Beg Lake Buoys to be set via GPS!!
BBLA buoy team goes high tech!
Thanks to the contributions of an Association member, the hazard and headway speed only buoys will be set to exact positions with the aid of GPS coordinates this year. Not many may realize, but some buoys need to be placed in exact positions to carry with them the force of the law in order for violators to be ticketed and prosecuted. In addition some of the hazard locations such as the shallow rocks between the points at the middle of the lake, or the shallow point off Waban, are not always easy to find year after year and this new system will give us some assurance of getting them in the right places.
GOOD NEWS Bulletin: We recently learned from Mike Hanson, Director - Sanford Sewerage District that they have received approval to go ahead with plans for the Goodall Pumping Station (formerly referred to as the Daylight Ave. Pumping Station)! They are awaiting the DEP permits and work should begin this year!! We hope to have Mike Hanson join us at our July meeting for an update.
FEMA Flood Zone Maps Being Updated!!
FEMA’s current maps are about 20 years old and lack much street/residence info so an update is in process. Finalization has been delayed pending input from impacted towns. New maps are expected to be issued by the end of 2012, will affect properties around all ponds and lakes including Bauneg Beg, and will of course impact insurance rates. However, although your property may be close to the water, the elevation may make it eligible for exclusion from the flood zone. If you are concerned that you may be ‘in the zone’, research with FEMA directly at FEMA.GOV or call FEMA Map Info Exchange (FMIX) at # 1-877-336-2627. There is a “Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)” that can be completed and submitted for consideration. To start your internet research, go to Google “FEMA flood maps” and then search for “Letter of Map Amendment”. Also check with your town code office for info and proper handling.
BBLA to Co-host 2 MVLMP Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) Workshops
Mark your calendars and go on-line to register at the MVLMP website for the 2011 Invasive Plant Patrol workshops! The dates and locations (directions will follow) for our 2 workshops are:
Introductory IPP – Wednesday, July 6, 2:30 – 8:00 PM – Acton Town Hall
Field IPP Workshop – Saturday, July 23, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Carpenter’s Cove, Mousam Lake
This year BBLA is co-hosting with a great group that so far includes associations from Great East Lake, Mousam Lake, Square Pond and York County Soil & Water Conservation District. The sessions are free but pre-registration is required and can be done on-line at: www.mainevolunteerlakemonitors.org/workshops or call # (207) 783-7733. Supper will be provided for the 1st session. We’re hopeful that Bauneg Beg residents will take advantage of the sessions this year. This is a unique community-learning experience that will provide you with everything you need to get started. The first session is a comprehensive ‘classroom’ workshop and covers introduction and identification of invasive plants. The second session is a ‘field’ workshop and provides on-lake instruction and practice conducting invasive aquatic plant screening surveys. The second course was designed as advanced training for those who have already attended the introductory IPP workshop, but previous workshop experience is not a prerequisite. In fact, for those who learn best by doing, this workshop may be the perfect way to begin your training.
More on Invasive Aquatic Plants this summer!
York County Soil & Water Conservation has been awarded grant funding to run a York County Invasive Aquatic Plant Species Survey & Educational Outreach Project (YCIASP) focused on Mousam River watershed. The content of these YCIASP activities and workshops will not duplicate or compete with the VLMP IPP workshop content. Info is available at www.yorkswcd.org or contact Laurie Callahan at: yciasp@hotmail.com or call (802) 258-1877.
Status of BBLA 501 c 3 Request
Early this past winter BBLA retained Springvale attorney David Ferguson to pursue recognition as a federal 501 c 3 non-profit for BBLA from IRS. Mr. Ferguson has updated our State of Maine non-profit status and will do the required State annual filings. In addition he is preparing the IRS filing. He was coincidentally handling an IRS filing for Square Pond Association and based on questions IRS raised with them, specifically about public access, had delayed the BBLA filing pending SPA results. Square Pond has since received IRS 501 recognition and David Ferguson feels we should be able to obtain it as well. We have provided him with data he requested re: Bauneg Beg public access. He has also suggested we amend our by-laws to better reflect the public mission of the association, and these changes will be presented at our General Meeting on May 29th.
Update on Bauneg Beg Dam
Overall life with our “new” dam went smoothly this winter and so far this spring Mother Nature, thank you very much, has not required an extreme test! As noted in our fall newsletter, the total dam repair cost came to $23,624.72. Total receipts from fundraising to-date is: residents $12, 925 (wow!); Waban $2,000; Town of North Berwick $4,000 (payment in process) for a total of $18,925. We will find out about any amount from the Town of Sanford after the Annual Town Meeting on May 24, 2011. We’re still about $5,000 shy of goal so stay tuned for ‘summer fun’ fund raising activities. Donate your ideas for fund raising too.
We extend our sincere thank you to all who have contributed so generously to the Dam repair and upgrade, especially to Waban Projects and to the Town of North Berwick.
On the Cutting of Aquatic Plant Growth
Following is a comprehensive response, received last fall from Roberta Hill, Program Director, Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants, MVLMP and reviewed by John McPhedran of Maine DEP, to questions raised by a concerned Bauneg Beg resident with regard to the practice of using power boats to knock back the native aquatic plants in the Great Works River inlet cove.
1. The area described, a shallow inlet cove receiving water from an (assumed) fairly developed stream watershed, is prime aquatic plant habitat. It is not at all surprising that the plant growth in this area is abundant. Though dense stands of aquatic plants are often seen as a nuisance by lake users, especially adjacent shorefront property owners, the plants in these areas serve many critical ecological functions (sediment stabilization, nutrient uptake, critical wildlife habitat, occupying habitat that may otherwise be open for invasive species, etc.) that help to maintain water quality and the health of the entire aquatic ecosystem. By providing these important functions, native aquatic plants--it could be argued-- help to maintain ALL property values associated with our lakes and ponds.
2. Because our native aquatic plants play such a critical role in maintaining lake health, they are strictly protected by Maine law through the Maine Natural Resource Protection Act. Activity to remove (or beat back) these plants is strictly regulated under this law and limited to the clearing of a 10 foot wide swath, oriented perpendicular to the shoreline. Anyone desiring to undertake the clearing of aquatic vegetation must obtain a permit from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection through their simplified “Permit by Rule” process. The PBR permit standards for this activity were primarily intended for shorefront property owners wishing to establish a cleared passage through a native plant bed, enabling swimmers and boaters to move unimpeded from shore to deeper water. I am not really sure how/if the permit standards could be adapted to the clearing of a boating channel through an inlet cove. Perhaps John McPhedran could advise on this point.
3. Using jet skis & other boats “ripping up & down in the area” to cut up the weeds is not only contrary to the Maine law, it is, as you suggest, an inherently problematic solution.
· First, Maine has a law to protect the shoreline from the erosional forces of power-boat wakes, limiting boat activity in such areas to headway speed only. Power boats operating within 200 feet of the nearest point of land/shoreline are allowed to operate only with sufficient power to navigate the watercraft, which is essentially just above an idle for most motors.
· There is potential backfire effect from such activity - aquatic plant growth could be exacerbated by this practice.
· Chopping the tops off of aquatic plants can indeed accelerate growth in many instances. Not only may cutting the tops stimulate branching in many species, it also, inevitably, creates plant fragments. Many aquatic plant species propagate readily from fragmentation. Controlling plants in such an “uncontrolled” manner can result in hundreds if not thousands of widely dispersed fragments, each fragment well prepared to take root and generate a perfect clone of the original ‘offender.’
· If one of the plants that is chopped up in the process happens to be a newly introduced invasive plant such as Eurasian water milfoil or hydrilla, the consequences of this activity, however well-intended, could be devastating.
4. One last point to consider . . . Even though circumstantial evidence may lead some to conclude that the increased plant growth in the cove is the result of reduced speedboat activity in the narrows, it is certainly possible that other factors are at play as well.
· All lakes and ponds are in a process of natural succession that began when they were first scoured out by the glaciers over 12,000 years ago. Little by little, year by year, Maine’s lakes and ponds are filling in and becoming more biologically productive (including the increased growth of aquatic plant communities).
· Human activity in lake watersheds over the past few centuries, causing increased sediment and nutrient export to waterbodies (a process known as cultural eutrophication), has accelerated this natural process.
· Then there is global climate change, causing an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, warmer winters and extended growing seasons. We are still working to get a handle on how this global threat is going to play out here in Maine’s lakes and ponds, but it is logical to assume that cultural eutrophication will only be further accelerated by this phenomenon.
BAUNEG BEG LAKE 2010 WATER CLARITY READINGS
Submitted by Larry Gaudreau
This is my third year of taking water clarity readings for our lake. These are called SECCHI readings. Just as a quick reminder, an 8 inch diameter, black and white segmented disc is attached to a tape measure. See the photo below. The disc is lowered into the water and viewed through a tubular scope until it disappears from view. The depth reading in meters is recorded at that point. The readings are collected by the MVLMP (Maine Volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program) and ultimately shared with the Maine DEP. This year, overall, we had readings that were significantly deeper than last year’s. They were more in line with the 2008 readings. If you recall, 2008 was a poor year.
A review of the graph above shows that we were more or less at a reading of 3 (Meters) for most of this past season with continued improvement through the last reading taken on September 6, 2010. Although this looks like an improvement over 2009, it’s somewhat deceiving since we received very little rainfall in the second half of the season. My theory at this point, is that due to the fact that we had lowered the water level significantly in mid summer in anticipation of a storm that never materialized coupled with the fact that there was very little subsequent rainfall, this resulted in a sort of stagnation and allowed the solids to settle in a sense resulting in somewhat falsely low values.
Kailee Mullen of Forrest Bell Environmental accompanied me on three occasions during the later part of the season. This should result in a cost reduction from Forrest since my boat and services were employed saving them time and effort. Also this year, I coordinated my sampling dates with a “Landsat7” flyover satellite that also took water clarity readings from Maine lakes. I’ll report on that once the data is received.
Very clear and colorless lakes such as Great East have SECCHI readings around 8 meters. Our lake is considered a “colored” lake with an average color of 62 SPU. The average color for Maine lakes is 28 SPU.
It is extremely important that all of us continue to do everything possible to improve the clarity and therefore the well being of our lake. If anyone has specific issues, questions, suggestions or other ideas please contact me at 207-676-7602 or at BBConsult@maine.rr.com.
Another Way to Get Involved with Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program near home!
Maine’s lakes, rivers and streams are increasingly threatened by non-native invasive plants. Once established in a lake, stream or pond, early detection of an invasive aquatic plant provides the best hope of eradicating the invader. Trained volunteers play an extremely important role in this effort. The work is interesting, rewarding and fun!
This past August BBLA hosted an Invasive Plant Patrol workshop presented by MVLMP and offered to York County and we plan to do so again, hopefully next June. This is a unique community-learning experience that will provide you with everything you need to get started. The first workshop is very comprehensive ‘classroom’ and covers introduction to and identification of invasive plants. The second workshop is ‘field’ and provides on-lake instruction and practice conducting invasive aquatic plant screening surveys. The course was designed as advanced training for those who have already attended the introductory IPP workshop, but previous workshop experience is not a prerequisite. In fact, for those who learn best by doing, this workshop may be the perfect way to begin your training. Stay tuned!
How Landowners can Improve Water Quality
The best way to prevent stormwater pollution is to minimize the amount of runoff. If less rain leaves your property, that much less water can become polluted along the way. This preventative measure to stormwater pollution benefits you in that it reduces maintenance cost for roads, driveways, and ditches, as well as reduces utility bills if the rainwater is harnessed as a means of watering lawns and gardens. (Source: Think Blue Maine)
- Plant a 250 ft. wide buffer on the shorefront.
- Vegetate and mulch bare soil.
- Terrace and vegetate steep slopes.
- Create meandering foot paths to slow force.
- Reshape & resurface eroding driveways.
- Line eroding ditches with rock.
- Direct water off your driveway onto vegetated areas.
- Plant a rain garden.
- Direct roof downspouts into vegetated areas or into a rain barrel for reuse later.
- Reduce the amount of lawn by planting trees and shrubs, which are more effective in soaking up the rainwater before it leaves your property as runoff.
- Use phosphorous-free fertilizer.
- Pump your septic system every 2 – 3 years.
- Educate neighbors about lake science.
Dock Removal 2010
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BAUNEG BEG LAKE PHOTOS AND ARTICLES
2011
Boat Parade
Loon Pictures
Yard Sale
Roberts St. Project
Roberts St. Project Nearly Completed
2010
Dam Pictures 2010 During the 3 Floods
Link to 2010 Boat Parade Sanford News Article
2009
2009 Boat Parade (Click for article and pictures) Link to Foster’s Article
More Pictures of the Dam Repair by Jack Kelleher around the Sluiceway
Misc
Contributed Pictures (Morning and Aerial Photos)
Picture of Bauneg Beg on the DownEast website
Bauneg Beg Watershed Map - Includes a large portion of downtown Sanford and part of the Country Club
Bauneg Beg Lake Association
P.O. Box538
N. Berwick, ME 03906
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Thank you.
In Memory of Ray Smith
May 26, 2012
North Berwick
Raymond B. Smith, age 58 of Bauneg Beg Lake, died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at his residence.
He was born September 5, 1953 in Revere, MA, one of three sons born to Henry N. and Norma L. (Bird) Smith. Ray graduated from Everett High School in Everett, MA with the class of 1971. Shortly thereafter, he moved to his family's summer home on Bauneg Beg Lake, which he loved so well.
Ray was the President of the Bauneg Beg Lake Association for 20 years. He loved the lake, fishing, boating, snowmobiling and hiking the area. Another love of Ray's was rescuing Dobermans and Great Pyrenees dogs. He will be greatly missed by his 3 adopted dogs, Jackson, Bella and Chloe.
He was a licensed NH Real Estate Agent and currently he worked in the Auto Body shop of Rowe Ford in Westbrook, where he had worked for 15 years.
Ray is survived by his two brothers, Henry Smith and his wife, Mary of Melrose, MA and Brian Smith of Lebanon, Maine; his very special Godson, Zachary Williams of Barnstead, NH; nieces and nephews Robert, Gregory, Christine and Michelle; as well as 11 grand-nieces and nephews and 1 great-grand niece.