‍Winter Newsletter

New Year’s Greetings! Welcome to the 2025 Annual Newsletter.

‍As I learn more about the ecosystem of the lake and watershed - the land around the lake that drains its water, like streams and ditches, into the lake; the more I understand the importance of FOM’s work.

FOM’s two main issues - Milfoil and Water Quality: We’ve always focused primarily on milfoil control and for a good reason. Messalonskee Lake’s milfoil infestation has the distinction of being one of the highest in the state. We also now focus more deliberately on water quality. Messalonskee Lake is on DEP’s Non-Point Source Threatened Lakes Priority List. Non-Point Source refers to general runoff pollution from sources such as soil, fertilized lawns, road salt, and leaky septic systems that all carry phosphorus; which causes algae blooms. This status qualified the lake for a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Non-Point Source Control 319 grant.

Milfoil Foresight: It should be noted that without the foresight and hard work, going back at least 20 years, of FOM members such as Mike Willey who first warned of the milfoil problem coming from the Belgrade Stream; Colonel Bill Libby who lobbied hard to shut down the RT. 27 boat launch; Ned and Anne Hammond, and Rachel (Whitney) White who took the required Lake Steward classes to implement a DASH boat, hand-pulling and barrier- laying work that’s still done today, several areas of the lake would be unusable. Danielle Boutin continued that work. As we continue into 2025, there will be some changes in the milfoil control program.

Water Quality: Although water quality in Messalonskee Lake is stable, it is listed as threatened by the Maine DEP because it is considered sensitive to water quality changes due to its sediment chemistry -having a potential to release phosphorus from the lake bottom should there be big water temperature changes or continued polluted runoff. The large size of our watershed (44 sq miles), extent of shoreline development, phosphorus inputs from our direct watershed and the watershed of the upstream lakes, and the effects of a changing climate all combine to put pressure on our water quality.

Finances: Financially, 84% of our budget is spent directly on conservation activities. In 2024, we were basically in good condition due to increased membership and major donations. The funds we received from the Towns of Belgrade, Sidney and Oakland, as well as the DEP, were also critical to our important work. FOM greatly appreciates the support.

Community Involvement: Several outreach and education projects will be continued, including more updates on the new website; more e-newsletters to keep people better informed, such as on the water level issue this past summer; milfoil identification classes – both by kayak and on the shoreline; a buffer workshop; and the Milfoil Survey Team developed by Peter Koons to help monitor milfoil growth areas using a geo-location method with cell phones.

You will see in the following pages that FOM had a successful year. And many people helped!

Kathy Moore, President

‍Purpose of the Friends of Messalonskee Watershed

Mission: “To protect and improve the water quality and natural resources of our lake and its

watershed using science-based conservation methods, education, and collaborative action, for the benefit of all.”

Vision: Our work will enhance the quality and character of the Messalonskee Lake watershed by reducing existing milfoil infestation and rates of new infestation spread, preventing the introduction of new invasive plants, reducing runoff of harmful substances into the lake, building strong community partnerships, and increasing public awareness of ways to protect the lake.

2025 FOM Board of Directors

‍• Kathy Moore - President

• Anne Berlind - 1st Vice President

• Kelly Smith - 2nd Vice President

• Robert Nardi - Treasurer

• Lisa Tarzia - Secretary

• JJ Jurdak - Accountant

‍• Tanya Athanus

• Doug Fischang

• Peter Koons

• Greg Mercier

• Bill Tiernan

• Janna Townsend

• Richard Veilleux

‍Office Staff: Kathy Whitney

friendsofmessalonskee@gmail.com • (207) 618-8723

FOM 2025 Summer Calendar of Events
and Classes

• June TBA: Buffer Workshop; Sponsored by FOM and 7 Lakes Alliance

• July 4: Boat Parade, 3 PM - Meet at Rock Island. 9 PM - Fireworks in front of Snow Pond Cruises on the Lake.

• July 19: Annual Meeting, 3 PM - 6PM, location: TBA

• July 21: Plant Paddle Class, 10 AM - Noon. Learn how to kayak and identify invasive plants.

Everything is provided!

• August 11: Plant Paddle Class, 10 AM - Noon.

Note: Sign-up for Plant Paddles through RSU 18 Adult and Community Education

midmaine.maineadulted.org or email form.

Individualized milfoil identification and handling classes: This year we’ll organize these classes differently. FOM staff will be available to go to groups of neighbors on the lake and teach classes. FOM will send out program information on how to set up a date and time in early June.

Milfoil Survey Team: FOM members and staff will give short workshops on what the milfoil survey team does, how to identify milfoil, where to go on the lake in a kayak, canoe or boat and how to record milfoil findings with your cell phone using geo-location (no special app needed!) Last summer, 10 surveyors made 60 reports. It is easy, fun and very helpful for milfoil tracking and control. If you like to be our and about on the lake, check this out!

FOM will send out e-newsletters and information will also on the website on all the events. 

Contact us at friendsofmessalonskee@gmail.com or 207-618-8723 for more information.

‍We Greatly Appreciate ALL our 2024 Members. THANK YOU!
FOM recognizes our:

M‍ajor Donors

Jeff, Lin, and Robert Choate

Lawrence and Janice Kassman

Steve Neumeister

Tobi L. Schneider

North Atlantic Seed Company

Business Sponsors

Giffords Ice Cream

Plourde Real Estate

Individual Sponsors

John and Cathy Gifford

Brian and Caroline Martin

Cathleen Morrow and J. Gilliam Johnston

Don and Irene Plourde

Business Stewards

Days Store, Belgrade

Golden Pond Wealth Management

Hamlin’s Marine

Kramer’s, Inc.

Lakeside Lodge at Bangs Beach

Maine Wilderness Tours (Mike Gaurino)
The Boat Medic (Greg Mercier)

‍Benefactors

Christian Bishop

Richard and Carol Ann Boles

Trisha Cheney

Stuart and Sharon Cushner

Finkel’s

Ron Fluet and Anne Berlind

Sharon Gallant

Jane Gianino,

Charlie Giguere

Martha and Gary Hammond

Scott Lessard and Joyce Toman

Bob Nardi and Kathy Moore

Brian and Susan Phenix

Philip Poulin

Robert and Carol Ringer

Jeanne Shinay

Carolyn Tarzia

John and Heidi Thompson

Patricia Thompson

Thank you to the Towns of Belgrade, Sidney and Oakland for their generous support!

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Loon Count 2024

Ron Fluet, Messalonskee Lake Loon Count Coordinator

I have tallied the final 2024 loon count results for Messalonskee As we do most years, this year we covered the entire lake with volunteers. I am so lucky to have such a great group of counters. Thank You all for your time and effort!

We had a total of 29 Adults and 4 Chicks for 2024. I did make an adjustment to the count sheet in one of the sections based on the notes in the survey form for that section and the count details in another section. Also note that although we counted four chicks in Section 8, a research organization counted seven chicks in that same section only a week or two later.

One of the coolest things from this year’s loon count is the “number of observers’ total. Many of you have involved lots of people on your boat to share in this experience. For all 8 sections, we had 28 total observers on Messalonskee....That is awesome!

FOM Milfoil Program 2024

FOM, along with partners supports 3 Milfoil Control programs:

• Removing milfoil by hand-pulling and laying barrier covers in the shallower waters; conducted by FOM’s Danielle Boutin and crew

• Diver-Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) in the deeper or harder to get to areas; conducted by New England Milfoil and Muddy Bottom, Inc.

• Courtesy Boat Inspections (CBI) to help prevent harmful milfoil fragments from both entering and leaving the lake; conducted by 7 Lakes Alliance

Summary: Milfoil Removal and DASHED amounts

• 408 hand-pulled bags or 20,400 pounds (1 bag = 50 lb);

• 21,550 sq ft of barriers laid, mostly black plastic, but also burlap;

• 4,240 DASHed gallons (containers)

Thank you to Danielle’s Milfoil crew, Matrix Ward, Maya Still, Elizabeth Boutin, and volunteers Ana Still and James Boutin. Much appreciation to Bob Nardi, Bill Tiernan, JJ Jurdak, Jon Humphrey, and Peter Koons, who helped move and dispose of the hand pulled milfoil. We greatly appreciate Greg Mercier, the Boat Medic, who volunteers to keep the FOM boat and dock in the water and Kelly Smith who lets us use her dock space! We also recognize the NEM divers, Sam Dyer, Captain; and Muddy Bottoms, Inc., Donnie Porter, Captain, for great DASHing work.

Thank you to Dylan Clark, Director of the Oakland Transfer Station, for helping FOM to dispose of the milfoil according to DEP regulations.

Summary: Courtesy Boat Inspections

• Oakland Boat Launch: 895 inspections were performed;

9 milfoil fragments found; 2 confirmed as Variable Leaf Milfoil (VLM).

• Sidney Boat Launch: 1378 inspections performed;

20 milfoil fragments found; 7 confirmed as VLM.

• Total of 2,273 inspections performed; 29 total fragments found; total 9 VLM fragments

confirmed. Fewer fragments were founds last year (24), but more confirmed as VLM (13).

Many thanks to Sharon Mann, 7 Lakes Invasive Aquatics Director; Josie Miller, Invasive Aquatic Coordinator and the Inspectors for their efforts. FOM is very grateful for all the partnerships that have been formed to help keep Messalonskee Lake clear of masses of milfoil and prevent fragments from entering or leaving the lake. All 3 milfoil programs work together to contain milfoil growth both on our lake and others. 

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Highlights of the 2024 Milfoil Removal Report to the Dept. of Environmental Protection –Invasive Aquatic Plant Removal Division

Danielle Boutin, FOM Milfoil Program Coordinator

Summary: The growth of the Variable Leaf Milfoil (VLM) plant exploded in certain areas along the lake. This season, there were many days spent surveying “new sightings/areas” along the lake where VLM was found. The season has been productive for limited resources and time with a crew. We used volunteers this season to help with the hand pulling. FOM made the decision to contract with a second diver company. We used Muddy Bottom, Inc. In addition to New England Milfoil for DASHing this season. This allowed us to focus our limited time with the crew to very specific areas. Lake property owners have continued to be interested in learning and identifying native and invasive plants though our Plant Paddles and volunteer surveying group. The following are some ideas and concerns for the typical milfoil “hot spots” for next year.

Note: When bags are referred to, they are onion bags holding 50 pounds of milfoil.

‍Oakland Basin/Launch: VLM Plants were visible on the surface. New England Milfoil DASHed for 2 weeks in this area of the lake (this included the whole north end of Willey Cove & Swartz). 2400 Gallons of VLM were removed. This area continues to be a problem, as the “catch all” of the lake with plants and fragments. Two major areas of concern are:

1. The large amount of plant fragments being

moved into the Messalonskee Stream from

the lake when the dam opens.

2. The movement of sediment moving over

barriers; creating another growing surface

for rooted fragments.

Swartz: We surveyed a bed of VLM growing near the hazard buoys/rock bar. It was observed at the sand bar area that small individual plants were growing sporadically with natives. The area was DASHed; 60 gallons was removed. This specific area is across from Flamingo Isle and will have to be addressed each year. The sandbar keeps getting larger and the fragments are getting trapped in the cove.

‍Willey Cove & Flamingo Isle: The Cove itself has two large well-established beds of VLM. In regards to the other bed in front of the culvert, we hand pulled 12 bags. Buoys were put out to deter fishermen and the public from going into the Cove. The remaining part of the bed was in water too deep to hand pull. The cove was DASHed; 180 gallons of VLM was removed. This will always need to be

addressed due to the culvert stream having VLM all along it and the feeder pond being full of VLM. Plastic barriers on the culvert side (just in front of the culvert) and a fragment net may work to stop some of the spread of VLM.

Blake Cove: The crew removed 57 bags of VLM. We moved 15 plastic barriers to the front of the cove. There were lots of native plants mixed in with the VLM. We found large amounts of elodea, coontail, water grass, and pondweed. This cove has been worked for over 15 years. This same strategy has done a wonderful job maintaining spread and growth of VLM.

Brown’s Island HZ buoy: This bed was

surveyed and scheduled to be DASHed.

80 gallons was removed.

‍Blake Hazard: The majority of the area was surveyed to be clear with many natives. The Blake Hazard Cove had 14 bags removed. The small beds and individual plants were found under the lily pads and mixed into the arrowhead. There are many small singular Water Marigold plants that look like VLM even to us seasoned veterans.

Rt. 27 Launch: We have removed 181 bags of VLM. The beginning part of the channel (roughly 1/3 of it) has a majority of native plants. The remainder of the channel is dense VLM. 500 yards of burlap barriers was laid. This was the entire channel from the dock to the bend before the channel meets the stream.

Southern end of the lake

(Marsh/Stream Channel):

This area has always had VLM. This season the VLM just grew exponentially faster and thicker than seen in previous years. There are now thick new growth areas of VLM along most of the Marsh shore lines from Belgrade across to Sidney. Along with the Belgrade Stream, the channel from the lake to Belgrade Stream will need many hours to maintain what exists now.

‍Bang’s Beach: 840 Gallons of VLM was DASHed between the northern end of the cove.

Pathway of the milfoil spread: Much of the milfoil in Messalonskee Lake comes from the Belgrade Stream at the south end of the lake, seen below. The milfoil gets caught in the marsh area on both sides of the Stream outlet; or gets carried down the lake by currents and wind, ending up mainly in the hot spots described in the report, or at the Oakland dam.

‍Juniper/Eccles Cove: The DASHed area from the previous year has fewer small plants. The crew hand pulled 144 bags of VLM and moved 12 plastic barriers. 680 gallons was DASHed. This is a well established bed in clay. This is one area that is managed just as an opening for residents to access the lake. There is VLM that goes up into the stream there.

‍The North end of the lake in Oakland. As the milfoil gets carried down the lake, if it doesn’t get trapped along the way, it ends up around the Oakland launch (to the left after parking lot) and then down to the dam where it collects (the line at top of the picture). This area is DASHed. When the dam is opened, the milfoil flows into the Messalonskee Stream. It gets caught along the way in certain areas, but some enters the Kennebec River in Waterville. Drone Photo: jehumphreycommunications. Jan. 6, 2024.

‍Under the capable direction of Danielle Boutin, the lake was open and navigable once again this year. Danielle is retiring as FOM Milfoil Coordinator, but will join us in a different capacity next summer.

‍Milfoil Program Changes 2025: Danielle’s retirement as Milfoil Coordinator is related to another big change that is happening in FOM’s milfoil work. The DEP, Aquatic Invasive Plant division, is regionalizing their approach to funding Invasive Plant work. DEP funds for Milfoil removal, always given directly to FOM, will now be accessed through 7 Lakes Alliance. Danielle’s retirement also means that 7 Lakes will be delivering the milfoil removal work; they do this on several other Belgrade Lakes. FOM will continue to fund our portion, as we usually do, after the DEP funds are applied to the operational costs. FOM will work in close cooperation with 7 Lakes on the Milfoil Programs. We have a similar arrangement with our Courtesy Boat Inspection program that 7 Lakes has operated for the past two years 

‍Thank you, Danielle Boutin!

Danielle worked for 9 years in various roles for FOM. In her role as the Milfoil Program Coordinator for the last 5 years, she oversaw and worked on hand-pulling and barrier laying projects; coordinated with the DASH work contractors; coordinated the CBI program until 2 years ago; and wrote and submitted the DEP Invasive Aquatic Plant applications and required reports among other several other tasks that kept the program operating smoothly.

Danielle will be the Lake Community Educator next season; teaching various classes and

providing demonstrations to help lake supporters learn how to help protect the lake.

‍After 36 years as an FOM member, Gary Bennett is retiring. Thank you, Gary, for all you’ve done for FOM and the lake.

See you at the

July 4 Parade and

Fireworks!

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Friends of Messalonskee Watershed Protection Project Update

Successful Conclusion to Round 1; Round 2 continues in 2025

The Messalonskee Watershed Protection Project (MWPP) – Round 1 (2023-2024), was successfully concluded in December 2024. The Project was funded through an $111,884 Clean Water Act 319 grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This work is set to continue as 7 Lakes Alliance has been approved to receive a Phase III grant for $112,570 from Maine DEP for addressing more erosion on roads and residential properties across the watershed in 2025-2026 in partnership with FOM.

The purpose of the MWPP is to identify and address areas of soil and phosphorus erosion that greatly affects water quality and can lead to green, potentially toxic algae blooms. MWPP is composed of three programs: 1) Cost share (matching) funds are provided for Road/Driveway construction (Non-Residential Projects); 2) Discounts are available for residential “hard landscaping” and buffer planting (Residential Projects) through the 7 Lakes Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program; 3) The FOM LakeSmart program helps landowners identify and remedy erosion issues at watershed homes and camps free of charge.

Many people contributed to the success of the Round 1 MWPP, including all the property owners who invested in their projects; FOM major donors and member donations that allowed us to hire FOM’s Project Manager, Jen Jespersen of Ecological Instincts, an environmental consulting firm; and 7 Lakes Alliance for their willingness to be the grantee and participate in this project, especially Charlie Baeder, Stuart Cole, Lynn Geiger and Laura Rose Day. Several area construction Contractors also helped the MWPP meet the Round 1 goals.

All MWPP DEP 319, Round 1 grant goals were successfully met or exceeded.

1.  FOM LakeSmart Program – Goal: 24 LakeSmart plans; Achieved 27; 5 LS awards.
2. YCC – Goal: 12 Residential Projects; 24 Best Management Practices (BMP). Achieved 18 Residential Projects; 34 BMPs.
3. 319 Road Construction Projects – Goal: 18 Construction Projects; Achieved 18.

The Messalonskee Watershed Protection Project – Round 1 accomplished the goals and made a difference: the erosion control work installed across the watershed is estimated to prevent 64 pounds of phosphorus, 108 tons of sediment and road materials, and 23 pounds of nitrogen from getting to the lake each year. A Press Release and Special Summary Report are on FOM website under: Protect the Lake: Watershed Programs.

‍YCC Projects – Residential Projects

Best Management Practices (BMPs) include: drywells to collect rainwater from roofs, infiltration steps with crushed stone for steep walkways, Erosion Control Mulch for bare soil and planting vegetated buffers.

‍Non-Residential Construction Projects

Roads and Driveways include: Cedar Village Place, Derby Place, Hemlock, Orchid Lane, Spring Hill Road, Whispering Pines, Sunny Shores, Saliba Place and Cottle Hill Road.

‍Thank you to all the Contractors who made these projects possible, including J. Stevens,

D. Dubois, R. Labbe, B. Bacon, M. Rossignol, L. Dunn, D. Hallowell, and B. Cummings.

To ensure projects like these can continue, please renew your membership

and/or donate in 2025. You can use the enclosed envelope or use the PayPal or credit card function on the website, www.friendsofmessalonksee.com

THANK YOU!

Photos by Stuart Cole and Lynn Geiger

‍LakeSmart: Finding Balance on the Water Throughout Belgrade, Oakland and Sidney

Janna Townsend, FOM LakeSmart Coordinator

‍FOM 2024 LakeSmart Award Recipients

Peter and Jean Koons, Sidney

Janna Townsend, Sidney

Kathy and John Gifford, Oakland

Nancy Breiden and Steve Zwicky, Sidney

Richard and Deb Lyons, Belgrade

LakeSmart Commendations

Wally and Cindy Buschmann

Liz and Brian Driscoll

Nancy Breiden

Glenn Lajoie

Sue Phenix

Gizelle Veilleux

Lakeside Lodge of Sidney Laura and Dave McIntire Kathy Dorko

‍FOM is getting LakeSmart! As the weather grows hotter and as summer storms hit our hills, roofs, roads and pathways, soil runs to the shores ushering phosphorus to the lake. These new disastrous situations demonstrate that we need to protect the lake and teach our members ways to do so! The buzz is, Build a Vegetative Buffer Along the Waterfront.

On my last LakeSmart visit, the property owner exclaimed, “I know lawns are bad for the lake!” I was, of course, delighted to hear it. Lawns are slippery slides for phosphorus to travel with storm water right into the lake causing the many sightings of algae bloom we are seeing and hearing about this year. But there is more to it. Here’s an outline of what you need to know. Over the next few years, a property’s future could entail different pathways to becoming LakeSmart. Here are erosion control recommendations:

1. Make sure rain that falling from the roof is landing in dripline ditches, to encourage it to travel through the soil and perhaps through rooted plants in small gardens that further clean the storm runoff,
   
   
2. Create curved pathways that both absorb water and detour storm runoff away from the lake.
   
   
3. Add to existing tall canopy or plan a future canopy with a rich vegetative buffer. Plant: new trees that will create a canopy, a mix of middle-story trees (Serviceberry, Crabapple), transplant native perennials growing on the property (fern),
   
   
4. Add ground cover (sun loving lowbush blueberry or shade loving bushberry sod) and allow duff to mound.

My job, as I see it, is to walk the property with you, identify the

solutions you have come up with and problems that exist. Knowing Best Maintenance Practices, together, we can protect the lake.

Sign up for next year!

Contact: FriendsofMessalonskee@gmail.com, (970) 261-5714,

Friendsofmessalonskee.com

‍Messalonskee Lake Water Quality Update

Matt Farragher – Lake Scientist, 7 Lakes Alliance

Messalonskee Lake had good water clarity in 2024, with Secchi Disk Transparency averaging

17 feet. This is exactly in line with the ten-year average, and better than the 2023 average of 14 ft, which was the worst year since 2015 when the intensive monitoring of the 7 Lakes-Colby College Water Quality Initiative began (see figure below). The lowest water clarity measurement of the season occurred on the first day of sampling in late-April, while the heavy rainfall in 2023 resulted in poor water clarity on the deeper Belgrade Lakes (Messalonskee Lake, Long Pond, Great Pond), the reduced rainfall this year corresponded with clearer waters. More rainfall leads to more erosion of the landscape, which ultimately increases the amount of sediment and phosphorus that enters the lakes, both of which result in reduced water clarity. With variable weather trends each year, it is essential to prevent excess erosion on the shoreline and in upstream locations to reduce inputs of phosphorus in order to maintain Messalonskee’s good water clarity.

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‍The poorest water clarity measurement of the 2024 season on Messalonskee occurred on November 14th, our last day of sampling there. Secchi depth was only 13.7 feet, but this is not surprising. Messalonskee is a large, deep lake that thermally stratifies in the summer, or separates into a warm upper layer and a cool deep layer. When deep lakes cool down in the fall, the lake can become one uniform temperature from top to bottom, resulting in vertical mixing of the water column. This mixing event, called fall turnover, transports phosphorus in the deeper water towards the lake surface where it becomes available for algae. This is why large, deep lakes sometimes have an algae bloom in the fall, and again in the spring immediately following ice-off. While our Lake Science Team at 7 Lakes Alliance has finished monitoring for the 2024 season, we will continue collecting data beneath the ice (once the ice is thick enough) to help inform us how the 2025 season will shape up.

‍Contact us