Tracking changes in lakes and ponds over time
Coastal Rivers volunteers and interns monitor twice a month, late May through early September. We use a sonde device and a secchi disk to measure dissolved oxygen, temperature, phosphorous, and water transparency. Our goal is to collect data that will paint a picture of how water quality is changing over time.
We monitor in the following water bodies:
- Pemaquid Pond (2 locations)
- Muddy/Paradise Pond
- McCurdy Pond
- Biscay Pond
- Muscongus/Webber Pond (2 locations)
- Boyd Pond
- Clarks Cove Pond
How you can protect water quality in your lake or pond
- Maintain and routinely pump out your septic system.
- Report any illicit or questionable discharges to your Local Plumbing Inspector.
- Property owners should maintain wide and multi-layered vegetative buffers along waterways.
- If you use fertilizers, make sure they cannot enter waterways, ditches, lakes or ponds.
- Control storm run-off with plantings and infiltration areas. Use erosion-control mulch or gravel on roads, walk-ways and driveways to stop water from carrying sediment into water bodies.
- If you see clearing of vegetation along the shorefront that may be in violation of shoreline protection regulations, report it to the town code enforcement officer.
