Lovejoy Pond Watershed Survey

Keywords: erosion, eutrophication, nonpoint source sites, watershed
Session Type: Poster Session

Abstract

Lake ecosystems are jeopardized due to eutrophication from erosion and nutrient inputs occurring along the shoreline of the water. Through different forms of erosion, phosphorus and other contaminants from development are able to make their way into bodies of water and create large algae blooms that negatively affect the life in and around lakes and ponds. Lakes that are the victim of eutrophication also suffer decreased property values around the water. Tracking locations where erosion occurs can make a difference in protecting a lake from possible contamination and maintaining its health. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection, with the help of volunteers from the University of Maine Farmington, the 30 Mile River Watershed Association, and the Lovejoy Pond lake association, launched a watershed survey program for this purpose. This survey uses components of Geographic Information Systems to help document high risk lakes and take steps towards preventing erosion along their shorelines. These surveys are completed on the ground by identifying characteristics of erosion and categorizing their severity. Lovejoy Pond, in central Maine, is one of the high risk bodies of water where a watershed survey was completed. The goal of this survey was to retrieve high quality data about nonpoint source erosion around Lovejoy Pond with careful consideration to special guidelines due to the Covid19 pandemic. This poster reports on the unique process and results of this survey and describes practices that other watershed programs may consider when addressing eutrophication problems related to erosion.