Report from Build Better Buffers Workshop

On August 21st Thompson Lake Environmental Association, The Androscoggin Soil and Water Conservation District and McLaughlin Garden & Homestead hosted a Build Better Buffers event at Thompson Lake Marina (The Heath). Attendees learned about shoreline protection, viewed a natural buffer, visited a nearby property enrolled in the Build Better Buffers program, and saw a demonstration on how mulch, duff, and vegetation protect water quality. If you are interested in how the Build Better Buffers Program could help your lake property contact board member Jim Skinner at tlea.yccdirector@gmail.com 

Funding for this project, in part, was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.  The funding is administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with EPA.  EPA does not endorse any commercial products or services mentioned

Summer 2025 Update

 With your support, TLEA will continue the battle against invasive milfoil

Our crew continues to search for milfoil regrowth and then hand pulls and bags it to be used for fertilizer inland.

Annual Water Quality Reports

See the UPDATED 122 years of data for the Ice Out from 2024

New report from Maine Public about how climate change is overheating Maine’s pristine lakes.

2024
The Warmest Year in History on Thompson Lake

Each year, TLEA retains Scott Williams, Limnologist with Lake & Watershed Associates (Turner, Maine) to take samples and assess the current status of Thompson Lake water quality. In late June 2024, Scott measured the surface temperature of Thompson Lake at 78.8 F. This is unusually warm compared to historical data. Lake temps everywhere are about 10 degrees warmer than they were 30 years ago, and the temps this summer are the highest on record for most lakes. This is a trend affecting all Maine lakes because of the effects of climate change.

Also, Thompson Lake presently has a high level of humic compounds from vegetative runoff that darkens the water and absorbs heat. This, combined with the unusually hot weather, results in greater heat retention. The humic compounds are mostly from the heavy rains of 2023 and will flush out in about three years.

Warmer lake water causes dissolved oxygen levels to be lower, which could adversely affect the salmonid fish, such as salmon and lake trout. So far, Scott has not seen reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the deep regions of the lake.

Higher temps also favor the growth of algae such as cyanobacteria (aka: Bluegreen algae). To date, we have not observed any elevated levels in Thompson – due largely to the fact that phosphorus levels in the lake continue to be low (a good thing!). Fortunately, very little precipitation occurred during the recent lengthy hot period. Stormwater runoff containing phosphorus, combined with the unusually warm water might have otherwise significantly increased cyanobacteria levels.

To date, our Secchi disc readings of water clarity for May, June and July have been somewhat lower than historical numbers, due partly to the fact that the water color level remains higher than the historical average, and likely from the moderate rain in the spring and early summer. Weather in early August will have a critical bearing on how the lake fares in August and September.

 Thompson Lake Watershed Survey

The Watershed Survey Report is available!

In May of 2023 TLEA volunteers and Technical Leaders surveyed the entire watershed of Thompson Lake. This nonregulatory survey was done to identify erosion sites and develop a Watershed Protection Plan for the next 10 years. We identified 299 sites that had significant erosion. Erosion, a form of non-point source pollution (NPS) is the biggest threat to the water quality of the lake. Property owners can go to the “Watershed Survey” page under “Programs” on this website to see the results of the survey. The Report lists sites of erosion, their level of impact, and what kind of remediation measures are recommended. Check it out by clicking:

Watershed Survey Report

Thank You for Attending Our 2025 Annual Meeting 

2025 Summer Observer

NOW AVAILABLE

2025 Summer Observer

Youth Conservation Corp —  a Busy Summer

Local Students Receive Summer Employment and Environmental Education

TLEA’s YCC Program for Summer 2025  was busier than ever!

YCC Project Coordinator Josh Wright and TLEA YCC Board Member Jim Skinner worked closely with Thompson Lake homeowners to inspect erosion issues, develop work plans, obtain any necessary permits, provide cost estimates and complete the remediation work.

If your property needs attention, please contact Jim Skinner at tlea.yccdirector@gmail.com

For info,  email:  tlea.yccdirector@gmail.com

Learn More About the Youth Conservation Corps

Jim Skinner shared his perspective from a lake association that relies on volunteers to run and manage the program. Both speakers shared  “lessons learned”, ideas for success, and some of the challenges they’ve faced organizing YCC crews for their lake and their region.
More information can be found at the Maine Lakes Conference website.

YCC Project Coordinator Josh Wright and team members Noah Marson and Mason Bourget install a box culvert to prevent erosion and runoff