::  TLEA Receives $61,189 Grant
     for Erosion Projects in Otisfield
      >>  August 4, 2009

TLEA received the good news that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has granted us $61,189 to fix erosion problems in Otisfield.

Soil erosion is considered by DEP to be the most serious threat to water quality in Maine lakes. Soil that washes from the land often carries phosphorus, a plant nutrient. Too much phosphorus entering a lake fertilizes an explosive growth of algae, known as a “bloom”. Algae blooms turn formerly clear lakes green, ruin fishing, swimming and boating, and even depress shoreline property values. These blooms have already occurred in Maine lakes around Augusta and Lewiston, and TLEA is working hard to insure it doesn’t happen to Thompson Lake.

In 2008, TLEA conducted a watershed survey in Otisfield. Volunteers and technical advisors looked found 96 problem areas. The most severe erosion sites were on roads throughout town, but erosion was also documented on driveways, paths, along the shore, and at residences.

The highly competitive grant – which consists of federal funds from Section 319 of the Clean Water Act passed through the State of Maine – allows TLEA to share the cost of fixing large erosion problems with the town, private road associations and landowners. In addition, the grant pays for an engineer to design solutions at complicated sites. The grant also provides money for workshops on buffer plantings and camp road maintenance, public education, technical assistance to landowners, and "mini grants" to landowners of $300 to fix small residential erosion issues.

The grant will be matched by local contributions of $40,976. Local contributors include the Town of Otisfield, TLEA, Silvaqua Owners Association, Cobbs Cove Road Association and the Jillson Camp Road Association. The GRAND TOTAL for the project is $61,189 (grant) + $40,976 (local match) = $102,165.Jeff Stern, Fiddlehead Environmental Consulting, will act as coordinator of the two-year project, which will begin in the spring of 2010.

This grant allows TLEA, working with the community, to do great things to protect Thompson Lake!