Watershed Surveys

Watershed Survey

Upper and Middle Range Ponds

Saturday, May 11, 2024

The Range Ponds Association, with technical assistance from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, conducted a watershed survey of Upper and Middle Range Ponds on May 11, 2024.  The survey was necessary to protect the water quality of the Range Ponds from existing and future threats, such as the algae bloom that occurred on Middle Range Pond in September 2022.  A watershed survey had not been conducted on the Range Ponds for 20 years.  

A public meeting to provide more detailed information about the survey and to answer questions took place on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Poland Town Hall, 1231 Maine Street, Poland, Maine.  We urged anyone who lives on or near the Range Ponds or uses them for recreation to attend this meeting and to support the survey.  

The Range Ponds Association is a non-profit organization created to monitor and protect the water quality of the Range Ponds. 

The following letter was sent to residents:

Dear Friends of the Range Ponds:

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the Range Ponds Association, with technical support from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, will be conducting a watershed survey on Upper and Middle Range Ponds.  The purpose of the survey is to identify nonpoint sources of runoff carrying phosphorus and other nutrients into the lakes and adversely impacting water quality.  As you may be aware, there was an algae bloom on Middle Range Pond in September 2022, which is indicative of these sorts of problems.  By identifying specific areas of concern, we can then seek funding to address them including federal Section 319 grant funds.  In this way, we can protect the water quality in the Range Ponds, which has been excellent for so long but is showing recent signs of stress and deterioration that should concern us all.  It has been twenty years since a watershed survey occurred on the Range Ponds.  

We are writing for two reasons.  

First, to ask that, if you live on or near the lakes, that you allow volunteers on your property to conduct the survey on May 11.  No aspect of the survey will involve code enforcement or legal compliance.  The only function of the survey is to identify nonpoint sources of runoff and to see if they can be addressed on a cooperative and voluntary basis, with grant funding where available.  People with property in the watershed will receive a postcard allowing them to opt out of the survey, but we are asking you instead to please participate.  Without the access requested we cannot fix the problems we know exist and will only get worse if not addressed.

Second, we are asking for your financial support.  We will have significant expenses for the technical assistance needed to conduct the survey, to write the survey report, and to pursue remediation of the problems identified by the survey, including applications for grant funding.  If you have supported the RPA through annual dues thank you for that.  But those dues are needed to cover our normal annual operations in monitoring the water quality of the Range Ponds.  Those funds will not cover the extraordinary expenses associated with the watershed survey.  We need your additional financial support now to help fund the survey and necessary follow up. Please consider using the button below to make an online donation or mail a check to Range Ponds Association, PO Box 451, Poland Spring, Maine 04274.

A public meeting to provide more detailed information about the watershed survey and to answer questions will occur on Saturday, April 6 from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Poland Town Hall, 1231 Maine Street, Poland, Maine.  Thank you again for your support of the RPA and its work to preserve the water quality and enjoyment of our Range Ponds.