An important 319 grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has been implemented by the Langley Shores Road Association to control storm water runoff which threatens the water quality of Great East Lake. The work included ditching 300 feet of the roadside, re-grading, directing runoff into a catch basin, paving a 300 foot section of the road, and adding erosion control mulch to stabilize the banks.
This work will prevent 6 tons of sediment carrying 5 pounds of phosphorus from entering the lake, a very significant prospect!
The 319 grant provided funds from the US EPA Clean Water Act and was the result of a partnership including York County Soil and Water Conservation District, Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance, Maine DEP, Langley Shores Road Association, Great East Lake Improvement Association (GELIA), Hawk Road Association, Eagle Road Association and Wilson Lake Association (WLA.) Road sites on Langley Shores Road, Hawk Road and Eagle Road, identified in watershed surveys, were included in the Salmon Falls Headwater Lakes Watershed Management Plan which received national commendations. The grant provides 60% of the cost for the projects with 40% match to be covered by the homeowners in the road associations with contributions from GELIA and WLA helping to ease the burden.
The Langley Shores work was coordinated by Arnie Murray and Bob Berlan who reported that a 2 inch storm right after the completed installation proved that the BMPs (Best Management Practices) were successful in containing the storm water.
Similar projects are underway for Hawk Road, while Eagle Road is still in the planning phase under the provisions of the grant. All improvements are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013. This has been an example of close cooperation among many organizations that will benefit all residents of the towns of Acton and Wakefield as lake water quality affects everyone.
Another project scheduled to be undertaken with the help of a grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will address severe erosion issues on Brackett road in Wakefield. These corrections will go a long way toward protecting our important resources in both Acton and Wakefield.
View information on NH Watershed Protection and Restoration Forum