For the past 35 years Jeff Stern and his family have enjoyed summers at their camp on Woods Pond in Bridgton.

Woods Pond is perhaps the only water body of any size left in the Lakes Region that has not had a watershed survey. This coming April, Stern hopes to lead a group of dedicated residents to change that.

Additional Photos

In April, residents hope to begin a watershed survey of Woods Pond to assess water quality and identify problem areas. Photo courtesy of Jeff Stern

“It will be a way to give back something to the lake,” said Stern, a member of the Woods Pond Water Quality Committee. “It’s certainly been there for us; we’ve had wonderful memories.”

Located entirely within Bridgton’s borders, the pond is a little over 450 acres and has a maximum depth of just 30 feet. Though the pond is relatively small at 3,329 acres, its watershed is over seven times its size.

Local residents and environmental groups have been working toward organizing a survey for years. Woods Pond ultimately flows into Sebago Lake. Because of that The Portland Water District is helping in the effort. On January 23, the water district’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to support a Woods Pond Watershed Survey with a $1,000 cash contribution and $960 worth of staff support. This is the final contribution that matches the generous support provided by watershed residents and the Town of Bridgton.

“The pond is blessed in that the shoreline has retained much of its natural character,” Stern said. “The reason for that is due largely because there are a number of summer youth camps still operating here.”

Camp Wildwood and Camp Kingswood are among them. There are relatively few year-round homes on Woods Pond.

Like other parts of the region, being within an easy day’s drive from Boston means the area is under development pressures that have been steadily increasing for years.

“Woods Pond has good water quality,” Stern said. “But certain long-term trends have raised some red flags.”

Bridgton-based Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) has monitored Woods Pond for decades. Stern said LEA’s data shows that phosphorous levels in the pond appear to be on the rise. Phosphorus promotes algae growth, which depletes oxygen in the water. The most common source of phosphorus is from soil carried by storm water directly into the pond before it has a chance to get filtered out by vegetation. Driveways and road culverts are typical sources of untreated storm water. Fertilized lawns leading down to a lake can also be problematic.

With increased phosphorus levels in Woods Pond, Stern said the clarity of the water is beginning to suffer.

“Disastrous algae blooms have already occurred in Maine lakes around Augusta and Lewiston,” Stern said. “The Woods Pond Water Quality Committee wants to make sure it doesn’t happen here.”

The survey is the first step in identifying where the problem areas lie. Partners include LEA, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District, the Town of Bridgton, Portland Water District, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. A notice will be sent to area property owners before any survey occurs, and the committee hopes landowners will generously allow volunteers access to properties. Armed with town maps, survey forms and a crash-course in what to look for, volunteers will divide into teams. A report based on survey findings will be generated sometime over the summer. In spring of 2013, grants will be applied for to help address mitigation.

“A lot of folks have donated towards the effort,” Stern said. “People value and treasure the pond; I think there’s a good understanding out there about why we’re doing this.”

If you’d like to help or have questions, contact Jeff Stern at 583-2723. 

Don Perkins is a freelance writer who lives in Raymond. He can be reached at:

presswriter@gmail.com

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