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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing
Article Summaries |
Conservation Corps Celebrates Ten Successful Seasons
By Esther J. Perne Ten years into its proactive career, the Conservation Corps of the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance hasn't changed at all. Oh, the name and management have been somewhat modified, and the concept has become a familiar buzz word in the Belgrades. Its educational achievements among landowners have been monumental; its financing has grown to a generous contribution network of associations, communities, businesses, and individuals; and its opportunities for summer employment and career direction among the area youth have impacted many lives. But the basic premise? The goal of maintaining the Belgrade lakes water quality, of protecting and preserving them with strategic erosion-control projects throughout the watershed, executed by a corps of area high school and college students, remains exactly what the concerned representatives of the Belgrades' seven lakes set out to achieve. Formed in the fall of 1994, the initial liaison of the Belgrade lakes chain was informal, experimental, and very necessary. Something had to be done to pull together the lakes, the towns, the diverse watershed residents in a proactive stance to protect the clarity and cleanliness of the waters — and thus protect the area's economic base, recreational lifestyle, and environmental quality of life.
Following a winter of presentations concerning water quality, economics and a plan of action to the core watershed communities of Belgrade, Rome, Oakland, Smithfield, Sidney, and Mount Vernon, the lakes team combined financial resources ($700 per lake) to enable a major summer research project: two students from Colby College's Environmental Studies Program were hired to help monitor water quality and to review road, driveway and property runoff on all the lakes. On November 30, 1995 roughly 2,000 letters were mailed to lake association members and shorefront property owners throughout the Belgrades outlining a plan to hire an experienced person to supervise a conservation corps of area students in an all-out protection/preservation plan to "keep this piece of heaven." The 11% rate of response reflected an outstanding underestimation of public interest. From local elementary students to large businesses, funds from this one mailing financed not one but two corps. By mid season 1996 the Conservation Corps message was working: give us your erosion projects and for the price of material we will obtain permits and supply labor. With their infamous trademark wheelbarrows the young people employed in the Corps had already moved a few tons of rocks in projects that included repairing and ditching camp roads, seeding and mulching open areas, creating runoff diversions, controlling stream erosion, and stabilizing shorelines.
In their very first week alone, the Corps completed projects on Jamaica Point on Great Pond, on Brickett Point on East Pond, and on the Sidney shoreline on Messalonskee Lake. The Jamaica Point site involved building a culvert and plunge pool, and spreading 12 yards of rock. One of the East Pond projects required moving 24 tons of blue rock and 7 tons of crushed stone And in Sidney, major shore reinforcement with riprap was achieved on several sites. No wonder by season's end, the first week's work for 1997 was all set. Although data for ten years is yet to be compiled, in the last five years Conservation Corps projects on all of the Belgrade lakes plus Watson Pond utilized 1,850 tons of angled stone for riprap, 500 tons of crushed rock, and 2500 new plants — all hand placed. More important than any measurement is the observation that fledgling season — and one that has not altered throughout the next nine — that meeting the Conservation Corps members themselves may be the most convincing reason for supporting them. To meet this fine group of area young people, have a site evaluation, and set up an erosion control project, property owners throughout the watershed are encouraged to call 495-6039, stop in the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance Office in downtown Belgrade Lakes, or visit its web site. | |||
