Report From Kennebec SWCD:
Some Plans For The Summer
Field season at Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District began early this spring given the mild temperatures and dry conditions at the end of the winter. Staff began working with landowners and contractors on projects that usually have to wait until later in the season.
Projects in the pipeline for 2006 are as varied as the watersheds that they occur in. Fixing and updating camp and dirt roads is a major focus as we continue to limit the amounts of phosphorous and non-point source pollutants entering our lakes and streams. Stabilizing shorelines, planting vegetative buffers, designing and implementing erosion control practices as well as educating about conservation issues are all examples of services we provide.
GIS Mapping Services
I would like to discuss two projects in particular that folks in the greater Belgrade area should be aware of. In 2003, the District made a commitment to offer Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping services to the public and to our grant projects. Since that time, our GIS department has grown into a full-time position and requests for maps and mapping services have increased annually. Mapping projects range from the creation of watershed boundary maps for grant funded projects to ongoing stand and cover-type mapping projects for foresters. Rates of our fee for service schedule are very reasonable and include the one-on-one time needed to create custom maps for a customer.
Our custom maps are often given as gifts around birthdays or holidays. Many of our maps end up displayed in homes or on camp walls. This summer the Enchanted Swan in Belgrade is selling posters of the Belgrade Lakes Region created by our GIS department.
Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond
Other projects that Kennebec Soil & Water will be working on in the greater Belgrade area include a non-point source reduction project in the Salmon and McGrath pond watersheds. Be on the lookout for information about the Lake Days Celebration coming July 8-9 to Salmon and McGrath Ponds.
Echo Lake
The Echo Lake watershed grant, managed by the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) will continue offering technical assistance to landowners through Kennebec Soil & Water this summer. If you live in the Echo Lake watershed and have "road issues", property erosion, or questions, contact BRCA or Kennebec SWCD for help. If you can get several neighbors together to look over the problems with one of our staff, even better. We will provide recommendations and help prioritize ideas for improving and fixing the various sites discussed.
For information about any of our conservation projects or to inquire about the Partners in Conservation fundraising campaign, please contact Dale Finseth or Jennifer Mclean at 622-7847, X3
Article contributed by the Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District in Augusta.
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