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Summertime in the BelgradesContents
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30 MRWA: New Watershed Group OrganizesThe 30 Mile River Watershed Association (30 MRWA), which includes the ponds and lakes and communities from Kimball Pond in Vienna to the Androscoggin River in Leeds, has been recently formed to provide a framework of communication and action in areas critical to a healthy and protected watershed, including boat ramp inspections against invasive plants, a lake steward to encourage boating law compliance and safety, a dam committee, and the association formalities of budget, newsletter, brochure, website, historian, and 501 (c) 3 certification. Thirty Mile Watershed takes its name for that area in central Maine used by the 18th century European explorers of the region who measured the navigable waterway northeast from the Androscoggin River in Leeds and Monmouth, through the Androscoggin Deadwater, Androscoggin Lake, Pocasset Lake, Lovejoy Pond, to the head of Echo Lake in West Mount Vernon (where an old tannery chimney still stands by the inlet dam), through Taylor Pond, Parker Pond, Minnehonk Lake, Flying Pond and several smaller ponds that lie in the headwaters in the towns of Mt. Vernon and Vienna. The bulk of the financial support for the watershed-wide coordination of services comes about equally from the 16 regional participating towns and lake associations, as well as two of the three regional land trusts. Organizational members contribute annually based on a formula developed by the Association, which includes a basic participation amount linked to shore frontage and population, as well as additional amounts for added services. Tax-deductible contributions may be solicited when the 501 (c) 3 status is obtained. To date the 30 MRWA has benefited from several significant collaborations: the Department of Environmental Protection has granted $3000 to support the milfoil boat inspection program; the town of Vienna has transferred ownership of their harbormaster boat to the Association for its boating law compliance and safety project; and the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) will help the Association by employing its 2-3 part time boat inspection employees, including the coordinator. The Association holds monthly meetings and issues a monthly news update. Future events may include a one-day celebration of the watershed sometime in August. To volunteer as a courtesy boat inspector, email etenney@fairpoint.net. For more information about the association, email dko@dartmouth.edu. July UpdateHere are a few highlights from the association's monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 1:
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