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Focus on the Cobbossee WatershedBy Dale Finseth In last week's article, I made the effort to define what a watershed is. This week I will focus on some of the conservation issues affecting the Cobbosseecontee watershed. This week's watershed drains into the Kennebec via Cobbossee Stream. The Kennebec District works with a number of partners in the Cobbossee watershed and currently manages three conservation projects in this "drainage." These projects include the final year of a Tacoma Lakes project, the final year of a Cobbossee Lake project, and the first year of a Pleasant Pond project. We also work with the Cobbossee Watershed District, the Friends of the Cobbossee and many other local groups as they do conservation work in this area. In the past, the Kennebec District has also completed conservation projects in the Jock Stream, Maranacook Lake and Torsey Pond sub-watersheds. If you live in the Winthrop-Litchfield region, the water that leaves your property is collected by one of the many lakes, ponds or streams in the Cobbossee Watershed. Sooner or later this water is collected into Cobbossee Stream and splashes over the two dams in Gardiner into the Kennebec River. This area of Kennebec county is experiencing a great deal of development pressure as more and more homes and businesses are established within commuting distance of either Augusta or Lewiston-Auburn. Winthrop itself has a thriving commercial area that generates growth pressures on the watershed. Over the years the conservation work we have focused on includes gravel road improvements, shoreline erosion "fixes," farm practice changes, public road improvements, and even a dam reconstruction to correct an impoundment's water level. There are a number of partners who can help local landowners to do the right thing and control the impact of their activities. Take the time to contact your local lake or pond association. Perhaps you live on a camp road with a road association. If you don't, maybe one should be formed. Contact your local town office and perhaps there is a Conservation Commission or Committee that can provide some help or information. Other larger organizations that do substantial work throughout the area include the Cobbossee Watershed District, the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed, the Kennebec Land Trust, and ourselves, the Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District. The Kennebec Soil & Water Conservation District currently has grant funds to help with conservation work in the Cobbossee Lake, Pleasant Pond and Tacoma Lakes watersheds. We have just submitted proposals to do future conservation work in the Cobbossee Stream and continue work in the Cobbossee Lake areas. For information about any of our conservation projects please contact Dale Finseth at | ||