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Cobbossee Stream Watershed Survey Conducted
by Josh Platt The Cobbosee Stream watershed received a thorough eyeing-over last week, when five teams of trained surveyors completed an extensive watershed survey in the towns of Richmond, Litchfield, West Gardiner and Gardiner. In order to apply for Clean Water Act, Section 319, funding, a survey must be conducted to identify where problem sites are and how they may be fixed. Each team was responsible for a sector of the watershed and was on the lookout for non-point source pollution sites such as failing culverts; camp, state, and town roads that are eroding or lack ditching; and any other erosion sites with unstable soils that may be impacting Cobbossee Stream and its tributaries. As expected, there was no shortage of medium and high priority sites discovered during the day. Each site was documented with a description, waypoints, and photos. This information will be presented in a final survey report to Maine DEP and used as a site list when the district applies for implementation money to fix the sites identified. Some of the highest priority sites in terms of their impact on the Stream included both carry-in and trailer boat launches. These are not State of Maine sites where access is designated and encouraged. Rather these are sites that have been used by people for years to access the stream. Not surprisingly many of these sites are located around the many bridges found throughout the watershed. You certainly cannot fault people for using these sites who want to access the water especially if they appear well used, as many of them are. Here at the Kennebec District, we are all boaters and have used many of these sites in the past. Access to Maine's waters is near and dear to all of our hearts and we don't ever like to see an access point closed if it can be avoided. Because these sites are mostly steep, unstable and eroding into the stream, we want to work directly with the landowners to address these sites with stable materials that will mitigate the negative effects and make them useful if the landowner chooses to keep the access site open. Eroding gravel from camp roads has a huge impact on lake and streams in our state. The Cobbossee Stream watershed has many of these roads that need attention as well as the many culvert crossings under these and other roads. Stabilizing the inlets and outlets of these culverts with rock and addressing gravel roads will keep many tons of sediment and pounds of phosphorous out of the stream. An added benefit of addressing these and many other sites in the Cossobbee Stream watershed will be the positive impact on Pleasant Pond and ultimately the Kennebec River which is the terminus of the water in the Cobbossee chain. The Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District is a non-profit organization that promotes conservation and the wise use of our natural resources. For more information about any of our projects, please contact Dale Finseth at | ||
