OXFORD — The Hogan and Whitney Ponds Association (HWPA), a local Oxford organization of residents from the two ponds, has just completed a two-year watershed protection project developed to reduce pollution in our two fragile small lakes. The $94,100 effort involved a collaborative effort with a range of partners. The goal was to minimize soil erosion washing directly into the ponds. Soil erosion is a significant source of phosphorus, which in turn can have a detrimental effect on the quality of the water by fertilizing an algae bloom which affects wildlife habitat as well as swimming, fishing, and boating.

The project was funded in part by a $50,100 grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act and through local contributions of $44,000 in cash, in-kind volunteer hours, and material contributions.

The undertaking began with a watershed survey conducted by HWPA volunteers in June of 2017, who were trained by staff of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to recognize potential pollution sites. Teams of volunteers conducted onsite inspections of most all the properties in the local watershed and documented 95 sites in need of remediation. The data from the survey became the basis of a report prepared by volunteers which was used to develop the Hogan Whitney Ponds Watershed Protection Plan. The plan served as the framework for the successful grant proposal to address the problems identified in the watershed survey. During 2019 and 2020 partners collaborated on the Hogan Whitney Ponds Watershed Protection Project to repair 15 larger projects and 7 smaller residential sites, reducing an estimated 131 tons of excess soil erosion each year flowing into the two ponds via stormwater runoff (i.e., runoff from storms and snowmelt). An educational outreach initiative also served to educate and keep residents informed of progress. The survey, as well as the watershed protection project, were non-regulatory efforts and community participation was entirely voluntary.

A range of partners worked diligently to make this project possible. These partners included many members of the HWPA community, the Maine DEP, Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District (acting as project manager), the Androscoggin River Watershed Council, the Town of Oxford, and Two Lakes Camping Area. Norway Savings Bank and the New England Grassroots Environment Fund also made financial contributions.

First, town roads that pass near ponds often present major stormwater runoff issues. Rabbit Valley Road has a number of locations where significant volume of sediment makes its way into the two ponds. The unstable and eroding ditches along the length of Rabbit Valley Road are a prime example. Just one short section of the road drainage was contributing over 16 tons of sediment a year. The Town of Oxford cleaned out the ditch and relined it with large stones, directing the runoff into the well-vegetated forest where it could properly filter without reaching the ponds.

Second, private boat ramps often provide a particular challenge as stormwater runs down through properties and is funneled into the ponds via the ramps. In one larger project, the homeowner reshaped the road above the ramp so that stormwater was diverted with stone-lined trenches, running into nearby heavily vegetated areas, which acted as a natural filter. The banks on either side of the ramp were reshaped to make them less steep and were planted with vegetation and covered with erosion control mulch. Finally, the ramp itself was regraded, crowned and covered with crushed stone. This prevented 3.00 tons of soil erosion from entering the lake.

Third, steps at the shoreline of private residences can provide areas of severe erosion. An example of a steep bank offers one illustration. A small retaining wall under the steps, use of natural vegetation adjacent to the steps, and an abundant supply of erosion control mulch helped prevent 0.56 ton of soil loss into the one of the ponds.

Comments are not available on this story.

filed under: