Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance Inc

7 LAKES ALLIANCE CONSERVES THE LANDS AND WATERS OF THE BELGRADE LAKES REGION FOR ALL.

THE 7 LAKES ALLIANCE INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANT PROGRAM PROTECTS AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS AND THE PUBLIC USE, VALUES AND ENJOYMENT OF THE LAKES IN THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED BY PREVENTING AND MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE PLACES BOTH PAID AND VOLUNTEER COURTESY BOAT INSPECTORS AT PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCHES TO CHECK FOR PLANT FRAGMENTS ON BOATS ENTERING AND LEAVING LAKES AND EDUCATES BOATERS ABOUT THE THREATS POSED BY INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE EMPLOYEES ALSO SURVEY AND ORGANIZES CITIZEN VOLUNTEER INVASIVE PLANT PATROLS TO SEARCH FOR INVASIVE PLANTS THAT MAY BECOME ESTABLISHED IN AT-RISK AREAS. IN 2021, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE EMPLOYED 20 PART-TIME WORKERS AND 15 VOLUNTEERS THAT INSPECTED 11,362 BOATS ON 5 PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS AND 1 PRIVATE LAUNCH THAT AFFECTS PUBLIC WATERS. IN 2010, VARIABLE MILFOIL WAS FOUND GROWING IN THE GREAT MEADOW STREAM THAT RUNS BETWEEN NORTH POND AND GREAT POND. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2021, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE WORKED TO MITIGATE THE VARIABLE MILFOIL INFESTATION AND PULLED APPROXIMATELY 32,970 GALLONS OF VARIABLE MILFOIL, WHILE EMPLOYING 7 SUMMER STAFF. IN THE FALL OF 2021, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE BEGAN REMEDIATION EFFORTS ON THE NEWLY DISCOVERED AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT, CURLY LEAF PONDWEED, ON THE STREAM BETWEEN EAST AND NORTH PONDS

7 LAKES ALLIANCE, AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, AIMS TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED FROM DEGRADATION DUE TO THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPED AREAS WITHIN THE WATERSHED. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE IDENTIFIES AND PERMANENTLY CONSERVES - EITHER THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF LAND OR THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENT - LANDS THAT PROVIDE HIGH VALUE HABITAT, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND WATER QUALITY PROTECTION AND RESTORATION. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE ALSO OPERATES A LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH 7 LAKES' STAFF AND DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS PROTECT CONSERVATION PROPERTIES THROUGH CONTINUOUS MONITORING AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE TO ENSURE THAT THESE PUBLIC VALUES ARE SUSTAINED.

THE 7 LAKES ALLIANCE LAKE SCIENCE GOAL IS TO MONITOR AND UNDERSTAND, IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS INCLUDING COLBY COLLEGE AND SURROUNDING LOCAL LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, WATER QUALITY ON ALL SEVEN OF THE BELGRADE LAKES. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF OUR LAKE SCIENCE DIRECTOR, DR. DANIELLE WAIN, KEY WATER QUALITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING COLBY STUDENTS, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS ROUTINELY MEASURE TEMPERATURE AND OXYGEN PROFILES, WATER CLARITY, AND ALGAL SPECIES COMPOSITION (USING A FLOWCAM) AND POTENTIAL CYANOBACTERIA TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF THE LAKES AND THREATS TO HUMAN HEALTH.

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: 7 LAKES ALLIANCE EROSION CONTROL PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER QUALITY BY IMPLEMENTING EROSION CONTROL MEASURES OF THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED. EROSION IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF EXCESSIVE ALGAL BLOOMS IN DEVELOPED AREAS OF THE WATERSHED. 7 LAKES OPERATES A YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS WHICH EMPLOYS LOCAL YOUTH TO WORK WITH LANDOWNERS TO VOLUNTARILY IMPLEMENT VARIOUS EROSION CONTROL MEASURES ON THEIR PROPERTIES. IN ADDITION, WE CONDUCT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED, IN PART, BY THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND ADMINISTERED BY THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NONPOINT SOURCE (NPS) PROGRAM. FINALLY, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE ALSO PROVIDES NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LAKE ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER WATERSHED EDUCATION PARTNERS, SCHOOLS, CAMPS, BUSINESSES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THESE INCLUDE NUMERUS AND WIDE-RANGING CONSERVATION LECTURES, EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO ENGAGE WITH NATURE.