Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance Inc

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

1- EROSION CONTROL: 7 LAKES ALLIANCE CONDUCTS DIVERSE PROJECTS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER QUALITY BY PREVENTING THE EROSION OF DIRT AND THE ALGAE- FUELING PHOSPHORUS IT CARRIES WITH IT FROM ENTERING WATERS OF THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED. EROSION IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF EXCESSIVE ALGAL BLOOMS IN THE WATERSHED. 7 LAKES WORK INCLUDES THE SECTION 319 PROGRAM, YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS, LAKESMART AND VARIOUS POLICY INITIATIVES AND COMMUNICATIONS. SECTION 319 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. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE ALSO OPERATES A YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS WHICH EMPLOYS LOCAL YOUTH TO WORK WITH LANDOWNERS TO VOLUNTARILY IMPLEMENT VARIOUS EROSION CONTROL MEASURES ON THEIR PROPERTIES. WORK ALSO INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL AND POLICY EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE WATERSHED COMMUNITIES IN EROSION CONTROL EFFORTS.

WATER QUALITY SCIENCE - THE 7 LAKES ALLIANCE'S 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, ALGAL SPECIES COMPOSITION (USING A FLOWCAM) AND POTENTIAL CYANOBACTERIA, AND INPUTS FROM TRIBUTARIES USING AUTOSAMPLERS TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF THE LAKES AND THREATS TO HUMAN HEALTH. FINALLY, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL LAKE ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER WATER PARTNERS. THESE INCLUDE NUMEROUS AND WIDE-RANGING CONSERVATION LECTURES, EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE SEEKS TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, TRAININGS, EVENTS, DIGITAL AND PRINTED NEWSLETTERS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS BY EXPERTS ON FORESTRY, FISHERIES, HIKING, CONSERVATION LANDS, WATER QUALITY, HIKING, EROSION CONTROL WORKSHOPS, AND NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS THAT ATTRACT HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS. 7 LAKES' NEWSLETTER THE CONSERVATIONIST PROVIDES INFORMATION ON OUR DIVERSE PROGRAMS AND CONSERVATION ISSUES IMPACTING THE BELGRADE LAKES REGION.

2- 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. THROUGH ITS COURTESY BOAT INSPECTION PROGRAM, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS TO PLACE BOTH PAID AND VOLUNTEER COURTESY BOAT INSPECTORS AT PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCHES TO CHECK FOR PLANT FRAGMENTS ON BOATS ENTERING AND LEAVING THE LAKES AND EDUCATES BOATERS ABOUT THE THREATS POSED BY INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE EMPLOYEES ALSO SURVEY AND ORGANIZE CITIZEN VOLUNTEER INVASIVE PLANT PATROLS TO SEARCH FOR AND THEN REMOVE INVASIVE PLANTS THAT MAY BECOME ESTABLISHED IN AT-RISK AREAS. IN 2022, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE EMPLOYED 20 PART-TIME WORKERS AND 15 VOLUNTEERS THAT INSPECTED BOATS ON 5 PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS AND 1 PRIVATE LAUNCH THAT AFFECTS PUBLIC WATERS.

7 LAKES ALLIANCE, AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, AIMS TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED FROM DEGRADATION DUE TO THE IMPACT OF UNSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE WATERSHED. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE'S LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND PERMANENTLY CONSERVES LANDS THAT PROVIDE HIGH VALUE HABITATS, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND WATER QUALITY PROTECTION AND RESTORATION TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE ALSO OPERATES A LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH 7 LAKES' STAFF AND DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS PROTECT AND ENHANCE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES THROUGH ROBUST MONITORING, TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE VALUES OF LAND CONSERVATION TO THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT CONSERVATION VALUES ARE SUSTAINED.