Beech Hill Pond Watershed Project

GoFundMe 2024 – Update and Progress

We are excited to report that the community, road associations, lake association, Town and project steering committee continue to make steady progress to protect and preserve our lake and surrounding watershed.

2024 – Keeping the Momentum Going

We need donations NOW to begin important work this year on pollution sites in the Beech Hill Pond Watershed. Read on to find out how you can be a part of the efforts to protect and preserve our homes, properties and community.

Please click and donate TODAY!

https://beechhilllake.com/join-us.html

Or to donate by check, visit the BHP Lake Association website

https://beechhilllake.com

Accomplishments to date:

• June 2022: Watershed Survey completed, 116 NPS Pollution Sites identified on BHP

• Summer 2023: Results published and shared with the community, three community forums held (Quick Fact Sheet, Summary Report available on Lake Association website listed above), residents notified if they had a NPS pollution site, road associations reviewed their identified sites.

• Fall 2023: Watershed Based Protection Plan (WBPP) developed, submitted to, and accepted by Maine DEP and US EPA. WBPP for BHP approved January 2024. This Protection Plan includes a 10-year action plan to protect and preserve the watershed. *

• Spring 2024: Maine DEP 319 Grant Proposal developed and being submitted May 2024. Based on the survey the Candidate Site List (identified NPS pollution sites) and Letters of Commitment to complete work have been gathered from road associations, residents, BHP Lake Association and the Town of Otis. *

*All WBPP and 319 Grant Proposal completion has been facilitated by Jen Jespersen of Ecological Instincts and Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District.

The “real” work of remediating identified NPS pollution sites is yet to begin. We are hopeful we’ll be awarded the Maine DEP 319 cost-sharing grant, but even these funds do not become available until 2025!

2024 fundraising will be used for (seeking $7,000):

• Technical assistance to road associations and homeowners to plan for 2024 and beyond

• Financial support to begin remediation of identified pollution sites in 2024 (pre-grant)

• Best management practices workshops

• Development of a LakeSmart program

Future -

• April 2024: Prioritized sites provide estimates for Candidate Site List and Letters of Commitment from road associations, Town of Otis, BHP Lake Association.

• May 2024: 319 Grant Proposal will be submitted to Maine DEP requesting matching funds to support project completion to remediate identified NPS pollution sites (road associations, property owners, and the Town of Otis)

• September 2024: 319 grant proposal will be awarded or denied to fund the first 2 years of the WBPP

• January 2025: IF the 319 grant is awarded, funds from grant become available

• 2025-2026: High and Medium impact sites will be selected for remediation within the first 2 years

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INFORMATION - 2023

In June 2022 our volunteer led survey identified 116 pollution sites, including 22 high-impact areas of concern, within the Beech Hill Pond watershed area.

We must raise local funds to move forward.

Please consider a donation, in any amount, to continue this important work to maintain and improve Beech Hill’s water quality.

Funds will be used for:

*Development of the Watershed Management Plan (2023)

*Grant applications (2023/2024)

*Matching funds for watershed improvement projects. (2024)

Beech Hill Pond has been identified by Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) on the Threatened Lakes Priority List and is in need of protection. Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is polluted runoff, with soil sediment being the number one pollutant to our waters. Lakes are very sensitive to pollution, and once a lake’s health has declined, it can be extremely difficult to restore.

Then and Now - Our Story

Previous Watershed Project:

The last watershed survey of Beech Hill Pond was done over 10 years ago and led to the remediation of over 30 sites causing significant runoff into the lake. The funding for this was provided by a grant from the Maine DEP with matching funds and in-kind volunteered time and material from the lake community.

Current Watershed Project:

In the fall of 2021, a small team of volunteers began the groundwork for conducting a new watershed survey for Beech Hill Pond. A three-phase plan was created.

Phase One - The Survey - Completed

In June 2022 with the help of some 30 volunteers from the lake community, the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD), Maine DEP, and technical consultants completed a survey of the Beech Hill Pond Watershed area. The survey identified 116 pollution sites, rated by the technical consultants on an impact scale of 1-10. Of those sites, 22 were rated as high impact to the lake, 59 as medium impact and 35 as low impact sites. Funding for the mailings and technical support for the survey came from grants, the Town of Otis and the Beech Hill Pond Lake Association.

Phase Two - The Watershed Management Plan - Current

In order to remediate and improve these pollution sites, the next step is to create a Watershed Management Plan. Having a plan will allow us to apply for Maine DEP 319 grants, providing matching funds for the remediation of identified project sites.

The Plan will organize the data from the survey in a meaningful way and provide the groundwork for the grant applications. The estimated cost of these processes is between $10,000-$12,000. While some initial grant funding has been secured, the major portion of the funding for the plan must come from the lake community. A development committee is up and running and we need your help! We need to get the Plan done early this year to apply for Maine DEP grant money for use in 2024.

Phase Three - The Work Begins - 2024

Once all of the sites have been identified (Phase 1), prioritized and the plan forward mapped out (Phase 2), the real work begins. Donation dollars collected throughout the campaign will also be focused on providing pathways toward completing remediation projects that will maintain and sustain the health of our lake and living local community.

Beech Hill Pond is a special place known for its clean, crystal-clear water. We must work together to preserve this valuable natural resource here in Otis, Maine. The health of our lake affects us, our children, and our grandchildren as well as the entire living economy of our local community.

*Beech Hill Pond Lake Association will be the recipient of all donations. Funds will then be distributed from the Lake Association to the project-based entities.

TO DONATE BY CHECK: please see the information on the Lake Association website - https://beechhilllake.com/join-us.html

Additional Funding has been provided by:

New England Grassroots Environmental Fund (grants in 2021 and 2022)

Lake Stewards of Maine (2021)

Town of Otis (2021; 2022)

Beech Hill Pond Lake Association