TLIA’s Long-Range Lake/Watershed Management Plan Committees have toiled over the summer to prepare surveys, record their results and hold a public meeting. A lot of work has been accomplished but there’s much more to be done. The end result will be a document, particular to our lake, which will provide the Town and all in our watershed with a plan on how we want to manage Tripp Lake.

The committees have met regularly at the Poland Spring Water Company’s conference rooms, thanks to the generosity of Kristin Tardif. On May 28, a group met to discuss the proposed survey and public meeting. Those in attendance were Linda Laskey, Laurie Levine, George Kelley, Jeff Myers, Susan Carbone, Barry MacMillan, Gerri and Bill Tinkham, Nancy McCann, Susie Stover, Art Dunlap and Babs Shapiro. Leading this session were Phoebe Hardesty (AVSWCD), Roberta Hill (LWRMA) and Jessie Mae MacDougall (DEP).

The first order of business was to organize a Survey Committee, which would produce not only a survey and brochure, but would obtain names of all watershed residents and mail the information to them. This task was undertaken by three women, Linda Laskey, Susan Carbone and Gerri Tinkham. With the aid of Art Dunlap and Jessie Mae MacDougall, they produced such a list. Marlene Cummings helped, computerwize, in organizing the lists of names onto labels. It was a monumental task, but the group met the challenge. The mailing went out July 3 with a reply date of July 30. Extra surveys and drop boxes were placed in the Library and Town Hall to simplify the process for some folks. Of over 500 surveys mailed, the reply rate was only 11%. (We thought that a frustrating figure, but Phoebe indicated 10%-17% was a good response).

Not easily discouraged, the Public Meeting Committee sprang into action. Susan Carbone, Laurie Levine, George Kelly and Jeff Myers volunteered to chair this group. The meeting would be held on August 22, from 7-9 p.m., at the Ricker Library. All committee members would act as hosts, baking and serving refreshments, greeting people and giving away small gifts as thank-you’s for attending. A large Watershed map would be hung in the Library so all could indicated where they lived by sticking colored pins onto it. Nancy McCann would supply historical scrapbooks from the Tripp Lake Camp for all to peruse while a collage of pictures, old and new, would be assembled by Susie Stover. Barry MacMillan would bring TLIA merchandise as gifts. A power point presentation would be given by Scott Williams and Roberta Hill, describing what Tripp meant to us all and describing what we intended to accomplish. Members were asked to send Scott lake pictures of different activities, both summer and winter, as well as changes noted over the years. Publicity for the meeting would be written by Babs Shapiro and put into the Sun-Journal prior to the meeting.

Committee members decided to meet once more, on August 6, to review details for the Public Meeting. It was decided to publicize the event further by putting posters up around the lake, as well as a large notice on the Town Hall billboard and information on the local TV channel. Reminders, in the form of postcards and telephone calls, would also be made prior to the meeting.

The last group to be organized was the Watershed Assessment Committee, whose members would make an inventory of land uses within the watershed. They will determine how many farms, forests, roads, and businesses exist in the area. This committee, comprised of Barry MacMillan and Babs Shapiro, will work with Fergus Lea (AVCOG), Scott Williams, Roberta Hill and Phoebe Hardesty. Their first meeting will be held on November 19. Actual work will be conducted over the Fall and Winter months.

It was noted that all committee members should record times, as well as actual monies expended, on time sheets and submit them to Phoebe. These will be credited as in-kind services towards the Grant. Each committee member’s time is valued at approximately $15-$20 per hour.

The entire Watershed Committee should be commended for its dedication and work towards this project. We invite and encourage more people to become involved. The next meeting will be held in the Spring.