The executive board met on August 23rd and elected the officers shown in the masthead. Historically, the; chore of electing officers was delegated to the executive board by the by-laws when it became difficult to find willing candidates for nomination and election at the annual meeting. An interim solution found the executive board administering the affairs of the association as a group with evolution to a president of the executive board and then to the present by-law status of election of officers by the board,

At the same meeting, the board voted to set the annual dues at $15 for family camps or residences and $10 for individuals. Earlier payments of higher dues would be credited for the following year or returned on request.

The board discussed the dam issue. With the annual meeting vote to table action on the dam the board decided to urge the city council to take over the dam; to maintain the BPA right of first refusal if the city did not take over the dam. Past president Bob Murray stated the he and a small group would seek to take over the dam, but would offer it to the association at the annual meeting.

Summer has come to an end and we are well into the fall. The summer homes are buttoned up; the water is drained; docks have been pulled out and most of the boats are in storage. However, some are taking advantage of the mild season as we have seen canoes, kayaks, motorboats and sailboats on the lake in mid October.

The Executive Committee met on September 13^th to do some of their own buttoning up for the Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons, as we will not meet again until June 1996.

Branch Pond Dam Ownership Committee Report:

Bangor Hydro Electric Company would like the issue of ownership resolved. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to give up the right of first refusal of ownership to the City of Ellsworth. If the city should decide not to take over ownership then the right of first refusal would come back to the Branch Pond Association for decision at the annual meeting in 1996. A letter was mailed to Tim King, City Manager, and the council members from the BPA and the issue is on the council agenda for the November meeting.

Branch Pond Winkumpaugh Stream Committee Report:

On October 17th the BPA committee members, along with Jonathan Cullen of the DEP and Ron Brokaw, fish biologist, were invited to meet with the City Council Road Committee to discuss improper road ditching that is causing silting in the brook and thus affecting the spawning of brown trout as well as erosion into the lake. After much discussion, the Roads Committee recommended that surveys be done to get an estimate of cost-to-repair for their fiscal year beginning July 1996. There was also discussion about getting an estimate of the cost of repairs to the Happytown Road. Keep in mind that these are preliminary budget item discussions. Final approval would come in the spring when line items are discussed and approved or rejected.

Branch Pond Membership Committee Report:

Membership letters were mailed to 220 households on September 28, 1995.

Communications:

Ron Brokaw, who manages fish resources in Hancock County, will furnish fish studies done at Branch Lake in the future.

Roland Dupuis, of the Natural Resource Soil Conservation Office, will do a study of Branch Pond's streams and brooks and make suggestions for corrections in ditching and reverting water to control erosion. He will prioritize and identify need for immediate work and suggest corrections. Some work can be done on a volunteer basis by our members so get ready to roll up your sleeves!

Charles Gilbert, who has been the BPA attorney, is finishing up the process of incorporating the road associations.

BPA Lake Week, August 6-13, 1995.

Winners of the Art Contest: Hannah DeAngelis, Courtney Bridges, Abigail Jenkins, Emily Snyder, Sean Snyder, Hilarie Wilsin, Jennifer Wilson, John Wilson and Karla Wilson.

Special thanks to:

Anne Hayes, Volunteer Cola Representative

Phil and Brenda Hopkins, researchers on Branch Pond Dam facts.

We are looking for volunteers for the following committees:

Regatta, Roads, Water Quality, Historical, Loon, Fish, Auditing, Lake Week and Nominating. If you are interested, please call or write to Beth Smart.

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By Randy Poulton

The hot, dry summer has left the water low in brooks and streams feeding into Branch Pond. These conditions will have an adverse impact on fish reproduction and survival of young fish which will likely show up in lower numbers of Brook Trout, Brown Trout and Salmon in the lake. The low water and hot temperatures have the "double barreled" effect of low survival of this year's hatch (young of the year) and difficult spawning conditions this fall. A decrease in creel numbers for '96 and '97 seems likely. Oh well, Mother Nature seems to find a way to compensate.

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will not be trap netting Branch Pond this fall. Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist Rick Jordan says Branch is not scheduled for trap netting until "96.

Prom what I hear (and personal experience), there seem to be fewer Smallmouth Bass being caught and , in particular, a lo-t fewer big Smallmouth Bass. My guess is the recent increased interest in Bass fishing is a contributing factor.

Maybe the new fishing regulations for Bass will help. They are more restrictive. Anglers are only allowed to keep 1 Bass per day through June 20th. After June 20th, the limit is 3 Bass per day, but only 1 may exceed 14" in length.

Does anyone else. think the fishing regulations in Maine have become too complicated?

Sounds like Branch Pond is due to receive another batch of Atlantic Salmon brood stock in November. These fish are mostly in the 2 1/2 to 3 Ib. range and speaking from personal experience, they are fun to catch. However, the jury is still out on their value as "table fare".

Speaking of "table fare", Smallmouth Bass filleted and fried up are delicious. The problem is, a Bass big enough to be fit for the table (at least 14" long in my opinion) is old by fish standards. It takes 8 years for a Smallmouth to grow to 14" long. By comparison, Landlocked Salmon will achieve the length in only 2 to 3 years. Try to keep in mind the next time you consider keeping a fish for the table.

If anyone has an unusual fishing experience, I would like to hear about it. Please call me at 207-947-4511.

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The BPA Road Committee met with representatives of the City Council on Tuesday, Sept 26 at the City Hall council chambers. The BPA Road Committee was represented by Brett Johnston, Dick Jones, Paul Wight, Joe Flanagan, Phil Higgins and his wife. The City Council was represented by Loren Clarke, Gary Fortier, John Phillips and Deale Salisbury. City Manager Tim King was also present.

The meeting was requested by the BPA to address questions from some of the road associations dealing with working towards compliance with the Private Road Ordinance.

Several issues were discussed such as: the way ditching (included in the ordinance) would be done by the city; the way grading of the roads is being done and problems relating to it. No concrete solutions were reached, but we had a constructive, cordial meeting and have received assurances that they are willing to work with us to come to a mutually beneficial solution to each road's individual problems. The City representatives appear to be pleased and satisfied with the work the individual road associations have accomplished and admit that the city has a way to go to come up to the mark some of the road associations have set.

I feel progress was made and we will be able to work out remaining problems without prolonged negotiations.

- Brett Johnston, VP BPA.

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The annual meeting of the Branch Pond Association was held on the evening of July 28, 1995 at the Ellsworth City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Pres. Bob Murray at 7:00 PM with four speakers present to discuss the issue of the Branch Pond dam.

The four people were Doug Morrell and Dale Goodall from Bangor Hydro, Ron Brokaw from the state Fish & Game Service and Jonathan Cullen from the DEP.

Mr. Morrell stated that Bangor Hydro would like to divest itself and the $800/1000 per year of expenses involved with dam ownership. It had been offered to the city, which lacked interest and is now being offered to the Branch Pond Association. He mentioned that they were divesting themselves of other dams and specifically mentioned the Schoodic Lake dam, which had been transferred to the camp owners association there. He also talked of water level changes.

Mr. Brokaw talked of the desirability of maintaining the status quo of the lake re water levels. This would keep out the alewives and maintain the needed smelt population. The dam is needed to maintain a healthy lake trout census. He then mentioned the need for improved ditching and road maintenance on the Winkumpaugh Road to prevent the silting that is going on there. The brook is spawning ground for Brown Trout and silting will decrease the hatch. 1350 spring yearling salmon are currently released into Branch Pond each year.

Mr. Cullen spoke of the need for permits for activity 100' or less from the shore and the need for erosion barriers. He stated that DEP had no control over water levels in the lake, but that significant change in the level would require a DEP permit.

Questions were then taken from the membership. They dealt with the tasks of dam maintenance, liability, city concern re drinking water, problems to be corrected, annual expense, physical description of the dam (20' wide, 4 1/2' thick, 6' water - not great pressure)

Bob Murray indicated that a liability policy would cost $600- $800 per year and that attorneys had indicated that a new corporation should be established to own the dam.

City Councilor John Phillips indicated that the council would have further discussions concerning the dam at its next meeting on August 21, 1995

A motion was made, seconded and passed to table action concerning the dam.

The secretary's report of the annual] meeting of 1994 was read and accepted.

The treasurer reported on receipts and expenditures for 1994- 95 which left a balance of $8595.25. There was discussion of the expense of legal fees and of authorization for these expenditures. The report was accepted.

97 members were reported for 1994-95.

Road associations were discussed in light of the road ordinance passed last September by the city. A possible revision of by-laws was suggested.

James Irwin from Walls Farm Road and Dave and Joyce Hardy from Phillips Beach Road were nominated and elected to serve on the executive board.

Joe Flanagan reported on water quality testing. The lake is in good shape with exceptionally low phosphate readings for which residents should be commended. Pamphlets are available and a speaker could be obtained for a future meeting.

Gloria DeAngelis gave the results of the loon count – 17 adults and 1 chick - an increase in total population for the second straight year.

Paul Wight reported that the 10th sailing season was successfully underway with socials every other week, to which all are invited. He noted that a canoe had joined a recent race with the sailing craft.

Dave Hardy reported there were two editions of the newsletter each year and would welcome all contributions.

Beth Smart reported a full week of activities for Lake Week at Branch Pond.

A motion was made, seconded and voted to reinstate, if possible, the right of first refusal on the dam, if the city takes no action.

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A great sailing season was held from the first Sunday in July through mid-August. Winners of this year's trophies were Ron Fitzpatrick in the multi-hull class and Glen Curtis in the mono-hull class. Congratulations to both and to all the sailors who showed up each week in near calm to near gale winds.

Early returns indicate an overwhelming acceptance of the Road Association By-Laws, which have been developed since the annual meeting in July.

Immediately after Labor Day, Dave Hamilton moved in with some of his equipment and started work on the culverts, rock removal and ditching. These efforts, along with the work weekend scheduled for Sept 16 & 17 should assure the continued improvement of the Cove Road/Orchard Road complex. Signs imploring drivers to go slowly (15 mph) have been made and will be installed along the roads next spring. Plans call for the replacement of the bridge with a large culvert. The culvert is on site and Hamilton plans to install it when it will inconvenience the smallest number of cottage owners. The city has agreed to name the roads in anticipation of the 911 emergency phone system. The names selected are as follows: 307 - Cove Way from 1A to the bridge; 303C – Cove Way from Branch Pond Rd to the bridge; 307A - Tannery Brook Way; 303CC - Jones' s Point Way.

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Joan and Bud DiFluri spotted an article in the New Jersey COLA newsletter that answers some oft asked questions about water quality and possible problems.

Description: Murky, green-colored water, possibly scum that looks like blue green paint on the windward shore. Unpleasant odor.

What is it? Algal Bloom. Algae are microscopic plants that are natural components of lakes. When very high concentrations of phosphorus occur, one species of algae will out-compete the others and become so abundant that the water becomes murky.

Description: Yellow-green dust on the lake in early summer.

What is it? Pollen from nearby pine trees. The pollen might look similar to algae, but pollen is yellow-green and dust- like and floats mainly on the surface. (An algal bloom is green to blue-green) Over time the pollen will become water logged and sink from sight. Pollen does not have any effect on water quality.

Description: Dark cloud in the water accompanied by an oily sheen.

What is it? Probably insect cases left behind from a hatch of aquatic insects any time from ice-out to September. The wind often concentrates the cases along the shore and, as they decompose, an oily film sometimes forms on the water surface.

Description: Foam "soap suds" on the surface or along the shore.

What is it? Foam probably does not indicate pollution from laundry waste. Most detergents today are biodegradable and easily broken down by bacteria. Most foam is natural. It is created when the surface tension of water is reduced and air is mixed in causing bubbles. Many natural organic compounds will reduce surface tension, including those from decomposing algae or fish. In a lake, these compounds are mixed with air by wind and currents to produce foam. Large quantities of foam are often found on windward shores, coves and in eddies. Natural foam has an earthy or a fishy smell. Detergent foam will have a noticeable perfume smell.

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Early October found a substantial construction project underway at the end of Phillips Beach Road. Two men, two excavators, two trucks and lots of timber, steel and fill arrived to construct a bridge to 28-Acre Island.

Many "sidewalk" superintendents were on hand, but the chief excitement was the arrival of four 76' 4" steel I beams on a trailer. The beams made the turn at the foot of the hill at Phillips' landing, but came a cropper at a turn near the Bourne's residence. The rear end of the trailer slid off the road and needed the lift of both excavators to get it back on the road.

The span was completed in the allotted 3 weeks and a crew is now working on a road on the island.

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Kay Wilkins and Diana Gate on Phillips Beach Road have installed a composting toilet. They'd love any pointers that are available from folks who have experience with such devices. Their summer phone is 667-2901.

OUR ASSOCIATION IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS MEMBERSHIP. IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR THE 1995-96 YEAR, PLEASE FILL IN THE RENEWAL FORM AND SEND ALONG YOUR CHECK.

THE ASSOCIATION IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON:

*THE BRANCH POND DAM

*ROAD MAINTENANCE - CITY ROADS AND PRIVATE ROADS

*MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONS WITH THE CITY OF ELLSWORTH

*SILTING PROBLEMS IN WINKUMPAUGH AND OTHER BROOKS

*MAINTENANCE OF THE QUALITY OF BRANCH POND

IT HAS PROVIDED THE FUNDING TO ESTABLISH THE INDIVIDUAL ROAD ASSOCIATIONS.