Updated: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 11:44 AM

Another summer has come to a close at Branch Lake (I still can't bring myself to call it a pond.) It wasn't the best summer we have had but not that bad either. I am reminded of a quote on a small plaque we have hanging in our cottage that reads: "If you are lucky enough to live by the water you are lucky enough." That quote served to remind us that we are indeed lucky and must continue our efforts to preserve and enhance the water quality and livability of environment surrounding the lake.

The lake environment continues to show improvements through the efforts of the Watershed Committee, the University of Maine Co-operative Extension, the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District, the road associations, and individual landowners. The road associations have completed several projects outlined in the Watershed Survey, all aimed at reducing ground water pollution entering the lake. In addition, there are several buffer zone projects underway. These projects are a cooperative effort between landowners and the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District and are coordinated through the Watershed Committee. A selection of both the road projects and buffer zone projects will be available for a tour during Lake Week 2001.

Thanks to the work of Anne Hayes and Gibby Griffin a major campaign was launched this summer to inform cottage owners, via the road associations, and the city about the potential dangers associated with invasive water plants, notably Milfoil weed. Pamphlets were distributed and many road associations discussed the issue at their annual meetings. We must remain diligent, as prevention is the only known cure for this potential disaster.

At a late summer meeting of the Ellsworth City Council, at which Branch Lake was well represented, a petition was presented to the council from the "Friends of Branch Lake" and a statement from BPA was read that outlined concerns for the location, lack of supervision, and size of a proposed state funded public boat launch. As a result the City Council voted to notify the state, in writing, to stop developmental plans for the launch until further notice.

At our September Executive Board meeting we agreed to extend our efforts in several areas. We are planning to have a membership drive in the spring of 2001. Van Terrell is the chair of that committee. I encourage all cottage owners to join BPA. Be a part of the organization that is working to preserve and enhance quality of life on the lake. We all share responsibility for this valuable resource. Ralph Whedon is investigating the environmental effects of motor types and sizes. This project is in response to City Councilman Buckminster's question raised at the Council meeting that discussed the boat launch. He asked if the BPA had looked at the effects of motor size on the water quality on the lake. This is an opportunity for us to begin to understand and become better educated about this issue and to get valuable input from the people that use the lake resource. Gibby Griffin is investigating the potential uses and classifications of the state owned land on the lower lake. Beth Smart, Brett Johnston, and Ann Hayes are on the City of Ellsworth's Comprehensive Planning Committee. The Comprehensive Plan will include the Branch Lake Watershed.

Dick Jones is preparing a Lake Homeowners Guide. It will be filled with valuable information for lake homeowners covering subjects from buffer zones to septic systems. It is based on a similar guide published by the Thompson Lake Association. The city has agreed to help defray the cost, as it will include watershed maps for the major lakes within the city. Publication is planned for early spring with distribution in late spring or early summer.

I want to close by extending thanks to all of the people who volunteer their time on behalf of Branch Lake. That includes the members of BPA, the many who are not members, the Executive Board, the COLA representatives, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Watershed Committee, and the Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District. Also, a special thanks to Len and Judy Harlow for producing and distributing the newsletter.

Remember, "If you are lucky enough to live by the water, you are lucky enough." Let's all work together to preserve this incredibly valuable resource.

At the suggestion of members of the Ellsworth City Council, the Branch Pond Association is planning a survey of various uses of the lake, both in summer and winter, to assist Ellsworth in meeting its responsibilities under the Great Pond Act.

The Great Pond Act enables communities to enact laws regulating the usage of lakes in those communities and Ellsworth must have an ordinance in place by July of 2001 regarding the surface use of Branch Lake.

A survey would seek information on boat and motor sizes, including both two cycle and four cycle motors, jet skis and winter usage. The BPA has asked Ralph Whedon to chair a committee that would devise a survey to go to all the lake residents.

Current plans call for such a survey to be sent to camp owners in a separate mailing in the near future.

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For all intents and purposes the old dam on Branch Lake is gone and has been replaced by a new structure - and none too soon. According to Brett Johnston when the temporary structures placed while the dam was under construction were removed it was evident that the old dam was close to falling apart. Two-thirds of the dam has been replaced and the rest refurbished. There will be four gates instead of three and the work should be finished by the end of November. Estimated cost of the work has been set at $300,000 and the life expectancy of the new structure is some 60 years.

Currently the dam work has lowered the water level in the lake under five feet but when the dam is completed it is expected that the water level will be between five and five and one-half feet until spring to assist the fish spawning activity. In the spring the water level should rise to six feet 10 inches, according to Brett.

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Three representatives from Branch Lake have volunteered for the Ellsworth Comprehensive Planning Committee. They are Ann Hayes, Brett Johnston, and Beth Smart. Anyone having issues to be considered in the plan should contact one of the Branch representatives.

The City of Ellsworth has placed on hold the issue of approving a public boat-launching site to replace Hanson's Landing, which is now closed to such activity.

The Friends of Branch Pond have vigorously opposed use of state owned property from the narrows to the treatment plant as a public boat launching area and presented the Ellsworth City Council with a petition opposing such use and signed by 250 members.

Glen Curtis, newly elected president of the Branch Pond Association, has stated that the association was in agreement with the Friends of Branch Pond on the new landing issues.

The association plans to continue to explore boat launching site possibilities, including contacting Bill Tuit regarding the campground area as well as some of the neighbors. The town landing has a growing number of people using it and it has been suggested that marking the channel might be advisable to ease folk’s fear of going under the bridge.

Van Terrell and Jan and Jack Holmes will be the contact between the Branch Pond Association and the City of Ellsworth on the boat launching project.

At its annual meeting the BPA voted to support a public boat-launching site if the area would be reasonable in size, would be attended during regular hours, have an attendant to inspect all boats and be operated as a fee site.

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The Branch Pond Association will embark on a membership campaign in an effort to make the work of the organization even more effective. At an executive board meeting it was pointed out that there were 270 camps on the lower lake with about 130 BPA members, 60 of which attend the annual meetings.

A prospectus on the merits of belonging to the association will be devised by Van Terrell and Jack Holmes and plans call for each road representative to visit each camp on their road to inform owners of the value in association membership.

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Under current Maine law, it is now illegal to transport any aquatic plant on the underside of a vehicle. Violation of this law can result in a fine of up to $500.

Under this law it is illegal to sell, propagate or introduce to Maine waters these 11 invasive aquatic plants: Eurasian water milfoil, variable-leaf water milfoil, parrot feather, water chestnut, hydrilla, fanwort, curly-leaf pondweed, European naiad, Brazilian elodea, frogbit and yellow floating heart.

Boating activity is the primary way in which plants spread from one water body to another. Plant parts carried on boats, motors, trailers and fishing gear from an infested water body to one that is not can lead to disaster. Plants can survive for days. Once introduced to a water body they can spread rapidly and become a major nuisance. There is no known method of eradicating invasive aquatic plants once they have been established.

These plants have the potential to ruin boating, fishing and swimming, alter fishery habitat, devalue waterfront property, harm water quality and reduce aesthetic appeal.

Those using Branch Lake for recreational purposes are being advised to check and remove all plants and plant parts from boats, motors, trailers, and fishing equipment before and after launching, dispose plants in a trash receptacle or away from the water on high, dry land and to avoid driving, paddling or swimming through any plants.

Invasive aquatic plants are a real and serious threat to Maine's lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. These alien plants are not native to Maine waters. When introduced, they out compete beneficial native plants, spread rapidly and interfere with navigation. A small piece of just one plant can infest an entire lake.

Branch Lake residents can help with this serious threat by seeing that warning flyer and educational materials are distributed to purchasers of fishing and boating licenses at the town office; by helping to inform and educate boaters at public boat launchings; and becoming trained to recognize invasive plants through the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program whose number is 207-225-2070.

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At its annual meeting in July the Cove Way Association members approved two amendments to the association by-laws relating to roadwork and roadway restoration. One amendment states that any contractor employed by a cottage owner or landowner who causes damage to a Cove Way Association road shall be responsible for appropriate restoration. If the contractor fails to repair or restore the road, then the cottage or landowner will be responsible for restoration.

The other amendment stipulates that no cottage or land owner, agent, employee or contractor working on behalf of the cottage or land owner shall be reimbursed for work performed on the road or road right of way comprising Cove Way, Tannery Brook Way or Jones Point Way without prior authorization by the road commissioner or the association president.

In other action members voted to keep the annual dues at $100, and set the interest rate for delinquent accounts at 12 percent instead of 18.

Road commissioner Larry Blethen outlined needed projects in the coming year, including grading and surfacing Tannery Brook Way, ditching and grading on Jones Point Way, removal of trees from the bank behind Lyons cottage, replacement of the old culvert across from the Lyons cottage, general ditch cleaning and the rebuilding of ditches on the hill near the spring.

Bud Lee was reelected president with Helen Whitman named treasurer and Judy Fraser as clerk. New directors are Lou Desmaris, John Kaiser and J. Kim Higgins.

Last fall this road was resurfaced with five inches of graded gravel. This spring the road was sprayed with calcium chloride. To obtain good penetration it was applied right after it was graded. The results have been most satisfactory as the dust problem has been eliminated, the road has hardened and it appears that there has been less runoff during the rains.

The procedure was recommended by the Lake Camp Roads Workshop sponsored by the Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District. Contractor for the work was Jay Fowler.

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The racing season in 2000 was blessed with good weather until the final race when the wind died during the event. George Lewis won first place for the season in the multihull class sailing a Hobie 14. Van Terrell was the winner in the monohull class sailing a Pintail. In the best out of three races he tied with Peter Wight sailing a Lightning. Van, by sailing in more races won the trophy.

The trophy has been passed from one winner to the next starting in 1935 with winners names engraved on the trophy. However, there was no room left at the bottom of the trophy for Van's name so his name was added to the top.

The racing report noted that two veteran female sailors, Doris Johnston and Beth Smart, came in first in one race sailing a Sunfish.