Updated: Friday, July 20, 2007, 5:00PM

In the last several years, the BPA has received 113 donations from members, totaling $7355. Van Terrell, past president of BPA, initiated the first round of fund-raising at the urging of Michelle Gagnon, the Ellsworth City Planner. The challenge was for the BPA to share the cost with the City to improve access for residents and the public via the City-owned boat launch. The BPA membership approved the plan almost unanimously at the 2004 annual meeting.

One goal of this effort is to have the Department of Inland Fisheries recognize the launch site as viable access for fishing, so they can justify resumption of salmon stocking in Branch Lake.

Last year, the BPA allocated $1035 from donated funds to cover half of the cost of navigational buoys to mark the channel into lower lake. The other 50% was covered by the State Department of Conservation. This answered one deficiency the state departments had noted with the City launch site.

This year, floating docks have been installed. The boating public, as well as residents, should find it much easier to launch and take out at a dock. BPA donations funded $3965 of the total $4998 dock expense. The remainder of the cost, and all of the labor involved in annual placement, removal and storage of the docks, will be born by the City of Ellsworth.

As you all know, for the last two years, the City has funded boat launch inspectors to minimize the risk of Branch Lake becoming infested with invasive plants.

Our organization has always supported the notion that full-time boat inspectors are a critical component of an invasive species education program and prevention strategy. Since the City has not approved full time boat inspections at this time, the BPA council voted to allocate another $1000 of donated funds to extend the hours of inspection coverage into the late afternoons during peak summer months. This allocation reflects the wishes of recent donors, who asked that 49% of their donations be used for boat inspections.

Everyone who lives on the lake, or uses the City boat launch, owes a debt of gratitude to our many generous BPA donors. Thank you. You know who you are.

I hope you are as ready as I am for a beautiful summer on Branch Lake. Don't you all feel richer knowing how valuable your lake property has become? Perhaps we can have a discussion about tax assessments at the annual meeting. In the last newsletter I listed a number of issues, many controversial, involving Branch Lake. While none of them are resolved, there may be significant action this summer, so keep your newspaper subscriptions current and read the legal notices. Also keep an eye on the City web-site calendar for meeting notices. Here's all I know now.

In response to continuing pressure from the Maine Department of Conservation (DOC) to allow the development of a large-boat access to Branch Lake, Mayor Fortier solicited possible sites from the Ellsworth Water Department. There were four undeveloped properties on the lake that met the DOC minimum size of seven acres, and were as far as possible from the water intake. The Maine Department of Conservation completed a preliminary evaluation of the four sites, two off the Hanson's Landing Road, and two off Happytown Road. I am happy to report that the DOC Boating Facilities Division now evaluates sites for conditions that might encourage an invasive aquatic plant infestation at the launch. The state rejected the Happytown Road sites for numerous reasons, including proximity to nutrient-rich inlet streams, which could increase the chance of infestation with invasive plants. DOC asked the City to evaluate access to the other two sites off Hanson's Landing Road, and determine if the owners were willing sellers. The DOC also reaffirmed that they continue to favor development of a boat launch on their land in the Narrows. While it was encouraging to see the depth of the DOC's desktop analysis, it reminded me again of the conflicting interests surrounding this issue.

For maximum protection of the drinking water, and the majority of the lake, from the spread of invasive plants, the present boat launch location near the outlet in the Mill Pond is optimal. The second best location is at the far northeastern shore, as far from the water intake as possible. There, if invasive plants took hold, prevailing on-shore winds would contain plant fragments to an area that might be easier to manage using current methods such as bottom barriers, and hand pulling, to prevent widespread infestation of the lake. Naturally, relocating a boat launch near the former Hanson's Landing area makes some residents of the adjacent Cove very nervous. The State land, being on the western shore and at mid lake, is one of the worst possible locations because water currents and prevailing winds from the Southwest and the Northwest will carry plant fragments to both basins of the lake, and towards the water intake. Controlling an infestation there would also be difficult because of wind and currents. Prohibiting boat traffic through a patch of invasive plants in the Narrows would mean closing one whole basin to boating.

It should be obvious by now that the recycling of the boat launch issue is also not easily controlled. The political landscape is a little different each time around too. Here are a few things that might influence the process and decisions this year. Currently, the DOC is in the process of updating it's Strategic Plan for Providing Public Access to Maine Waters for Boating and Fishing, a document, published with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) in 1995. In the last version of this document, the departments noted concern about the "increasing land and water use restrictions as a result of the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act." No specific policies to avoid water supplies were incorporated in the plan at that time. Will that be different this year given that the legislature just passed a bill for protection of water supplies? The bill specifically calls for all state agencies to consider the negative impact of the agency's action on public water supplies and evaluate alternatives to avoid or minimize the impact.

A second possible influencing factor is the change of leadership in the Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands. This Bureau oversees the Boating Facilities Division. It also manages state parks (the DOC land on Branch Lake is designated as an undeveloped State Park). David Soucy left the department and returned to private legal practice this winter.

His replacement, Will Harris, has been with DOC for a long time, recently serving as Director of General Services. Whether the development of a state boat launch and/or state park on Branch Lake will be a priority for the new department head remains to be seen. A third potential influencing factor involves possible pressure on the existing City launch site as a consequence of a planned YMCA day camp operating in the same area.

The Ellsworth YMCA is continuing an analysis of environmental impacts before preparing a proposal for the Planning Board or City Council. They want to develop a summer day camp on Branch Lake for up to 200 children. The site includes a portion of the city lot now used for the boat launch and swimming beach in the Mill Pond, plus the adjacent city parcel, 16.7 acres in total. Any development they propose will need to meet very stringent tests, which include: complying with provisions of the Ellsworth Natural Resource Zone, Shoreland Zone, and Water Supply Protection Ordinance; satisfying all state environmental laws, which are stricter than on most lakes because Branch is designated by DEP as a 'lake most at risk from development'; complying with all applicable federal laws; and meeting protective deed restrictions on the undeveloped city lot which was given by Bangor Hydro in the early 1970's.

In December, the Y submitted a proposal to the City Council that was scaled back dramatically from their first proposal, and it was much more favorably received. In fact, the Council gave the YMCA the green light to proceed with additional survey and environmental studies to support the potential development of the smaller concept plan. The only enclosed structures in the plan are a small office/infirmary building and two small restrooms. A large covered pavilion, 100'xlOO' playing field, trails and a dock were also described. One aspect of their plan that everyone seemed to appreciate was an environmental education tract in the day camp program they submitted. The December proposal, while smaller in scale and impact, was not well circulated prior to the Council meeting, and still drew objections from some neighboring property owners. Currently, the YMCA, the City, and the Fenn Family Trust are trying to work out lease restrictions that will satisfy all three parties and meet the deed restrictions on the land. They are jointly funding an ecological assessment of the land and waters of the Mill Pond to preserve the character and special ecological features of the area, and protect the water quality, as required by the deed. Drafts of the lease have been tabled twice by the City Council and will be taken up again on June 29.

One thing that worries me about the lease language as of June 21 is reference to overnight camping. 'Campgrounds' were removed as an allowed land use in the Branch Lake watershed when the R-3 zone was created. I hope there is consistency in reviewing development plans against the ordinances. Progress and action on the YMCA project should be published in the Ellsworth American.

In July 11 or 18 the Planning Board will consider changes to the ordinance regulating surface use of Branch Lake. The majority of the changes serve to clarify the enforcement role of John Wedin, the new Watershed Steward hired by the water department. One substantive change, recommended from the outset by the Water Supply Commission, is to require that all jet craft be inspected by the City boat inspector. This is recommended because it is so difficult to thoroughly inspect these craft for invasive weeds. You have to get under them with tools and a flashlight. City-certified self-inspectors would no longer be allowed to inspect jet skis or jet boats before they are launched into Branch Lake. There would be no change for resident-owned jet craft having an inspection waiver. Waivers are only granted when the owner attests in writing that the craft haven't been, and won't be, used anywhere but Branch Lake over a 20 month time period. A second change of interest relates to ice-fishing shacks. Jig holes are no longer expressly prohibited, but inspection authority has been given to water department and code enforcement staff.

State Fisheries biologists say they can't stock Branch Lake because the public does not have "equitable" access. The Ellsworth City Planner told BPA last year that she disagreed, and wanted to restore stocking. Despite what some editorial comments may say, no one has yet been able to cite any law that would prohibit fish stocking on Branch with the current level of public access. When questioned on the issue, several IF&W staffers have stated it is department policy, not law. The stocking policy published in the Winter 2001 edition of Maine Fish and Wildlife magazine states the policy clearly in my estimation. The title of the article is "Guidelines to Fish Stocking in Maine - a statement of policies followed by the Fisheries Division in stocking Maine waters." The policy wording is "Public access must be provided to all waters being stocked. Minimum access acceptable for stocking purposes is the right or privilege to reach a body of water without trespass." It doesn't even say ^"access with a boat." To my knowledge, there has been no updated stocking policy published, or law passed, to support the contention that public access must be equal to that available from any private shorefront property. If anyone has seen such, or a definition of "equitable" please alert me. I am not aware of further effort by the City to restore stocking, with the exception of reopening discussion of developing a state boat launch on the lake.

Perhaps if local fishermen attest that access is improved now that docks have been provided and the rocky channel is marked, the Fisheries Biologists will reassess their position. I still hope for more adequate parking to be developed at the launch. Reaction to the docks has been very favorable according to John Wedin, who launches the water department boat there regularly. Reaction to the hazard and channel marker buoys is generally favorable also, although a few folks find them unsightly. Please let me know if you would like to work on the fish stocking issue.

No bills were introduced in the current session to reverse or alter last year's legislation requiring that private road association assessments be based on tax valuation. Walt Jonsson of Philips Way contacted one of the co-sponsors of last year's bill who stated that it was not his intention to make that assessment method mandatory. Walt conveyed that opinion to Charlie Gilbert, the Bangor lawyer who assisted BPA in establishing, and incorporating, the various road associations. His verbal legal opinion was that road associations may have discretion in this matter, but he would not issue a written opinion to reverse his previous notice that we all needed to comply with the new law in the billing season 2007.

So what are we to do? Make your decisions on a road-by-road basis, I guess. Personally, I would not recommend defying the state law at this time for fear of loosing the right to bill anyone. This can happen if any road association member charges that the method of assessment is illegal or inequitable, and wins in court. The advice of our local representative, Bob Crosthwaite, was to take a vote of each road association, and if the majority favored reversing the legislature's decision, seek the legal modification through COLA (the Congress of Lake Associations). Please take this vote at your annual meetings, and report back through your BPA road representative to direct the BPA board on action for the next legislative session. Bud Lee and Larry Blethen, of Cove Way, recently invited Bob Crosthwaite to meet with us to discuss the law this summer. I am looking for one chairman of a committee to take on this issue. If we want change, it's going to take a lot of work, and trips to Augusta.

To prepare your road bills for this year, request the tax assessments for each of your road association members from the BPA Treasurer, Ralph Whedon. I recommend that we get the valuations from the City as of July 1. Even though the valuations might change later in the year with further adjustments by the city assessor or appeals board, you can pick, and record in your minutes, July 1, 2007 as the effective date for the basis of your assessment amounts. As you are going through this process, if you want a good laugh, call Phil Hopkins, on Sargeant Drive, who has some choice suggestions for the state about this law, and thoughts about Branch Lake toll roads!

A first step is being taken with the protection of wetlands and a little surrounding upland property on Fenn Family lands in lower lake. The source of the funds to purchase the conservation easements is wetland mitigation fees required from developers of the new retail stores in Ellsworth. No further funds have been identified to pursue the protection of other parcels in the watershed, though low interest loans are available from the Department of Human Services, which administers the Drinking Water program in Maine. The newest positive development on this issue is again the new drinking water protection law. It requires the Land for Maine Futures Board to consider whether a proposed land acquisition provides public water supply protection. Hopefully, there will be funds, and Ellsworth will apply.

Local Land Use Ordinances

Revisions of Ellsworth ordinances affecting development on Branch Lake shores, and the entire watershed, are in development as we speak. A new policy on road acceptance by the city is also in the works. Keep an eye on the papers, and come to the BPA annual meeting for an update.

Since some of our members prefer night meetings, I decided to try it again this year. We have reserved the Ellsworth High School Auditorium from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Friday July 20^th. The meeting will start at 6:30.

Hope to see you there, and out on the lake.

Anne Hayes, BPA President

The City of Ellsworth will offer boat inspection training courses from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in City Hall on July 20 and again on August 3. Individuals who complete this training are authorized to inspect their own boats, or those of neighbors or guests, for aquatic invasive plants that could contaminate the lake. Pre-registration with Jeff Fitzgerald, Assistant City Planner is desirable, but not mandatory.

Once again this summer, the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) in Auburn will offer training sessions for anyone interested in learning to identify invasive aquatic plants that pose danger to lakes. Two of these sessions will be held in Penobscot County (none are scheduled for Hancock County). The first will be conducted in Newport on July 21 at the Newport American Legion Hall. The second session will be held in Old Town on August 18 at the Old Town Dewitt Regional Airport. To register for either session, contact them at mciap@mainevlmp.org. If you plan to attend, it is important to pre-register ahead of time, for VLMP has been known to cancel training sessions when they think the session will be poorly attended (especially when the session is at a location distant from their home office).

We are sorry to report that Frank Howd of lower lake was killed in an automobile accident last March. Frank was a long-time resident of the lake and was an active member of the Branch Pond Association from its earliest years. He was among the first residents to complete the Watershed Stewards Program over a decade ago, and he had been part of the yearly Loon Count since the first year it was enacted on Branch. More recently, Frank volunteered as one of our Milfoil Rangers, who (along with his grandchildren) inspected a large segment of lower lake for milfoil and other invasives. Frank's commitment to environmental issues, along with his cheerful willingness to help out where needed, will be sorely missed. Our condolences go out to his family. Frank's wife, Sally Lee, is recovering from her injures and hopes to come to Branch Lake from July to September.

Back to top

Taken from an Interview with John and Lucy Wilson, October 23, 2003. Many thanks to Susan Bailey and Van Terrell for conducting this interview with the Wilsons.

John reports that his father, John Burt Wilson bought the lot and camp, around 1936. He recalls walking down the logging road from the orchard, tying rags on the trees, in order to find their way down to the camp. This he reports was in about 1937 or 38. "Later we took a stove in. We took it straight down to what would be Paul Sawyer's place, (now owned by the Olsens) put it in a boat and took in across. Some of the things we took down in the winter because there was no road. Gradually we built a road."

Question: Who built the camp?

John: "It was built by a fellow by the name of Porter, who, I guess had a ministry in his background. Some of the old people at the time going by fishing, if they lost a fish they might swear a bit. There might be a few heads on my porch rise up and tell them to praise the Lord on a Sunday morning!"

Question: So your father did not just buy the lot?

John: "No he bought the camp and the lot. It wasn't a great amount. It was about $400. At the time. About a square acre came with it. It's about 213 feet on the front and 212 on the side.

Question: Do you have any idea what year you might have built the road?

John: "It got built in pieces. Down to the bottom of the first hill you'll notice there's still a turn out there. We did that for a while and then we walked from there. Then we'd go down a little further. We didn't have any bulldozers in those days, so we went around rocks and trees. There were no chainsaws, just an old bucksaw or crosscut saw. So we built a stretch at a time. We would cut (the trees) close to the ground and just drive over them.

Question: What were you driving?

John: An old Pontiac. We bought it brand new in Ells-worth. It was a '38 Pontiac.

Question: So that car would actually go down the road where you had just cleared trees?

John: Right, because they had sixteen-inch wheels in those days. Everything was a 616 tire. It was built up high. Some of these cars they have now I tell you won't go over a horse turd on the turnpike. They drag, it's true! You look at the front end. They ride nicely.

Question: So when you brought your stove down before the road was built, you went down to Sawyer's?

John: We loaded it in a boat and took it across. There was a road down to Sawyer's but it ended there.

Question: What places do you remember that were there?

John: I remember Sawyer's, that is now Olsen's. The one where Lewis is now was Norris. The next one was Sussenbach- the white one down by the shore.

Question: Sussenback was there at the time, so they owned that place for a long time?

John: Yes, it was right in the water. The next one a fellow named Jerry Rouns from Ells-worth built and the Ryders owned it at one time. I don't know who owns it now. Then the white Whitcombs was there. Mr. Whitcomb, a dentist in Bangor was there. He was a man in his eighties at the time. We used to have him over for dinner occasionally. He was a very interesting man. And the other Whitcombs down on the shore were in-laws of Dr. Whitcomb. Then next-door would have been Sweeney, then the camp owned by Danny Force which was bought from Martha Rapp.

Question: What about the other side of you?

There was nothing until you got to the point. But later there was a camp where Lee is now. Totman and Jones were out on the point and there was the barber in Bangor on Exchange Street. I can't tell you his name.

Question: Was our place there? (Terrell, now Mclntire's)

John: No.

Question: Can you remember the order they came in by? You were the only one on the road. Can you remember?

John: I can remember Gray and Sweeney. I think, Dunn, too,... in your place. Jackson owned the orchard. He was a grocer in Southwest Harbor. He sold the lot to Dunn. But before him a guy named Burgess had owned the orchard. He was from Southwest Harbor. . . Bart Burgess.

Question: So our camp was built after you were here?

John: Yes they all were.

Question: But you do not know the exact order? Do you recall what summer you were finally able to drive down to your camp?

John: Probably it took 15 years to finish. I was out of high school in 46. The road went as far as behind my camp. I think Dunn completed it... but basically it was level and you would just drive on it. But everything around the lake seemed to blossom about '46-'47-'48. The whole cove was sold off. It was just after the war and people were starting to come back.... Working and getting into the lake really, at about that time.

Question: What are some of your favorite memories of being at Branch?

John: The fishing. When I was first here I went over to Hanson's landing and a fellow named Wentworth owned the landing. This was before Hanson came. And then Hanson came and I was really friendly with Ally and Bo Hanson. As a matter of fact they wanted me to guide fishermen down there. You could buy bait there and register your fish there. At the time they kept a log of the fish by the day and the size. They said that the state would stock it depending on what they had in their books. The book tells about some great fish caught there by some wonderful fishermen.

Question: Where would those books have been passed?

John: The Hansons had it and it would have gone to Bill Tuitte, I would think.

Note: The history committee would love to see this log. If you know of its whereabouts please contact judy-blood75@hotmail.com

Question: Was he connected to our place?

John: No. He bought it after coming up from Connecticut. Ed Hanson was the last. Bill and Ellie had already gone. Ed was with Dexter Shoe, I believe. He lived there.

Question: Who was the cigar maker?

John: I think that was the Hansons, Bill and Ellie. BCM Cigars in Bangor,

Billy Wentworth smoked an old corncob pipe. Well you never saw him without the pipe in his mouth and drool on both cheeks. He would take people from the old men's home in Bangor down there and they would go for a week. They would stay upstairs and they would fish. They would send the fish back to the Home. I fished with two or three of them. Joe and a few others, I can't remember the names but I used to row the boat, they loved people to row. They didn't like the motors.

Question: What did you do in the evening?

John: We played Fish, Old Maid, Crazy Eights, and Slap Jack. We had oil lamps and we went to bed fairly early.

Where Graves Trailer Park is now there used to be an icehouse and he used to put up ice in the winter and cover it with sawdust. In the summer down on Nicolin Station down at the foot of the hill he would ice up a sleeping car on what they called the New Yorker Train. They didn't have air conditioning as such so they used ice to cool them. The big blocks of ice were two feet thick and maybe four or five feet (wide)

Question; now where is this?

John: Over at Grave's Trailer Park where there is a campground now. If he broke a cake of ice he would throw it over in a corner and people on the lake would go get that for the old ice refrigerators. Where Lewis lives now there used to be a dairy farm. I think the name was Burt's. That was on the hard corner on the Branch Pond Road where we go in. He would sell you cream by the gallon. You would get your cream and have (your ice cream churned and you would have that ice from the ice-house with peaches, raspberries, and strawberries. You would make your own ice cream. We would walk up to the farm and get it. It was only 50 cents or a dollar a gallon for pure ice cream. He had Jersey and Guernsey cows.

Question: So it must have been a big old cow barn out there?

John: It was. Yes, he had an old bull tied on the corner by his nose. It was where all that brush is now, almost where that new house is. Yep, right on that corner . . . there were a couple of trees and a big barn.

Question: When did your dad die?

John: I believe he died in '53. He was 55. He died of a blood clot.

Question: What about you mother?

John: She had a stroke because of high blood pressure.

Question: So Lucy when do you come on the scene?

Lucy: I was a friend of his sister's in college and we used to hang around together.

Question: So you have shared as many memories as John?

Lucy: Yes, but most of mine were washing diapers and doing chores. Keeping them from drowning! I didn't do the fishing or the other fun stuff. We would only go down for a few weeks in the summer and that was our vacation.

Question: What about ice fishing?

John: Yea, of course all you had was a chisel. A lot of vehicles went to Hanson's Landing. Ovseychick used to get on the ice with his four wheel Jeep. He took with him a pair of binoculars and he would string his five fishing traps the length of the ice. He had to watch his traps with binoculars because they were so far apart.

Question: Susan was telling a story that this lake is more spring fed than others in terms of the spots that never freeze.

John: There are spots that you can get wet awfully quick by Teacher's Island by the pyramid rock. I got wet one day and then had to walk back up to the orchard because I didn't drive down. Well in the winter, before Brett would start plowing the road, I would walk down in my snowshoes. That was the only way to get there. That's why the lake has somewhat gone downhill, in my estimation. They plow all of these roads in the winter and occasionally they put sand on the road and makes a path for the water to go right into the lake, which it never did before. People living here year round changed the population. The lake used to heal itself in the winter somewhat, because anyone who came there would snowshoe or go in by Hanson's Landing. John muses about the changes on Branch. Now people living here and all of the side roads that were never here before. No big deal, it was just population that's all.

Question: Have you seen a decline in the water?

John: Yeah. I'm seeing mud and your seeing muck along the shore and it was always sand and gravel. Now it's fertile mud just waiting for a seed to fall.

Question: So what's the story about the store?

John: Artie Johnson used to run it. Later it became Betty Mitchell of the telephone company. They sold gasoline and groceries.

Question: Was there a hotel or a restaurant near Hanson's Landing?

John: Jimmy Harjean had a motel over in that vicinity. He was a great fisherman with a place is Florida. He had that place on Branch where he would take in guests. They came in to rent and to enjoy the lake; the fishing, the swimming. He also had a steam bath there. They would go in and then jump in the cold lake!

Question: Can you remember the name of it?

John: Nope not that I know. He also had a brother. He caught more fish that anyone else. He had a big spinner he would hide in his sweater. He wouldn't show it to you he would just sneak it over the side of the boat. There were other good fishermen. Frank Smart; he was a good fisherman. He was the brains of Webber Oil if you ask me.

John: I used to hunt quite a bit before it was dark. There used to be on old barn over on Phillips Way but there was a house across the way. On a rainy day it was a perfect place to watch for deer coming across the blueberries. They tore the house down and boarded up the barn so we could not get into it. Then Sweeney used to have a garage by the tree before they build young Sweeney's house. We used to sit up in that garage and watch for deer, but Sweeney closed the garage down. They fouled us up completely. Sweeney's barn used to be great for hunting because he would leave some broccoli out in his garden, just outside the barn window. It worked so well that I would bring broccoli down from Bangor, even in December! Quite frequently we would get deer. We would never get moose.

Many thanks to John, Lucy, Van, and Sue for these memories.

The History Committee would like to hear more memories of Branch. If you would like to represent your road on the History Committee or if you know of someone who has a story to tell, please contact Anne Hayes or Judy Blood.

Back to top

Branch Pond will reinstitute its sailing regatta this summer, after a one-year hiatus. Two races will be held. One on Sunday July 15th and again on July 29th. These will be "fun races" with a social get-together to follow. We encourage sailors of all ages, and all levels of experience, i.e., beginners through experienced yachtsmen (yachtspersons?) to participate. It is open to all classes of boats and the Portsmouth Yardstick will be used as a handicapping metric.

Pre-registration is helpful, but not mandatory. To pre-register, call Peter Wight (667-7874). If you decide at the last minute to run the course, check-in with the Commodore at the starting point of the race (look for the pontoon boat with the orange flag flying). Start time will be 2:00 p.m.

Come join us in this fun event. Or if you do not sail, come out and watch the race as a spectator or serve as a safety boat.

We are happy to announce the three winners of our drawing for people who completed and returned the BPA Survey last fall. They are Bud Lee of Cove Way, Elizabeth Tibbetts of Wilson Way, and Marsha Drucker of Branchview North. Bud, Elizabeth, and Marsha will receive a framed and matted photo of Branch Pond wildlife (e.g., the loons, eagles, or our resident heron). The photos were taken by one of Branch Pond's talented amateur photographers, namely John Wilson (Wilson Way—see interview, page 6). Thanks to all who returned the survey and congratulations to our three winners.

We are sorry to report that Liz Petterson (of the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District) has returned to her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Liz was a great friend of the Branch Pond Association over the years. She tackled the county-wide campaign to educate lake associations, and the public, about invasive aquatic plants (IAP). This led to an award-winning annual IAP survey of every boat launch in the County, as well as terrific courses which she developed to teach us about both native and invasive plants.

Our road association presidents, and road commissioners, will always be grateful to Liz for obtaining several erosion control grants for Branch Lake. Those of you who attended the BPA annual meeting last year will remember her report of a second successful application for a very substantial federal grant (EPA Section 319) to be implemented this summer. While Liz has moved on to dedicate her talents to the environmental issues facing her home state, the 319 grant steering committee will be led by her replacement, Megan Facciolo. Our own Laura Wilson, of University of Maine Cooperative Extension, offered to help facilitate the early transitional stages if necessary. Several major erosion control projects on roads at the northern end of the lake are planned, as well as buffer planting projects. We will miss Liz tremendously, and wish her success and happiness in her new position. You can meet Megan at the BPA Annual Meeting.

Back to top

The BPA membership currently stands at 120 families, up from 39 paid memberships at the annual meeting last July. To all of you who took the time to complete the membership forms and to send in your checks, thank you. Your support, suggestions, and participation are critical. To those of you who spent time circulating membership forms, or speaking to neighbors and road associations about the BPA mission, job well done. The goal is another 50 families this year. If you hear of people not receiving this newsletter, it may be that they are not members. Please encourage them to join, or better yet, to get involved in one of our committees.

As you know, a questionnaire was sent out with the Fall 2006 Newsletter, soliciting input from both members and non-members about the Branch Pond Association. Of the 127 families who currently are BPA members (as well as 2 non-members), 43 surveys were completed and returned. For the current membership, this represents a 32% return. Outlined below are the responses (made by both members and non-members) to the questions asked, as well as the frequency of those responses.