Nearly 150 people gathered at Jewell Lodge on the Wavus Camp grounds on Tuesday, Aug. 23, to hear a report on the health of Damariscotta Lake. Midcoast Conservancy staff, including Damariscotta Lake Manager Patricia Nease and Director of Water and Communications Tim Trumbauer, shared a 30-minute presentation on the trends, threats and successes related to the lake. Host Kieve Wavus Education provided a bucolic setting and Instagram-worthy appetizers!

At the top of most attendees' minds was the recurring cyanobacteria issue; in early June, a cyanobacteria outbreak was once again identified throughout Damariscotta Lake, including the South Arm, Muscongus Bay, and Great Bay. Aug. 4, a water sample collected from the Damariscotta Mills area of Damariscotta Lake exceeded EPA’s cyanotoxin (microcystin) 10-day drinking water thresholds for infants and school-aged children. Nease offered graphs and explanations pertaining to the conditions that foster cyanobacteria, as well as suggestions for what the lake community can do to prevent those conditions. Avoiding fertilizers with phosphorus, a nutrient that permits cyanobacteria to thrive, was a prominent theme.

Aging septic systems are another culprit around the lake. While the enduring tradition of handing homes down through family members is a tribute to the magic of living on the lake, it also precludes opportunities for septic systems to be evaluated, as they are when a home sale entails an inspection. Nease encouraged anyone who is unsure if their septic system is healthy to contact a septic inspector/maintenance company for assistance in assessing their system.

On the good news front, Nease was able to report that the invasive species Hydrilla has been successfully kept at bay for five consecutive years, and that, in a relatively unheard of move, the lake has been removed from the DEP’s list of infested Maine waterbodies.

Tables were set up on the lodge’s porch to offer information on specific topics, and to offer attendees to sign up for a variety of volunteer roles. 38 people offered their services at the event. Throughout the year, Midcoast Conservancy relies on volunteers to help with water quality monitoring, courtesy boat inspections at the public launches, invasive plant patrolling and more. Anyone interested in getting involved is invited to contact Nease at patricia@midcoastconservancy.org. Interested community members are encouraged to follow Damariscotta Lakewatch on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.