Sheepscot Lake Association fall newsletter

submitted by Maria O’Rourke,
SLA President

The saying, “time flies when you’re having fun” certainly holds true when it comes to summer on Sheepscot Lake! The 2023 season is now in the books and the Sheepscot Lake Association is reflecting on our activities and projects, as well as looking ahead to 2024.

June had us hiring and training our three Courtesy Boat Inspectors, who check for invasive species on boats and trailers entering and leaving the lake. This program is made possible in part due to a grant from the Maine DEP, as well as your membership dues. The rainy season was tricky to navigate, but 85 inspections were completed this season and zero invasive species were found! Thank you to our CBI team for your efforts – Alex Reichtel, Addison Turner and Olivia Childs.

Our annual 4th of July Boat Parade was successfully held in between the raindrops! Despite the questionable weather, 26 boats participated. Thank you to our 2023 Grand Marshal Tim Paul, a former board member and original CBI Coordinator. We look forward to another fun-filled parade in 2024!

SLA’s annual General Membership meeting was held in July at the Fish and Game on Rte 3. This year was a “dessert potluck,” and there were numerous yummy treats shared! This was a chance for residents to meet with neighbors, learn about our programs, renew memberships and hear our guest speaker. This year we were visited by Shawn Herbert, the Harbormaster of Naples, who discussed the recent Mooring Ordinance passed by the Town of Palermo. This ordinance will go into effect in 2024. For more information about the ordinance and its importance, please visit www.townofpalermo.org and look under Ordinances.

Sheepscot’s water quality has been tested throughout the summer for clarity, dissolved oxygen levels, and phosphorus levels. As has been the case over the years, Sheepscot has healthy levels in all categories, and we have a lot to be grateful for! Thank you to Jeff Levesque, our volunteer water quality tester!

Our online store has been filling merchandise orders all summer. In addition to the shirts and tote bag from last year, we have now added more shirt designs, sweatshirts, and a coffee mug! Your purchase enables us to continue to provide programs that help keep Sheepscot Lake healthy. Please visit www.bonfire.com/store/sheepscot-lake-association to browse our selections!

If you have not renewed your membership, or have yet to become a member, please visit our website at https://sheepscotlakeassociation.com where you can renew or join by paying via paypal. Or, you can send a check to Sheepscot Lake Association, Box 300, Palermo, ME 04354. Our membership dues have not risen since our inception over a dozen years ago! Can you say the same about anything else these days? Individual – $20, Family $30, Patron $50. We would not be able to provide what we do without your support!

We could also use your help by volunteering as well. Our LakeSmart Team needs some evaluators, and if you are interested you would receive training online this off-season and be able to join us in 2024. LakeSmart is a state-wide educational outreach program coordinated by Maine Lakes that helps waterfront property owners keep their spaces “lake friendly” and free from erosion. Interested homeowners reach out and evaluators determine whether the property has any erosion issues and offer advice on how to combat it. Stormwater runoff from roads, driveways, and properties can be detrimental to the health of the lake. LakeSmart gives homeowners tips and tools to keep erosion at bay. The Lake Association completed two evaluations this season and we hope to increase that next year. If you are interested in having your property evaluated, or in being trained as an evaluator, please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com

Another opportunity to become involved will present itself in the late spring/early summer of 2024 when we hope to host an on-site Invasive Plant Patrol Training Workshop. This program is run by the Lake Stewards of Maine, who will come to our lake to train us on determining the difference between invasive and native plants. After the training on land, we will go on a “paddle patrol” in kayaks to inspect the plants in their habitat. Once the training is completed, participants will then feel confident to go on “patrol” whenever they are on a kayak ride. This will enable us to “inspect” the lake much more broadly than just the boats coming in and out of the launch. If you are interested in being put on a list to join the Invasive Plant Patrol training in 2024, please send us an email at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com

To keep up with Sheepscot Lake Association’s activities, please visit our website and “like” and join our Facebook page. Thank you for your continued support in keeping Sheepscot Lake as healthy as it is! Please enjoy a happy winter season and we will see you on the lake in 2024!

Thank you for your support.