VASSALBORO: Control work needed to protect water quality at three central Maine lakes

by Mary Grow

The Oct. 30 Vassalboro Select Board meeting began with a presentation on run-off control work needed to protect quality in Webber Pond, Threemile Pond and Threecornered Pond (see box).

Earlier in October, Town Manager Aaron Miller received and shared with board members draft water quality reports from the three watersheds. The multi-page reports were prepared by Ecological Instincts, of Manchester, with funding and assistance from federal, state and local governments, numerous organizations and local volunteers.

Mary Schwanke, from the Webber Pond Association, shared with select board members a single-page document listing sites for which the Town of Vassalboro is responsible that are contributing pollution to Threecornered and Webber ponds. Most are culverts that need better run-off control.

Two culverts on Cross Hill Road and two on Stone Road affect Three-cornered Pond. Five more, on Cross Hill, Seaward Mills and Crowell Hill roads and Quaker Lane, and a stream crossing and culvert on Whitehouse Road, affect Webber Pond.

Schwanke explained that the lakes already have a lot of phosphorus in their bottom soils, from years of agricultural run-off. When warmer water reaches the bottom of the lake, phosphorus is released, feeding algae and phytoplankton blooms.

The first step in improving water quality is to reduce new phosphorus inflows. Then, Schwanke said, the focus can shift to getting rid of existing phosphorus.

Drainage chain

Three-cornered Pond is at the top of a drainage chain that runs via Barton Brook into Three-mile Pond and via Seaward Mills Stream into Webber Pond. Webber Pond drains via Seven-mile Brook into the Kennebec River.

Three-cornered Pond is in Augusta; Threemile pond is shared among China, Vassalboro and Windsor; and Webber Pond is in Vassalboro.

Once the watershed reports are in final form, including action plans, they will be widely publicized.

Most of the new phosphorus comes from residential development around the lakes – individual homeowners’ gravel or paved driveways and other features that don’t absorb rainwater. Schwanke said homeowners will receive individual letters about their properties.

Miller recommended a series of town actions, in addition to road work.

He advised starting with better enforcement of local water quality ordinances. The codes officer and the planning board would play leading roles. The town could help get grants for watershed work and could support local education and training, which he and Schwanke think are important.

“It has to be people understanding that their property has an impact on water quality,” Schwanke said.

Schwanke and Miller agreed that the recommended improvements to Vassalboro culverts are probably “not out of reach, dollarwise.” Rough cost estimates are mostly under $5,000 per site.

Select board members want to find out whether photos of properties around lakes and streams could be added to tax records, to document conditions as they change.

In other business, board members decided that on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, the transfer station will be closed, along with other town services.

They approved the Vassalboro Sanitary District’s board of trustees meeting in the town office meeting room and recording their meetings with town equipment until they have their own equipment.

They accepted a bid of slightly over $3,100 to replace the sand and salt shed door, as recommended by Public Works Director Brian Lajoie.

They discussed several ongoing issues, including the 2025-26 meeting calendar for the select board and budget and school committees, which is almost in final form; the town’s personnel policy, also very close to its final form; and funding to replace the Mill Hill Road bridge.

The meeting included a lengthy executive session, after which no action was taken.

The next Vassalboro select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13. Miller expects the agenda will include a review of the audit for the fiscal year that ended June 30, with auditor Ron Smith present.