Notes from State of the Watershed Conference 2005 sponsored by the Androscoggin River Watershed Council

Prepared by Daryl J. Boness

The conference program consisted of two plenary sessions and two concurrent workshops. The first plenary session dealt with contaminant threats and the second with forestland ownership practices along the upper Androscoggin. The concurrent workshops were on invasive species and recreation. I chose to attend the invasive species workshop.

The first of two talks in the morning plenary session dealt with acid deposition in our lakes of the watershed. It took a long-term perspective and looked at whether the Clean Water Act had been successful. The conclusion was that there have been significant reductions in acid deposition since the mid 1980s, achieving the 45% reduction in sulfates required by the Act and coming close to receiving the 10% required for nitrates. The biggest contributor of sulfates is industry, whereas that for nitrates is the automobile. Maine and New Hampshire lakes increased in PH from 4.4 to 4.6 on average. Most lakes in New England are within an acceptable range of Ph neutral today, although 5% are still acidic. Those in worst shape are the higher altitude lakes. This likely has to do with a thinner soil base that is less effective in buffering the acid rain before it reaches the lakes.

The second talk focused on Mercury contamination and summarized findings from a recent collation of 21 studies over the past couple decades. Four key points from this study are that: 1. mercury levels are higher than ever expected in the Northeast, 2. many animals have been affected, even forest-dwelling songbirds, 3. there are nine biological hotspots where mercury levels pose a significant ecological risk (including the upper Androscoggin watershed – Rangeley area), 4. there is a need for standardized long-term monitoring programs to understand this problem better. Some reduction in mercury level has occurred during the 1990s because of regulations to two major sources of mercury in the atmosphere, medical waste and municipal waste incineration. Higher elevation lakes, like acidification, have higher levels of mercury. Moreover, there is an interplay between mercury–related effects on wildlife and acidification in lakes such that acidic conditions reduce the availability of calcium to the body, producing poorer quality eggs in birds. There are also behavioral effects of high levels of mercury, including reduced brooding activity. Loons with high mercury levels spend less time on their nest than those with low levels.

A second session in the morning dealt with some specific examples of water quality problems along the Androscoggin River, including Lewiston/Auburn having mixed sewage and runoff water drainage that causes sewage overflow during heavy rains. They are working to resolve this problem now. Another example presented was high loads of mercury deposition from a former paper mill in Berlin. Apparently, 130 pounds of mercury was removed from the surface last year and is part of a body of evidence being used to seek status for Super Fund clean up.

The session on invasive species focused more on fish than plants, although there was one very broad presentation on aquatic plants that are problematic for Maine. In the upper Androscoggin there have been problems with illegally releasing small mouth bass into the rapid river at the head of the Androscoggin watershed. These bass are not natural to this situation but apparently out compete the resident brook trout. Anywhere that bass have been introduced into brook trout habitat, with enough time the brook trout population has gone extinct. The presentation on plants noted that there are four invasive species that are a potential for problems throughout the Androscoggin watershed. They are variable milfoil, Eurasian milfoil, hydrilla, and curly-leaved pondweed. Once established these invaders are almost impossible to eradicate. Thus it is best to keep your lake from becoming exposed in the first place. The state is doing several things to combat this problem, including: 1. an invasive plant patrol that surveys lakes; 2. supporting courtesy boat inspections; 3. cost-sharing for inspections and plant removal; 4. inspections on ramps where infestations are known; 5. public advertising through a professional advertising company; and 6. having a rapid response plan when a new infestation is found.

The afternoon panel discussion on forest ownership, comprised of industry, government agencies, and non-government organizations, noted that there are 46 million acres in the northern forests. They produce $16 billion in forest products and $3-4 billion in tourism. 80% or more of forestland in Maine is privately owned although paper mill ownership has diminished and non-industrial private ownership has increased dramatically. Many of the land trust companies are putting a portion of their holdings under conservation easements to preserve large tracks of forests. For example the 35% of the Hancock Land Company is under easement. The prevailing idea throughout the panel discussion was the need for environmentalists and industry to work together to make certain forestland continues to be available both for wildlife, human recreation and as a viable and sustainable industry. It need not be nor should be one or another to the exclusion of the other functions.