The planned pathway will run off the Auburn Land Lab Trail.
By John Plestina
Special to the Sun Journal

AUBURN – A proposal for high school students to build a one-quarter mile long fitness trail was presented to the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission Thursday.

Students from the Franklin Alternative School plan to build the trail off of the existing Auburn School Department’s Land Lab Trail this fall.

Although Dillingham sought approval from the commission, the proposal was presented for informational purposes. The commission could not vote because they lacked a quorum. She said she hopes the project will begin this fall.

“They will have to cut some brush and small trees in order to make the trail, but they will follow all of the (Auburn’s land use) ordinances, particularly the shoreland zoning ordinance,” said Mary Jane Dillingham, the water quality manager for both the Auburn Water District and the Lewiston Water Division. She said she would supervise the work.

The trail would offer experiences to develop fitness and environmental awareness.

Dillingham also told the commission that two hired divers pulled variable-leaf milfoil plants from the Lake Auburn basin by hand.

Dillingham also reported that the inspection program for boats, trailers and fishing gear entering Lake Auburn was successful. Boaters cooperated and, in many cases, kept an eye on activities on the lake.

With an existing problem with milfoil in Lake Auburn, Thompson Lake and other lakes and ponds in Androscoggin County, there is a heightened awareness that more milfoil or other invasive species could be introduced into area lakes by plant fragments on boats and trailers that could sprout. Some boats entering area lakes have been in the waters of other states. There is also concern about hydrilla, another invasive species that has been found in York County.