WAYNE – The Berry, Dexter, Wilson Ponds Watershed Association met recently at the Ladd Recreation Center with President Edouard Plourde presiding.

Other officers are Douglas Ludewig, vice president; Nancy Ludewig, secretary; and Phil Thorp, treasurer.

Megan Antonucci and Steve Kolenda resigned their positions.

Marcia Jackson, chairwoman of the Communications Committee, gave a report on the data collected since July 31, 2004. Names, addresses and e-mail addresses have been entered on the Jackson/Albrecht computer. Jackson said she and her husband, Carl Albrecht, had sent three mailings. Because of all the collected data, Jackson and Albrecht were approached by other organizations wanting access to data on the three ponds. Jackson also said if a member did not want information released, they should contact her and the request will be honored.

Treasurer Phil Thorp reported income rose to $1,059.50. The assets now total $1,402.64. Membership dues will continue at $10 per year per family.

Bill Monagle of the Cobbossee Watershed District shared a report from 2004 of all the 22 lakes in the district. Transparency for Dexter and Berry remain about the same but Wilson Pond transparency continues to decline.

Bob Moore of the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed, who serve all 28 lakes and streams of the Cobbossee Watershed, also attended the session.

One of the objectives of the Friends is conducting educational programs. In February, Sarah Rodgers, a graduate of Bowdoin College, was hired to expand the summer Tadpole Patrol program to a year-round effort. She is working with 150 area middle school students in the Maranacook and Litchfield school systems throughout the school year, with plans to expand this year to Monmouth, West Gardiner and Winthrop. Rodgers also coordinates the “Slow the Flow” PlayDays during the summer – which provides more than 400 area youth with a half day, hands-on workshop dealing with water quality and watershed issues.

The Friends have received grants from the L.L. Bean Charitable Foundation and Boat US Foundation, which will be used to construct Boat Wash Stations at two launch sites. One is Norcross Point on Maranacook Lake in Winthrop, and the other is Thorofare Road on Pleasant Pond in Richmond.

For more info, visit www.watershedfriends.com on the web.

The next annual BDW meeting will take place from 9 a.m. to noon July 29, 2006, at the Ladd Recreation Center.