WATERFORD – The Keoka Lake water-quality project gave a PowerPoint presentation for selectmen Wednesday to mark the completion of a three-year project to identify and correct erosion problems.

Project partners included The Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Lakes Environmental Association, the Keoka Lake Association, the town of Waterford and several of its residents, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Colin Holme, a staff member at Lakes Environmental Association, presented an overview of the project. It encompassed 15 sites in the Keoka Lake watershed, including eroding camp roads, road shoulders, driveways, stream crossings, the town boat launch and the Hawk Mountain access road. The virtual tour included before-and-after pictures of the sites.

“Soil erosion causes a reduction in water quality,” said Holme. He explained that in addition to the obvious environmental damage, low water quality decreases property values. As a result of the project, about 100 tons of soil will be kept out of the lake each year.

Heidi Linscott of the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District and Wendy Garland of the EPA were also on hand to help answer questions.

“Strong support from the town made it an easier project – there’s always been a can-do’ attitude,” said Garland.

Selectman William Wheeler said the town has a good reason for its eager collaboration. “Fifty-three percent of the town’s income comes from shore land: We need to protect that base,” he said. Board members said they hope that other residents will follow the example of those individuals who used the resources of this project and their own initiative to clean up problems on their properties. “Education is the key; nobody wants to see their property on a green pond,” said Linscott.

Holme will organize a meeting to discuss next steps for the area. McWain Pond has just received a similar grant from the state, and Wheeler hopes to get even more involvement for this project and others.

“Now we get to work on the other lakes in Waterford,” he said.