ROXBURY — Year-round and seasonal residents are looking for volunteers to conduct a watershed survey to help keep Roxbury Pond clean for future generations to enjoy.

Residents voted at the annual town meeting March 3 to raise $3,000 for the work. Jim Wendt, president of the Silver Lake Camp Owners Association, said the last survey was in 1994.

“We want to look at all 26 square miles of the watershed to identify what sources are contributing to the lake’s contamination,” Wendt told voters at the town meeting. “We’ve had a number of large rain events this year that washed a lot of debris into the lake. This past fall, there was an algae bloom that is acting as a harbinger of poorer conditions.”

A recent news release said volunteers will be trained to identify and document sites where soil is washing into Roxbury Pond. They will work in teams to survey assigned areas.

The survey will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 3. The rain date is May 17.

Volunteers will meet at the Town Office for a 90-minute presentation before being sent out to collect data.

Those unable to participate but interested in donating money to the survey may contact Jerry Cohen at jjcohen@roadrunner.com or make a donation at the Ellis Pond Variety store.

For more information on watershed surveys visit www.maine.gov/dep./land/watershed/materials/lakewsurveyguide.pdf

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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