ROXBURY — Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District  is offering the Gravel Road Maintenance Workshop to provide guidance on Best Management Practices and information on how to plan road maintenance on private gravel roads.

This workshop is offered as part of the Ellis Pond Watershed Protection Project which is funded, in part, by the US EPA through the Clean Water Act. It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 20, at Sunset Cove Road.

Well-constructed and maintained gravel roads in lake watersheds are important not only for safety and maintaining property values but can also play a key role in maintaining good water quality.

Potholes, ruts, mud, gullies, and wash-outs can contribute phosphorous loaded runoff to lakes which can lead to algae blooms which deteriorate water quality. Fortunately, they can all be avoided by proper use of Best Management Practices (BMPs).

BMPs are tried and true methods of constructing and maintaining gravel roads so they resist deterioration and need less maintenance. Learn about the best base and surface materials, drainage methods and maintenance practices for gravel roads that will reduce erosion and help protect the water quality of our lakes and ponds.

The presentation will cover identifying and addressing common gravel road problems, proper maintenance, and the many benefits of good gravel road construction and maintenance for water quality. The presentation is done in a “site walk” format and will address how to deal with problems such as potholes, road ruts, proper road surface materials, and cross-culvert installation.

The workshop presenter will be Dave Roque, who is a Soil Scientist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Roque will answer questions from attendees about their specific gravel road problems. Additional road sites around Ellis Pond may be visited if requested. The presentation is free of charge and open to anyone interested in improving their gravel road.

Those interested in attending should pre-register by Aug. 19 by contacting Oxford County SWCD by email at oxfordcountyswcd@outlook.com. Location details will be provided upon registration.

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