POLAND — Warning that “out-of-control algae bloom can be the death of a lake,” the head of the Range Ponds Association recently shared with more than 40 residents the details of a watershed survey slated for May 11.

Discovery of an algae bloom in Middle Range Pond in late summer of 2022 prompted association members to plan the survey in hopes of locating nonpoint sources of pollution that likely caused the algae bloom.

Algae growth in ponds and lakes can be spurred by light, temperature, salinity, pH, and nutrient levels. Toxins from algae blooms can harm people, animals, fish, and other parts of the ecosystem.

Association President John Aromando told residents April 6 that the watershed survey will concentrate on locating nonpoint sources of stormwater runoff that carry organic nutrients into the ponds, such as phosphorus, which foster the growth of algae. In many cases, such nonpoint sources are eroded tracts of land where stormwater runs freely and unobstructed into the ponds.

Aromando said the ground conditions surrounding the ponds have changed in the past 20 years since the last watershed survey was done.

For the survey, the watershed region to be inspected has been divided into eight sectors surrounding Upper and Middle Range ponds. The area includes properties not directly on the ponds but which can impact the ponds’ water quality nevertheless.

Aromando said the survey will be conducted by teams of three, with two volunteers and one technical adviser. Each team will be given specific properties to inspect, taking about 10 to 15 minutes on each site.

The association mailed more than 700 postcards to property owners in the watershed region seeking their permission to allow a walk-through on their land. Owners were instructed to call the association if they didn’t want a survey team on their land.

Aromando stressed the findings of the survey will be strictly informational and that nothing will be reported to any town official, including the code enforcement officer. The cost of the survey is around $15,000, Aromando said, with $25,000 needed for processing of the data and other costs associated with the survey.

He noted that Poland Spring Water Co. contributed $5,000 and an anonymous corporate donor also contributed $5,000 toward the effort. The town has committed $5,000 pending voter approval on the June 11 town warrant referendum.

Aromando said the survey and the survey report will be required for any application for federal funding “to address areas of concern and to reduce adverse impact on water quality in our lakes, including the risk of another algae bloom in the future.”

Technical assistance for the survey is being supplied by Scott Williams, retired executive director of Lake Stewards of Maine, Emma Lorusso of the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, and Alaina Chormann with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Aromando emphasized to the group the need to get on top of the problem now. He said if the algae growth progresses, it could get more expensive to address with chemical treatments costing thousands of dollars.

He said Williams told him, “The principal culprit is storm water runoff.”

“We got a wake-up call in September 2022 with the algae bloom,” Aromando said. “Let’s not ignore it, let’s listen to that bell and answer it and get this done.”

The survey will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11.

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