Photo courtesy Lakes Association of Norway

NORWAY — The Norway Select Board discussed options for addressing phosphorus runoff into Little Pennesseewassee/Hobbs Pond during its meeting Nov. 21.

Lakes Association of Norway President Sal Girifalco discussed a plan the association collaborated on with farmer Jerry Cleveland, who owns a piece of property on the pond where he spreads manure for haying, in which some modifications would be made to where and how the manure is spread.

Girifalco said the Lake Association wants to work with Cleveland, and said the association supports the spreading of manure on the empty plot of land at Lakeview Cemetery. Girifalco said this would allow for more manure to be spread, rather than piled up, which will be less hazardous to the pond.

“If the testing shows a problem of some sort, then we’ll come back and say ‘hey we have to stop it,’” he said. “Our water testing is in the beginning stages. We have a lot more to do this coming year.”

Cleveland will move manure away from slopes and certain treelines, and build a 30-foot fence to keep cattle away from a drainage ditch. He will also rake the manure so it spreads and absorbs into the ground better.

“The manure has a better chance of infiltrating into the soil,” Girifalco said. “The changes will be a net positive to the lake in the immediate future.”

The spreading of manure at the site is currently governed under the U.S. Department of Agriculture standards and setbacks from water that Cleveland says he has always complied with.

“Everything we’re doing is by the book,” he said.

“The expectation with the Lakes Association and Jerry Cleveland is that we continue to collaborate on other sites on his property,” Girifalco said.

Resident Steve Siskowitz, who lives on the pond and said he has been complaining about pollution in the pond for 30 years, firmly rejected the idea of spreading manure on town property.

“Do not spread manure on town property,” he said. “You cannot guarantee it’s not going into the lake.”

The Select Board agreed to wait for more testing data from the pond before making any decisions.

“We don’t have enough data yet,” Select Board Member Danielle Wadsworth said.

The Norway Select Board will next meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.