Years ago, fishing was closed on Roxbury Pond during winter to protect the species for summer fishing. Then, pond residents voted to open it. Local residents kept it pristine, pulling toboggans, packsacks and ice chisels so as to not pollute the pond. Locals had respect for the environment and the future of the pond.

Today, various activities have caused stress to the pond’s environment, during winter and summer. In winter, bottles and cans and garbage get dumped into fish holes. People park on private, posted property. There is little or no respect for the preservation of the pond.

I also have a personal grievance about people boarding French Island, which is posted and barricaded for the protection of the rare American chestnut and other laboratory-grown plants. Lady slippers are fragile and when stepped on, they are lost forever. The island is also home to the largest white pine grove in Maine, which has been donated to the state of Maine Land Trust for preservation.

All of that is at risk because people have had no respect for the fragile environment. Those who make use of the area must take responsibility to maintain the area.

Protect Roxbury Pond.

Richard Theriault, Roxbury Pond