Comprehensive Planning for Lake and Stream Protection

Brie Begiebing

Water Resources Specialist

Portland Water District

The Problem . . .

• Some of our lakes are severely stressed by Nonpoint Source Pollution (or polluted stormwater runoff)

• Lakes are especially vulnerable to pollution

Sediments

Phosphorus and other nutrients

Pathogens

Toxic Contaminants

Debris

Non Point Source Pollution Contains:

Excess Algae

Decreased Clarity

Less Oxygen

Thermal Stress

And Causes:

Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution is the #1 water quality problem

in the U.S.

In most lake watersheds, about 60%-80% of pollution is from

NPS!

Stormwater

Construction

Logging

Fertilizer

Camp Roads

Septic

PP

P

P

P

P

P - Inflow P - Outflow

P

P

P

P

P

P

P - Inflow

PP

P

P

P

Phosphorus in Lakes

P - Storage

Canadian Experimental Lakes

Area (#226)

•Pristine lake divided into two halves

• P (ppb - parts per billion) added to only one side

• Repeated for 8 yearsSource: ELA, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

10 ppb

1 ppb

Protects the soil from erosion Slows the runoffTraps nutrients, sediments and bacteria

Natural Wetlands

Raindrop Erosion

Pit & Mound Topography

Natural Duff

Lakeside Home with Natural Buffer

Protective Canopy

In an undisturbed watershed natural vegetation:

Unfortunately many human activities not only generate pollution, they disturb this natural filter . . .

Impervious surfaces Impervious surfaces increaseincrease runoff and runoff and decreasedecrease infiltration infiltration

Impervious surfaces include compacted gravel, asphalt, roofing...

Water moves faster on impervious

surfaces.

How Impervious Surfaces How Impervious Surfaces Change the Water BudgetChange the Water Budget

50%50%10%10%5555%% 1515

%%

Natural CoverDeveloped Land

75-100% Impervious Surface

Infiltration

Runoff

40%Evaporation

3030%%

Natural buffers also

regulate light and

temperature and

provide important habitat for

wildlife

NPS Pollution directly effects streams and the organisms that live there

Environmental Health EffectsEnvironmental Health Effects

• Reduced wildlife habitat

• Decline in cold water fisheries

• Lower water quality

Decline in Property ValuesDecline in Property Values

• For every 3 ft. decline in water clarity, shorefront property values can decline as much as 10-20%.

• Declining property values affect individual landowners and economics of entire communities.

Lakes Most at Risk from Development

•Sebago Lake

•Watchic Pond

•Little Watchic Pond

•Rich Mill Pond

What the Comprehensive Plan What the Comprehensive Plan can do to protect lakes and can do to protect lakes and

streamsstreams

• Call for ordinances that protect water resources

• Recommend the formation and funding of a conservation commission

• Support lake protection activities by lake and road associations

• Support the education of residents and town officials on water quality protection methods