Upper New Meadows River watershed and shoreline survey
A watershed survey to identify existing and potential non-point pollution sources was conducted in 2000. The survey covered the areas from Woodward Point, Brunswick to Foster Point, West Bath, including the Lakes area. The survey resulted in the identification of twenty-six actual or potential contamination sources, principally from erosion and/or sedimentation. These were found predominantly on state and town owned roads, as well as private roads. The NMRWP is now working with the Maine Department of Transportation and the individual municipalities to correct some of these problems by as early as spring 2002.
The shoreline surveys were conducted by volunteers trained and overseen by staff of the Maine DMR and covered the area from Kings Point to Sabino along the West Bath shoreline, including Williams Island. This effort, along with additional work by DMR staff, resulted in the identification of fifteen actual or potential non-point pollution sources, including several outhouses and at least one failed septic system. Work is ongoing within the municipalities to ensure correction of these problems.
Work with small communities
Some of the smaller municipalities along the New Meadows River have encountered difficulties in understanding and meeting state and federal requirements to remedy pollution problems. The NMRWP has sought and obtained funding through the Maine State Planning Office to furnish assistance to these towns, specifically on the issue of closed shellfish growing areas. This project was initiated in the spring of 2001 and is ongoing.
Dingley Island causeway replacement
The Dingley Island causeway is a 200' barrier that separates the north and south sections of the waterway and clam flats between Dingley Island and the Harpswell mainland. Sediments have been accumulating on either side of the causeway since its construction in 1946. Replacing the causeway with a small bridge would reestablish water flow between the two sides of the clam flat, thereby restoring a portion of the original habitat and protecting the future of one of Harpswell's richest clam flats.
Funding has been received to carry out feasibility and engineering studies for the bridge project. Additional funds have been requested for the construction of a bridge to replace a section of the causeway in 2003, the labor for which could be provided by the U.S. Navy through its Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program.
The Dingley Island project has generated interest in the possibility of removing or expanding the culvert on the Berry's Mill causeway in West Bath. Flow to the mudflat area above the culvert has been restricted for many years. Clams do exist on these flats, but it is believed that increasing flow to these flats could significantly improve the resource. Funding for a further investigation into possible options of flow improvement has been requested.
Pump-out facility
One area of concern revealed by our work with small communities is the possible impact of discharges from recreational vessels at anchor for extended periods, potentially contaminating adjacent shellfish harvesting areas, leading to their closure. The nearest pump-out facility is located at the very head of the New Meadows River and access to this facility by larger vessels is difficult. The NMRWP is exploring various options for assisting towns with the installation of pump-out facilities along the River. A pump-out facility is already being planned for the Sebasco area and could be completed as early as 2002.
All four of the shoreline municipalities have been actively involved in water quality sampling to assist the DMR in ensuring compliance of open shellfish harvesting areas with NSSP requirements. In order to reopen closed shellfish harvesting areas, several towns have established programs to remove overboard discharges and replace failed septic systems.
The Town of Brunswick has successfully removed all overboard discharges within its jurisdiction. Harpswell has succeeded in opening numerous areas to harvesting areas, at least to conditional or seasonal harvesting.
The Casco Bay Estuary Project launched its Sustainable Shellfisheries Program in 1998 and hired Normandeau Associates, Inc. of Yarmouth, and MER Assessment Corporation to assist with program implementation.
The program consists of three phases:
Phase I was completed in 1999 with the preparation of a prioritized list for remediation based on a review of all existing data for the listed criteria. A total of 33 overboard discharge systems were identified along the New Meadows River and adjacent Buttermilk Cove in Brunswick; two of these systems were subsequently combined. Additionally, five areas either potentially or actually affected by non-point sources of contamination were identified.
Phase II was started in 1999, and as of the end of 2001, 23 overboard discharge systems had been replaced by in-ground waste treatment systems. Bacteriological sampling for non-point sources of contamination has revealed only one problematic area at the head of Buttermilk Cove; sampling all other areas indicate acceptable water quality.
Phase III began in Fall 2001 and is scheduled to be completed by December 2002. This phase will focus on shellfish management measures currently used by the towns. Measures used elsewhere will also be evaluated for their applicability in this section of Casco Bay.