Section 319
NONPOINT SOORCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Improved Forestry Practices Help Restore Lake
ImnrnvoH
improved
Located in northern Maine's vast forest, Madawaska Lake experi-
ence(j declining water quality beginning in the 1980s when increased
timber harvesting and shoreland development in the watershed con-
tributed excess phosphorus and sediment to the lake. As a result, Maine Department of Environmental
Protection (MDEP) added Madawaska Lake to the state's 1988 Clean Water Act section 303(d) list of
impaired waters. The lake's water quality began improving in the mid-1990s, due to changes in state-
wide forestry standards, improved regulatory oversight of development and the implementation of
forestry best management practices (BMPs). MDEP removed Madawaska Lake from its section 303(d)
impaired waters list in 2006.
Problem
Madawaska Lake is located in the town of
Westmanland and in one of Maine's unorga-
nized townships, T16 R4. The 1,600-acre lake is
valued for boating, fishing and swimming and is
composed of two basins: Big Madawaska Lake
and Little Madawaska Lake. The watershed is
primarily forested, with residential development
concentrated along the shoreline (Figure 1).
In the 1980s extensive timber harvest activity
(including clearcuts and road building) and a
surge in shoreline development increased the
export of sediment and phosphorus from the
watershed into the lake. A 1993 summary of
watershed land use conditions reported that
21.8 percent of the watershed was harvested
(13.5 percent clear cut; 8.3 percent selective
cut). Until about 1982, most of the land was
owned and managed by one forestland compa-
ny for commercial timber production, and the
lakeshore was leased for seasonal camp lots.
After the land was sold in 1982, the new owner
built new forest access roads and increased
timber harvest activity including both selective
cuts and clear cuts. Lake shoreland properties
were sold to former lease holders, many of
whom decided to upgrade camps into year-
round homes. The result was a small building
boom around Big Madawaska Lake.
Erosion and sediment from timber harvest oper-
ations, roads and shoreland development, and
Figure 1. Madawaska Lake's watershed is forested
with numerous homes along the shoreline.
septic systems contributed excess phosphorus
to the lake, which spurred the growth and over-
abundance of noxious blue-green algae. From
1987 to 1992 the lake suffered four nuisance
algae blooms, and water clarity was reduced to
less than 2.0 meters, meeting MDEP's defini-
tion of a culturally induced nuisance algal bloom
that impairs swimming and aquatic life. In 1988
MDEP designated Madawaska Lake as impaired
for aquatic life support due to the observed
decline in trophic status and added the lake to
Maine's 303(d) list.
In 1994 MDEP completed an EPA section
314-funded Diagnostic Feasibility study of the
water quality problem. In 2000 MDEP complet-
ed the Madawaska Lake total maximum daily
load for total phosphorus.
-------
Project Highlights
Water Clarity - Secchi Disk Transparency
MDEP worked with the new owners of
the timberlands to install BMPs on new
roads and harvested areas. In addition,
a 1990 EPA-funded section 319 project
was undertaken to identify problem sites
in the watershed and provide technical
assistance for forestry and shoreland
development practices. The Maine Forest
Service produced statewide guidelines for
forestry BMPs with financial assistance
from MDEP and a section 319 grant. In
1999 the Maine Legislature passed the
Forest Practices Act, which improved
regulation of timber harvesting.
t-'^-
oooooooocncncnooo
O5O5O5O5O5O5O5OOO
The Maine Land Use Regulatory Commission
(LURC) opened an office in Presque Isle in
1989 to improve land use regulation services
in the region. LURC staff services helped
control new development to meet standards.
In 1990 LURC staff used section 319 funds to
inspect and evaluate the use of timber harvest-
ing BMPs in the Madawaska Lake watershed.
The town of Westmanland and the Aroostook
County government used MDEP's Small
Community Grant Program to help replace
failing septic systems at homes in lake shore
areas. In addition, MDEP successfully encour-
aged residents to adopt practices that reduce
erosion and sedimentation. Residents conduct-
ed a section 319-funded watershed survey in
2003 with the help of an Americorps Volunteer
working for MDEP.
Water clarity abruptly declined in 1987. From 1987 to 1992 the lake suffered
four nuisance algae blooms (SDT < 2.0 meters). Since 1993 water clarity has
improved, and the lake has been free of algae blooms for 14 of the past 15
years. (Note: no data were collected in 1979, 1984 and 1985.)
Figure 2. Big Madawaska Lake Minimum Secchi Disk Transparencies
(SDT) 1974 to 2007.
Results
Phosphorus loads to the lake have been steadi-
ly declining due to watershed improvements
such as the gradual reforestation of timber
harvest sites; reduced timber harvest and road
building activity, use of timber harvest BMPs
and better erosion control in developed shore-
land areas. Madawaska Lake now meets water
quality standards—it has a stable or improving
trophic state and has been free of culturally
induced algae blooms for more than 5 of the
past 10 years (Figure 2). Therefore, MDEP
removed Madawaska Lake from the state's
2006 303(d) list of impaired waters.
Partners and Funding
MDEP, Maine Forest Service, and LURC
provided services to help the large forestland
owner and homeowners understand and
comply with state land use laws and BMPs.
EPA provided funds under the Clean Lakes
($88,830) and section 319 programs for lake
diagnostic studies and MDEP and LURC staff
services. Westmanland and the Aroostook
County government worked with landown-
ers to replace failing septic systems. Central
Aroostook County Soil and Water Conservation
District completed land use surveys and pro-
vided technical assistance to landowners. In
addition, the Maine Volunteer Lakes Monitoring
Program has assisted MDEP in assessing the
lake's water quality since the mid-1970s.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-08-001Y
September 2008
For additional information contact:
Kathy Hoppe
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
207-760-3134 • kathy.m.hoppe@maine.gov
Norm Marcotte
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
207-287-7727 • norm.g.marcotte@maine.gov
------- |