BELGRADE REGIONAL CONSERVATION ALLIANCE INC
11 CHESTNUT STREET, HALLOWELL, ME 04347 www.7lakesalliance.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: 7 LAKES ALLIANCE CONSERVES THE LANDS AND WATERS OF THE BELGRADE LAKES REGION FOR ALL.

THE 7 LAKES ALLIANCE MILFOIL PROGRAM PROTECTS AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS AND THE PUBLIC ENJOYMENT OF THE LAKES IN THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED BY PREVENTING AND MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE PLACES BOTH PAID AND VOLUNTEER COURTESY BOAT INSPECTORS AT PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCHES TO CHECK FOR PLANT FRAGMENTS ON BOATS ENTERING AND LEAVING LAKES, AND EDUCATES BOATERS ABOUT THE THREAT POSED BY INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS. 7 LAKES ALLIANCE ALSO ORGANIZES INVASIVE PLANT PATROLS TO SEARCH FOR INVASIVE PLANTS THAT MAY BECOME ESTABLISHED IN AT-RISK AREAS. IN 2019, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE EMPLOYED 20 PART-TIME WORKERS AND 15 VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE 4,940 HOURS OF COVERAGE, AND INSPECTED 10,033 BOATS ON 5 PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS AND 1 PRIVATE LAUNCH THAT AFFECTS PUBLIC WATERS. IN 2010, VARIABLE MILFOIL WAS FOUND GROWING IN THE GREAT MEADOW STREAM THAT RUNS BETWEEN NORTH POND AND GREAT POND. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2019, 7 LAKES ALLIANCE WORKED TO MITIGATE THE VARIABLE MILFOIL INFESTATION AND PULLED APPROXIMATELY 33,435 GALLONS OF VARIABLE MILFOIL, WHILE EMPLOYING 7 SUMMER STAFF. NO NEW INFESTATIONS WERE FOUND THIS SUMMER, AND A COURTESY BOAT INSPECTOR KEPT AN INVASIVE MILFOIL PLANT OUT OF EAST POND.

THE 7 LAKES ALLIANCE YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE WATER QUALITY OF THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED FROM DEGRADATION DUE TO THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPED AREAS WITHIN THE WATERSHED. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS EMPLOYED 12 LOCAL STUDENTS TO COMPLETE EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS IN THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED, REDUCING THE INPUT OF SEDIMENT, PHOSPHORUS, AND OTHER POLLUTANTS INTO THE LAKES. TYPICAL PROJECTS INCLUDE SHORELINE RIPRAP, BARE SOIL STABILIZATION, BUFFER PLANTINGS, INFILTRATION STRUCTURES, RAIN GARDENS, AND RUNOFF DIVERSION. PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED PRIMARILY ON PRIVATELY-OWNED PROPERTY AROUND THE LAKES, AND HOMEOWNERS PAY FOR THE COST OF MATERIALS USED AND OVERHEAD. THE COST OF PLANNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND LABOR IS PAID FOR BY DONATIONS FROM AREA LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES, BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE DONORS. IN 2019, THE 7 LAKES ALLIANCE YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM COMPLETED 119 EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS IN THE BELGRADE LAKES WATERSHED, THE MOST IN ONE SEASON EVER.

THE 7 LAKES ALLIANCE WATERSHED PROGRAM CONDUCTS PROJECTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED, IN PART, BY THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND ADMINISTERED BY THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NONPOINT SOURCE (NPS) PROGRAM. PROJECTS INCLUDE PERFORMING WATERSHED SURVEYS, PRESENTING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ON WATER QUALITY, PREPARING WATERSHED BASED PLANS, AND DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) FOR GRAVEL ROADS AND OTHER LAND USE ACTIVITIES WHERE EROSION IS AN ISSUE. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND LOCAL TOWNS, THIS PROGRAM HAS ALREADY BROUGHT IN MORE THAN 1.14 MILLION OF FEDERAL GRANTS TO THE BELGRADE LAKES REGION TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY BY IMPROVING EROSION CONTROL ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ROADS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. THIS FEDERAL FUNDING HAS LEVERAGED ADDITIONAL LOCAL, TOWN, AND FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTIONS OF MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION FOR EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS.

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