Abstract |
The objectives of this project were twofold: first, a comprehensive land use inventory was undertaken to assist Maine DEP in developing a Phosphorus Control Action Plan (PCAP) and a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report for the Highland Lake watershed. Simply stated, a TMDL is the total amount of phosphorus that a lake can receive without harming water quality. Maine DEP, with the assistance of the MACD Project Team, will address and incorporate public comments before final submission to the US EPA. Secondly, watershed survey work, including a shoreline survey, was conducted by the Maine DEP-MACD-LEA project team to help assess total phosphorus reduction techniques that would be beneficial for the Highland Lake watershed. Watershed survey work included assessing many direct drainage nonpoint source (NPS) pollution sites that were not identified during the Highland Lake Watershed Project (1998-2000). This project involved identifying NPS pollution sites though computer modeling and field surveys during storm events. BMPs were then designed and implemented to help mitigate phosphorus and sediment loading to Highland Lake on the identified priority sites. The watershed project report also includes model phosphorus ordinances, recommendations for continued monitoring, and phosphorus load reduction calculations. |