Abstract |
A land use assessment was conducted for the Sewall Pond watershed to determine potential sources of phosphorus that may run off from land areas during storm events and springtime snow melt. This assessment utilized many resources, including generating and interpreting maps, inspecting aerial photos and conducting field surveys. 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 Sewall Pond watershed. Simply stated, a TMDL is the total amount of phosphorus that a lake can receive without harming water quality. Maine DEP, with assistance from the MACD, will fully address and incorporate public comments before final submission to the US EPA. Secondly, watershed assessment work, including a shoreline survey was conducted by the Maine DEP-MACD project team to help assess total phosphorus reduction techniques that would be beneficial for the Sewall Pond watershed. The results of this assessment include recommendations for future conservation work in the watershed to help citizens, organizations, and agencies restore and protect Sewall Pond. |