Abstract |
The objectives of this project were twofold: First, a comprehensive land use inventory was undertaken to assist the Maine DEP in developing a Phosphorus Control Action Plan (PCAP) and a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report for the Mousam Lake watershed. Simply stated, a TMDL is the total amount of phosphorus that a lake can receive without harming water quality. The Maine DEP, with the assistance of the MACD Project Team and the York County Soil and Water Conservation District, will address and incorporate all public comments before final submission to the US EPA, New England regional offices. Secondly, watershed survey work, including a shoreline and septic survey evaluation, was conducted by the MACD project team to help identify the need for total phosphorus reduction techniques that would be beneficial for the Mousam Lake watershed (inclusive of both upper and lower basins). Watershed survey work included assessing direct drainage nonpoint source (NPS) pollution sites that were not identified during the Mousam Lake Watershed Nonpoint Source Pollution Survey conducted in 1997. The results of this assessment includes recommendations for future conservation work in the watershed to help citizens, organizations, and agencies restore and protect Mousam Lake. |