June 24, 2024 – 9:00 AM Alfiero’s Residence, 13 Fern Ave, Windham Me
This is the Pond Association Annual Meeting, not the West Side Road Association.
Paddle/Driving Directions:
By boat you may pull up to the dock or to the beach. Vehicle parking is available along fern Ave and at the top of the hill by the post office boxes.
Alfiero’s Residence waterside
This is the public notice mailed out to everyone on the CPIA mailing list and also posted in the Portland Press Herald regarding the public informational meeting to be held Monday May 22nd at 6pm in the Windham High School cafeteria regarding the next step in fighting milfoil in Collins Pond.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Environmental Assessment’s Invasive Aquatic Species Program (IASP), intends to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water Quality Management for herbicide treatment of Collins Pond (Windham, ME) to control the invasive aquatic plant hybrid variable-leaved water-milfoil ( Myriophyllum heterophyllum X laxum ).
The application is for a permit to discharge the aquatic herbicide Procellacor EC (active ingredient florpyrauxifen-benzyl) via subsurface injection through perforated hose from a surface watercraft into Collins Pond. Depending on the extent of invasive milfoil growth in 2023, the herbicide will be applied to all or a portion of the pond. The treatment will likely occur in June or July 2023. The treatment goal is to significantly diminish the hybrid variable-leaved water-milfoil in Collins Pond to reduce risk of spread and allow future management with non-chemical control methods. The treatment is part of a five-year management plan.
The IASP will hold an in-person public information meeting regarding this proposed herbicide treatment on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the Windham High School cafeteria ( 406 Gray Rd, Windham, ME).
Upon treatment, the IASP will post these advisories for the area treated: l ? Do not use lake water for hydroponic, greenhouse or nursery irrigation before contacting the IASP to confirm the herbicide has dissipated l ? Do not use lake water for any residential or non-agricultural irrigation (such as shoreline property use for irrigation of residential landscape plants and homeowner gardens, golf course irrigation, and non-residential property irrigation around business or industrial properties) for 3 days following treatment. l ?
There is no swimming restriction for florpyrauxifen-benzyl but the IASP advises residents not to swim within treated areas on the day of treatment as an added safety measure. The NOI will be submitted around May 24, 2023 and will be available via email along with dates of NOI submission, NOI approval and herbicide treatment.
More information is available from the DEP IASP Coordinator, Maine DEP, State House Station 17, Augusta, ME 04333 ( milfoil@maine.gov ; 207-215-9863).
https://mainenotices.com?activeNotice=dcf6e53cbe34b19535b18cbdef9ea202
Notice from Collins Pond West Side Road Association:
Windham has a parking ban policy for ALL roads that the town plows. This includes CPWSRA roads.
On narrow dead-end roads, plow trucks will use properties at the ends of the road to turn around. If you park straight in on a dead-end, then the town plow will block you in.
The Town or the Road Association is not responsible to remove snow or sand piles off your property or for snow markers that were placed in the roadway.
Town of Windham announces parking bans on radio, TV and other various social media apps.
For this entire month of November 2022
Collins Pond Improvement Association will receive $1 from every specially marked Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet sold at: Hannaford, 797 Roosevelt Trail, Windham Mall, No. Windham ME
The Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, which launched in August 2021, is an easy way for shoppers to give back. Every Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker sold supports a nonprofit organization local to the Hannaford in which it was purchased.
Collins Ponds Improvement Asso. was selected as the November beneficiary by local store leadership at the
Hannaford located at Windham ME. CPIA will receive a $1 donation for every Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker purchased at this Hannaford location in November.
Flowers can make someone’s day, brighten a room or spread a smile.
Now they can give back to our local communities, too. Purchase a
Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet at Windham Maine Hannaford in November to help our organization support our mission!
The link below is for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection web site. Each season we see an increase in algae in our lake that sometime appear similar to balls of cotton candy or just very small, suspended particles. This article reviews the concerns about cyanobacteria (formerly known as blue-green algae). Our Volunteer Lake Monitor, Steve Triggs, periodically measures the clarity of the lake water using a Secchi Disk. As algae concentrations increase, the clarity decreases and the Secchi Disk reading decreases. The article talks about performing a “jar test” to help determine if the algae concentration is of concern. I tried this recently and found the water to be clear, but you might want to try it yourself.
Cyanobacteria, aka blue-green algae, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Recently we again have seen a large amount of grass floating on the surface of the lake and washing ashore in large clumps. We also saw this several years ago and it is unrelated to the milfoil removal done in early July. You may gather and compost the grass, if it is a problem on your shoreline, the same as you would collect the milfoil that may float ashore.
Recent web-entered water clarity (Secchi) readings for Collins Pond
| Date (Newest first) | Station | Secchi Depth [m] | Remarks | Volunteer | ||||
| 08/03/2022 | 1 | 2.60 | Steve Triggs | |||||
| 09/20/2021 | 1 | 5.40 | Steve Triggs | |||||
| 08/04/2021 | 1 | 5.15 | Bright & Cloudy – Depth at Station 1 = 5.6m | Steve Triggs | ||||
| 07/22/2021 | 1 | 4.75 | Steve Triggs | |||||
| 09/27/2020 | 1 | 2.65 | Steve Triggs | |||||
| 08/31/2020 | 1 | 2.35 | Bright and Sunny | Steve Triggs | ||||
| 08/08/2020 | 1 | 4.20 | Cloudy skies | Steve Triggs | ||||
| 07/12/2020 | 1 | 3.84 | Bright, but breezy conditions | Steve Triggs | ||||
| 06/28/2020 | 1 | 5.12 | 1128 – Partly Cloudy | Steve Triggs | ||||
| 06/21/2020 | 1 | 5.40 | Steve Triggs | |||||
| 09/21/2019 | 1 | 5.25 | Steve Triggs | |||||
| 08/28/2019 | 1 | 4.60 | Steve Triggs | |||||
| 08/03/2019 | 1 | 4.40 | scg entered | Steve Triggs | ||||
Collins Pond Improvement Association To Benefit!
You can help our mission to protect & conserve the natural resources of Collins Pond and its shorelines, water quality & watershed by spreading the word!
The Hannaford Community Bag Program is designed to give back to the local community with every reusable bag purchased. Every $2.50 reusable Community Bag sold supports a non-profit local to the store in which it was purchased. This program offers a way for shoppers to give back as part of the regular weekly routine.
Every month, at every Hannaford location a different local non-profit is selected to benefit from the sale of these special reusable Community Bags. Collins Pond Improvement Association was selected as the August beneficiary by local store leadership at the store located at Windham. CPIA will receive a $1 donation for every $2.50 reusable Community Bag purchased at this location in August.
For more information about the Hannaford Community Bag Program, please visit hannaford.bags4mycause.com.
We will have a DASH boat working on the lake for the next four weeks, June 13th through July 7th. This will be the 9th year that we have hired the crew from New England Milfoil to assist us in our project to control the infestation of hybrid variable leaf Milfoil. This is a non-native invasive plant that will crowd out the native plants and eventually make the lake unusable for swimming, boating and fishing. It is most obvious in the northern end of the lake where the water is shallow, but if you swim in the lower sections of the lake you may notice that your feet will get tangled up in the plants.
While the crew is working we ask you not to approach the boat too closely as a diver will be under the water. They will have a dive flag out as a warning. We do encourage anyone who wants to spend a little time skimming up any plants that get away from crew to come and help, though. You can use a kayak or canoe to pick up plants floating on the surface away from the DASH boat. Put them in a small container or basket and bring them to the DASH boat once the diver is out of the water. The crew will add them to their haul.
Additionally, we have decided to retire our own DASH boat as of this summer due to various reasons so you will not see our volunteer crews on the lake except to help New England Milfoil.
Published by: Portland Water
https://www.pwd.org/sites/default/files/lakes-llike-less-lawn.pdf
Why Do Lakes Like Less Lawn?
Whether you have lakefront property or live many feet from the lake, you can help protect lake
water quality by reducing your lawn and making your property more beautiful and more valuable
at the same time. The goal of this publication is to show you how!
When it rains, most of the water runs off smooth surfaces, such as lawns, instead of soaking in.
And shallow grass root systems do little to prevent soil erosion. This means fertilizers and pesticides
applied to lawns end up in the lake where they feed algae and degrade water quality. Eroded soil also
feeds algae and too much algae in a lake can make the water murky and green. Studies have shown
that property values are lower on lakes with less clear water. Too much algae in a lake also lowers
oxygen levels in the water which can threaten cold water fish species, other wildlife, and a healthy
lake habitat.
By planting a variety of trees, shrubs, ground covers, and flowering perennials you can protect
the lake. All of these have deeper root systems that hold soil in place, absorb more runoff, and filter
out more pollutants than grass. Native plant species are the best to use because they are adapted to
local conditions. This means they require little maintenance once established, so you’ll have more
time to relax and enjoy the lake. Plus, they provide important habitat and food for birds, butterflies,
and other wildlife. (link above to full article)
Collins Pond West Side Road Association Meeting, June 11, 2022 Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham, ME Agendas and proxies have been emailed or mailed to members. Important: Town of Windham is requiring residents of all private roads by a 2/3 vote to continue winter maintenance. A directed proxy of approval was included in the mailing. You are encouraged to attend but if unable to would you please return a signed proxy to an officer or board member. In addition, we are soliciting for the open position of Secretary/Clerk. If the position remains unfilled it will be necessary to contract the position thus decreasing the amount available for road improvements.
Collins Pond Improvement Association Annual Meeting June 25, 2022, 9:00am at Sherry Andre’s Residence, 5 Wedgewood Drive, Windham ME. Directions: off of 115, turn onto Running Brook Road; follow up and around end of Collins Pond. Take right at top of hill onto Collinwood Circle. Go to to end of road. Wedgewood Drive is on right- go straight down and it is the red/brown house, #5 on right at bottom of road. Paddle Directions: dark red/brown house with lots of windows with all white railings on the eastern side of the pond – straight across from Emerson/Fern beach and to the left of the little cove
Agenda
The following is from the Town of Windham’s web site. The Town Council also sent a mailing that arrived in my box today that is addressed to all Town residents. Between the mailing and the various public meetings you should have enough information to make a decision for the referendum vote on June 14, 2022. You can also vote by absentee ballot so make your voice heard.
Please join us to learn more about the June 14, 2022 Referendum vote on the North Windham Sewer Project.
Join us at a PUBLIC MEETING, on May 19, 2022, at the Windham High School Auditorium, to learn more about the June 14, 2022 Referendum question regarding the North Windham Sewer Project.
Why is the Town in partnership with the Portland Water District proposing this solution? Where will the proposed system be installed? How will wastewater be treated and phosphorus and nitrogen reduced? What is the project cost and what funding resources has the Town been awarded?
We hope you can join us to learn more.