Knickerbocker Lake Association is looking to bring a conversation about clean drinking water to the community. The association was formed nearly three decades ago by summer and year round lake residents regarding common interests. Over the past decade, lakeside development has emerged as a top concern, and during the annual meeting on July 30, three presentations will focus on efforts protecting Knickerbocker Lake and Adams Pond, which serve as the region’s drinking water sources. 

The annual meeting begins with a Boothbay Region Water District report detailing the two water sources’ production. Adams Pond serves as the region’s main drinking water source producing 184 million gallons per year. Knickerbocker Lake is the secondary source. The lake began serving as a drinking water source in 2006 and is typically used 6-7 weeks per year producing 50 million gallons per year. The district will also report about its work on watershed conservation and commitment to providing safe drinking water. 

The meeting also includes a film documentary detailing the critical nature of protecting local drinking water sources. The association invited aquatic biologist Matt Scott and Maine Lakeside Society’s LakeSmart program director Maggie Shannon as guest speakers. Scott has researched Knickerbocker Lake and Adams Pond and will discuss his findings. Shannon will speak about self-monitoring and best practices for lake preservation. 

BRWD isn’t just the guardian of the local water supply, it is a corporate KLA member. The district joined KLA in 2006, and in recent years. the two have worked closely on the mutual goal of enhanced environmental lake and pond protection. This year’s meeting includes Adams Pond information as the KLA believes protection of the two are intertwined. Unlike at Knickerbocker Lake, there is no boating or swimming in Adams Pond. Knickerbocker Lake is used for recreation, but increased development has association members and BRWD concerned about lake preservation.

“The vital importance of accessible fresh water in a salt water region experiencing growth and development is a tremendous challenge. We feel strongly the health and well-being of our lakes is a community wide concern, and invite everybody concerned to attend the meeting. Failure to be proactive could cost our towns millions from emergency treatment, ” KLA Board President Paula Arsenault said. 

Arsenault and her husband, Bill, have lived on Knickerbocker Lake for 40 years. The couple became association members over seven years ago due to growing concerns over increasing lake development. Last year, Paula Arsenault became the association’s president. KLA began in the early 1990s, with a small group of seasonal and year round residents. The association has 10-20 members. The Arsenaults and several other residents began taking a more active role in association matters due to concerns about over-development around the lake. 

“The Botanical Gardens expansion created red flags for a lot of people. Our organization had a couple of presidents who were seasonal residents, and the thinking was there was a need for someone who was a year round resident to step up, so I did,” Paula Arsenault said. 

The meeting runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Harbor Theatre in Boothbay Harbor.