The Boothbay Region Water District has released new reports on Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake. The first report is an update on Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake water quality from lake monitoring programs. The other three reports, a community buildout analysis and lake loading response models, were prepared by Forrest Bell Environmental (FBE) Associates under contract to the water district. These FBE reports are intended to assist the water district, the town of Boothbay and watershed property owners with developing strategies, including zoning ordinances, to protect these public water supplies.

The reports conclude that while both Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake currently meet standards for medium productive lakes, they are at the high end of the productivity scale and any further degradation in water quality would make the lakes more susceptible to algae blooms and necessitate more treatment to serve as public drinking water. Little Knickerbocker Lake appears already to be degraded, with no oxygen in much of the water column throughout the growing period, elevated chlorophyll-a levels (indicative of algae), poor water clarity and recycling of phosphorus from bottom sediments.

Buildout analyses and lake loading models indicate that under current ordinances complete development of the watershed will result in an unacceptable decline in water quality in both lakes, resulting in a situation where algae blooms would be expected, property values would drop, and water would become significantly more expensive to treat. Models also indicate that while conserving one-third of watershed  land would improve this water quality outcome, this amount of conservation would not be adequate to protect the lakes under full buildout.

The reports suggest that a coordinated approach to watershed land conservation, improved watershed zoning ordinances and remediation of non-point source pollution will be necessary to keep Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake healthy enough to support public water supply needs, as well as recreation and wildlife.

To view the reports click here or contact Sue Mello at 633-4723, ext. 111.