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The Board of Directors of the Trickey Pond Environmental
Association will meet at Camp Skylemar on June 20 at 9 AM.
This will be followed at 10 AM by our annual meeting to which
everyone concerned with Trickey Pond is invited. A highlight of
the meeting this year will be a video presentation and talk by
the Lakes Environmental Association, our partner in helping to
preserve our pristine pond. If you have ever wondered what
Camp Skylemar looks like from the inside, here is your chance to
find out. Come take this opportunity to ask questions and
express your concerns while joining us for coffee and donuts,
FINANCES
Last fall, we sent a fund raising appeal with our Fall Newsletter to everyone on the pond
who had not previously contributed in 2008. I am pleased to report that we received twenty four
contributions totaling $2,505 which were forwarded to the Trickey Pond Protection Fund at
LEA. This will be used to help pay for the Boat Inspectors at the State Boat Ramp Wash
Station. We have received another grant from the state but they only allowed us $1,300. This
year rather than the $2,000 that we requested. We are sending out a fund raising appeal at this
time to everyone except those who responded to the fall appeal. We need your support to help
protect Trickey Pond in its present condition so we can all enjoy it in the years to come.
I would like to point out that the total expenses of this association for 2008 consisted of
$84.00 to the Post Office and $35.00 to the State of Maine which were covered by donations
from Board Members. We also received in kind contributions from Camp Skylemar and Board
Members for postage, PO Box, printing, and stationery to produce the newsletter and fund
raising appeal.
Trickey Pond Environmental Protection Association Inc.
PO Box 417, Naples, ME 04055
Green Cotton Candy
The winter edition of the Water Column
published by VLMP, Auburn, Maine has an
interesting piece by Dick and Betsy Enright,
Naples residents who are volunteers on
Salmon Lake, about “Green Cotton Candy”
otherwise known as an algae cloud. (Please
note: this is not the same as an algae bloom
which is frequently associated with warm
water and sewage or other high nutrient
content.) Trickey Pond has quite a bit of these
clouds and it has been bothering me because I
mistakenly associated it with increased
phosphorous concentration. The bulk of the
article explains their effort to survey the extent
of, and the changing nature of the colonies in
Salmon Lake. However, the opening
paragraphs have an excellent description that I
quote: “Have you ever seen algae in the lake
that looks like clouds or clumps of “green
cotton candy”? In shallow shoreline waters, it
forms in balls or long tubes along the bottom,
or attached to pondweeds. Its color can vary
from light to bright green or have a tinge of
brown. If you try to pick it up, it slips right
through your fingers and disperses. This
filamentous algae beaks up easily with a strong
wind or rain event and can be gone the next
time you go back. It is called metaphyton, a
group of algae that are usually localized and
seem to bloom the most when summers are
especially dry and warm.”
“More and more people have been
noticing the growth in Maine lakes. We
understand it occurs in very pristine northern
waters as well, and is not necessarily an indication
of nutrient loading. However, the VLMP
Survey Project was developed to document the
frequency and concentration of metaphyton in
Maine lakes over a period of time.”
It might be worthwhile doing a survey on
Trickey Pond, but it is at least a two person job,
and the changing nature of the colonies requires
many hours of mapping and recording in a grid
pattern over time. Other than either limiting the
extent of the survey,or simply noting the
general location of clouds in my trips around
the pond perimeter. I probably will not do an
extensive survey. If anyone is interested in
doing so, please let me know.
Dick Meyer
COURTESY BOAT INSPECTIONS
ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN HELP PROTECT TRICKEY POND
Boat inspections are carried out throughout the summer at the public access on route 114.
TPEPA donations and grant funds provide for paid inspectors hired and supervised by LEA
during key times, but that leaves quite a bit of open time when a boat carrying something
non-native could enter the water. That's where volunteers come in.
Volunteers help educate boaters about invasive plants, show them how and where to check
their boats, and encourage them to carry out inspections and wash their boats every time they plan
to enter the water. It's a great way to enjoy a few outdoor hours and to meet others who love being
on the lake.
Training and materials are provided as well as a t-shirt identifying you as a courtesy boat
inspector. Volunteer time schedules are coordinated by Daphne Meyer who can also answer your
questions and sign you up to participate. Contact her at:
693-6488 or by email at [email protected].
She's looking forward to hearing from you.
Snapping Turtle
I once saw a huge snapping turtle crossing the road near the Camp Skylemar entrance, and
I have heard stories of their snatching baby ducks in Trickey Pond, but I had never seen an adult
in our waters. I know they are around because a few years ago, I found two newly hatched babies
making their way to the water through my yard while I was cleaning up in the fall (seems like a
strange time of year to hatch). I helped both into the water at which point they said thank you and
promptly went to the bottom. Since then I have always felt queasy whenever I extend my feet
into the dark soft plants and/or the leaves on the bottom in water that is just over my head. But
generally, I didn’t think about it too much until one night last summer when Daphne flipped on
the outside light and called out to me. There was a snapping turtle, a good 15 inches across,
flipping sand in the middle of the beach. It continued for a short time, but then it became aware
of us and lumbered down the steps and into the water.
The next day, examining the scene, we discovered the general trail it left by dragging its
body along, and at least three areas where the turtle had left marks. Doing a little more research,
Daphne found that turtles frequently scoop out more than one area into which to lay eggs. This
supposedly is in order to fool predators. With this information I am assuming this was a female
snapping turtle. I don’t know how close she was to laying eggs, but I also assume she was about
to lay them on my beach. I haven’t seen any sign of her since, but I don’t put my feet into dark
bottom areas any more either.
Dick Meyer
Loons and Beavers and Trees! Oh, My!
Because of concerns expressed about the loss of habitat suitable for loon nesting, this
association has formed a Loon Preservation Committee which is chaired by Kristin Penza. After
contacting Jane Crowley and receiving her permission, we have posted the eastern island with
no trespassing signs and loon warning signs. We also repaired and replaced the safety zone
sign which had been in the pond since the beavers cut down the tree to which it was attached.
This island has been used by the loons as a nesting site in the past and the presence of people on
the island can cause them to abandon their nest. In addition, it is important not to approach a
shoreline loon nest with a shallow draft canoe or kayak as this can cause an unsuspecting adult
to be startled off the nest. The committee also has obtained some loon informational literature
that it will make available..
Please note that Maine Law establishes a no wake safety zone within two hundred feet of
any shoreline. This safety zone not only protects swimmers and boaters but it also prevents
shoreline erosion. It prevents wakes from boats in the safety zone from flooding loon shoreline
nests and overwhelming small chicks.
When Dick Meyer and I were posting the island, we were shocked by the number of trees
that had been cut down by the beavers. It appears that about 20% of the trees are down and not
just small ones on the shoreline. The beavers, second largest rodents in the world, are reproducing and spreading around the pond with a large new lodge in front of the Gokey property. After
losing some small trees, I am going to fasten a circle of 4 foot high welded wire fencing around
the trees that I want to save in the hope it will discourage the beavers.
Larry Anton
WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
The Trickey Pond data summary that I receive from Maine VLMP for the year 2008 has
arrived and I am happy to report the basic analysis is “… the water quality of Trickey Pond is
considered to be excellent, based on measures of Secchi Disk Transparency(SDT), total phosphorus (TP), and Chlorophyll-a (Chla). The potential for nuisance algal blooms on Trickey
Pond is low.” Note: (the previous sentences are their words, the following are this writer’s
words) algal blooms are the result of high nutrient loading, and are much more severe than the
algal clouds often seen and written about elsewhere in this newsletter.
The phosphorus content is measured and presented in three different columns. Although
the Profile Grab sample shows a significant increase over the past 32 years, Scott Williams of
VLMP, Auburn, assures me that the more meaningful readings are the EPI Core samples which
have held steady at about 6 ppb. He also says “An even better indication of the conditions in the
pond is the concentration of chlorophyll-a (CHL), a pigment found in algae cells. The CHL
average For Trickey Pond is very low (good) at 1.6 ppb. This along with the excellent Secchi
transparency average (10.1 meters) certainly indicates very good water quality.”
Let’s keep Trickey Pond clean and clear. Remember - it is illegal in Maine to use a lawn
fertilizer with phosphorus unless soil tests have shown the need for it. Use detergents that do
not contain phosphorus. According to the manufacturer, Palmolive gel dish washer detergent is
now formulated to be phosphate free.
Dick Meyer
Lake Lingo
From the VLMP Water Column, Auburn, ME.
Plankton
Plankton are the small or microscopic plants and animals that float or drift in the open
water. Plankton communities are adapted to suspension, but movement through the water is
dependent on the wind and currents. Although individual organisms are very small, the plankton
constitute a significant percentage of the total biomass in most lakes and ponds.
(phyton is Greek for plant) are the portion of the plankton community
comprised of tiny plants, including the algae. Because they are able to use the energy of
the sun to metabolize through the process of photosynthesis, phytoplankton are the
‘primary producers of food and energy in lakes and ponds, upon which all higher life in a
body of water is dependent. There are many types of algae in most lakes, and dominant
species vary throughout the year, depending on water temperature, circulation, nutrient
concentrations, and sunlight.
Zooplankton are small or microscopic animals that float or drift in the water. Unlike
phytoplankton, the zooplankton are unable to produce their own food. They are therefore
‘consumers’ in lake ecosystems. Like phytoplankton, there are many types of zooplankton.
Among the most significant in lakes and ponds are the cladocerans, or ‘water fleas.’ These
filter feeding crustacean zooplankton graze on algae. Their size and abundance can
influence the concentration of algae in lake water.