FOSL GOALS and Mission:
To protect the health of Sebago Lake
by achieving the following:
1. To return to pre-1987 water level management of Sebago Lake which occurred
since 1832 and probably before. The uniform outflow law gave Sebago Lake
shorelines and water quality
stability which made Sebago Lake one of the most pristine lakes in North
America. FOSL wants to end the 40 percent reduction in outflows that now
occur in
the spring, summer and fall which are wreaking havoc on shorelines and
water clarity.
2. To promote lake management beneficial to water quality and the Sebago
Lake ecosystem in the long-term.
3. To restore migratory fish species native to the Presumpscot River-Sebago
Lake watershed.
4. To inform the public about the unfortunate tragedy which has befallen
Sebago Lake.
5. To be a watchdog organization over public agencies which have
jurisdiction over Sebago Lake.
Friends of Sebago Lake
SUCCESSES, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND EFFORTS
1992
FOSL scientific documentation and research directly helped state and
local agencies accurately report septic tank contributions of phosphorus
and added a focus of direct injection of phosporus from shoreline erosion
as a major source of phosphorus pollution.
FOSL documented on underwater video the proliferation of aquatic
macrophytes in the litoral zones of Sebago Lake. Also, FOSL began
accumulating a wealth of slides and pictures of shoreline erosion. These
were shown at DEP lake meetings.
FOSL iniates first beach profiling studies at Sebago Lake State Park.
FOSL informational meeting at St. Josephs college helps create an informed
public.
FOSL focus on eroding shorelines sparks $80,000 study by Maine Geological
Survey on shoreline profiles.
1993
FOSL rejects EBASCO Study which was based on information provided by S.D.
Warren in a private boat tour of Sebago Lake.
FOSL documentation shows progradation of beach materials during lower lake
level maintains shoreline equilibrium. FOSL publishes BASIN DAM WARS
which gives a detailed historical and legal history of the Eel Weir dam
and a history of Sebago Lake salmon.
FOSL research uncovered a vast amount of historical information about
Sebago Lake.
FOSL rejected S.D. Warren assertion that full pond is six inches of
spillage above the spillway at the Sebago Lake dam. S.D. Warren now begins
dumping water when levels approach full pond 266.65 MSL . Formerly, they
would dump water only when the level exceeded the spillway by six inches
267.15 .
1994
FOSL files a complaint to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission stating
that S.D. Warren violated it,s Eel Weir license by withholding outflows
to
the lake by 40 percent in the spring, summer and fall.
FOSL brought to the attention of all parties that S.D. Warren does not
have flowage rights on all properties around Sebago Lake and their
flowage easements are being overburdened by a change in water level
management.
FOSL begins Secchi disc co-operative testing of water clarity.
1995
FOSL complaint produces FERC requirement that an Environmental Impact
Statement be done to determine a lake level management plan for Sebago
Lake.
FOSL and Portland Water District research show returning to the historical
ranges of Sebago Lake is in the best interest of shoreline stability,
wetlands, and water quality.
1996
FOSL opposes state of Maines Compromise Plan drawn up during a private
high water advocates meeting in Augusta without the knowledge of FOSL or
PWD. A second meeting is arranged with FOSL and PWD present in the
govenor,s cabinet room. FOSL spends thousands of dollars to fight the
state plan.
FOSL produces a professional videotape showing the damaging results of
higher water levels and presents it to the govenor's cabinet.
FOSL agrees to a compromise plan which mandates that two in 9 years the
water level will drop to 261.0 MSL or lower sometime between November 1
and Jan.1. Also, water levels can not remain at full pond 266.65(spillway
height) for more than 3 weeks from May 1 to June 15. This plan recognizes
the dangers of full pond levels and that
progradation does restore beaches at lower levels.
FOSL ended S.D. Warren's sustained high water policy which if it had been
in effect during hurricane Bob or Lily , flood damage on the Presumpscot
River and around Sebago Lake would have been many times more severe.
1997
FOSL documents unprecedented erosion which occurred during November and
December of 1996. This documentation sparks news story in Portland Press
Herald about the ruin of the State Park beach.
FOSL files a complaint to DEP regarding S.D. Warren,s failure to adher to
the 1992 water level agreement which they had agreed to.
FOSL research links the high incidence of swimmers itch to the lake bottom
habitat made favorable for the proliferation of snails by higher water
level averages. This allows aquatic macrophytes and algae fueled by
phosphates in eroded sediments to proliferate. This provides food and
cover for millions of small snails which participate in the life cycle of
the Schistoma parasite Cercariae.
FOSL research suggests that the recent degraded changes in the littoral
zones of the lake have a negative effect on coldwater species of fish
like smelt and salmon.
FOSL documentation spearheaded the effort to inform the American
Historical Preservation Office[AHPO], a government watchdog agency, of
FERC's decision which ran counter to AHPO opinion. Recent AHPO
intervention with a programatic agreement requiring S.D. Warren to fund
studies documenting archaeological sites and the effects of higher water
levels on them is very significant. Not only do higher water levels
destabilize the lake but they certainly have already damaged ancient early
american archeological sites.
FOSL documents with underwater video the changes in the littoral areas of
the uninhabited lower bay. These areas are similar to other parts of the
lake. This suggests that the negative changes in the litoral zones and the
increased lake algae is a result of the recent massive shoreline erosion
which has been virtually ignored by all agencies governing Sebago Lake.
1998
FOSL research provided historical documentation to the Maine Sportsman magazine
calling for the removal of dams on the Presumpscot Rive and for a return
to a wild riverine sport fishing
river.
FOSL letter to PWD relates 100 percent correlation between sustained high
water
and clarity determined by Secchi disc data when data is compared
seasonally . FOSL diagrees with PWD on their analysis of using yearly
averages. This hides the true state of the lake in the warm months with
increased sunlight.
FOSL obtains slides taken for 1988 State Planning Office study of inland
beaches . The only 9 outstanding beaches in Maine,s organized townships
are located on Sebago Lake. The report recommended two of which one is
the spit beach at the state park be designated as critical areas. The
report notes the value of all the beaches to the economy of Maine.
FOSL finds the Edward Hands Corps of Army Engineers Great Lakes report on
beach erosion relating changes in the annual mean of water levels and
erosion and sedimentationof beaches and bluffs. This and other supporting
studies give powerful scientific explanations of why the loss of beaches
and erosion around Sebago Lake has occurred.
FOSL is only organization to ask DEP to fulfill "Compromise Agreement
by
holding annual streering committee meetings to discusss how plan is
affecting Sebago Lake. A meeting is being planned for this year.
FOSL organizes a legal remedy for the rights of property owners to halt
the continuing sedimentation of shorelines and damage to protective
structures and property.
Friends of Sebago Lake , PO Box 445, Casco, ME. 04015
tel. summer 642-3248; winter 207-655-5127
FOSL MEMBERSHIP
Please send $10 or more to Roger Wheeler P.O. Box 445 Casco, Maine 04015
tel. 207-655-5127 winter 207-642-5302 summer.
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