About Androscoggin Lake
Beautiful Androscoggin Lake, a 4000 acre lake in Wayne and Leeds, is an unusual wildlife habitat for several endangered species; an abundant and popular fishery; a home for rare plant communities; and an important recreational resource in Central Maine. Our lake is under attack both from poor water quality and from invasive plants.
About ALIC
The Androscoggin Lake Association incorporated in 1980 with the name Androscoggin Lake Improvement Corporation (ALIC). The organization is proud to be recognized as a strong environmental advocacy group and innovative lake association. The mission of the lake association is to preserve and protect Androscoggin Lake.
Our lake association is closely affiliated with the 30 Mile River Watershed Association, the Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM), and Maine Lakes. A portion of all membership donations go to support these three organizations each year.
A large portion of the lake association's regular annual budget supports the many efforts of 30 Mile to help protect our lake. This includes Courtesy Boat Inspections, Lake Smart, Eyes on the Water, and the Water Quality Monitoring programs. ALIC relies upon continued membership revenue to support these programs, as well as our many volunteers, annual newsletter, web site, annual meeting, and other educational outreach programs to the community. We urge members to also contribute directly to 30 Mile to help support all of their valuable work in our watershed.
In response to the current crisis conditions facing our lake, ALIC formed a special collaboration with 30 Mile to target both the variable leaf milfoil infestation and the water quality issues which led up to the alarming algal blooms on Androscoggin Lake. The lake needs our help more than ever.
Algal Bloom
Androscoggin Lake has experienced serious algal blooms over the last few years. A lake-wide algal bloom is recognized by the state when water clarity drops below 2m. When a bloom begins to occur, ALIC alerts lake residents by e-mail to the condition and to possible harmful effects, especially near shorelines where green scum has formed.
Invasive Milfoil
Androscoggin Lake suffers from an invasion of variable-leaf water milfoil in the Inner Cove. The infestation was first discovered by a volunteer member of our invasive plant patrol team, Eyes on the Water, in the late fall of 2020. With the help of 30 Mile, Lake Stewards of Maine, and the Maine DEP, we immediately sprang into action to both identify the extent of the infestation and to begin removal of invasive plants. Since the summer of 2021, 30 Mile has continued to orchestrate regular efforts for tagging and removing the invasive in the Inner Cove. The ALIC Eyes on the Water volunteer team works diligently to help ensure that the infestation does not spread to other parts of the lake.
