Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is one of the biggest enemies to our lake.

As water runs downhill, it picks up small rocks and soil and carries them into the lake. The soil naturally contains phosphorus, which feeds algae. Phosphorus occurs naturally in soil and is also found in most fertilizer, whether chemical or organic. When phosphorus levels are high enough, they can lead to algal blooms, which in turn deplete available oxygen in the water. This results in decreased populations of fish and other forms of aquatic life.

What ALIC Is Doing

ALIC is working to mitigate the effects of erosion. ALIC’s LakeSmart program provides lake residents with an assessment of erosion problems on their properties and ways to address them.

In 2022, ALIC volunteers participated in a survey of the Androscoggin Lake watershed led by 30 Mile River Watershed Association. The survey aimed to protect and improve the lake’s water quality by identifying sources of soil erosion and polluted runoff that pose risks to water quality. The final report summarizes the survey results and proposes a set of next steps.

What You Can Do
  • Review the actions individual homeowners can take to curb erosion, listed in the watershed survey final report.
  • Contact us to request a LakeSmart visit to help identify runoff areas (and possible solutions) for your property.
  • Spot and manage erosion on your property. Look for exposed roots, gullies, undercut banks or accumulated sediment. Address the problems you find by:
    • Stabilizing the soil (holding it in place).
    • Capturing runoff and letting it sink into the ground (“infiltration”).
    • Diverting or redirecting the flow to a vegetated area where water can better infiltrate the soil.
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