Please share with lake associations and other organizations or groups who may benefit from a workshop on how to form a road association. (Note New deadline to respond of June 28th) Thank you.
Need Help fixing your private gravel road?
Most private gravel roads need repair every spring. Owners/users need to bring in loads of gravel to replace what washed away over the winter and during spring rains. Where does that gravel go? Some folks think it stays in the ditches but it washes out of those as well, straight to the nearest brook, stream and lake.
According to Wendy Garland with DEP, “Year after year MDEP assists local associations with watershed surveys documenting pollution sites in lake watersheds, and year after year the biggest, most common problems are related to roads. If we are going to improve or protect the water quality of our lakes, we need to address erosion issues from our roads.”
Some of the most challenging roads to fix are those that are privately owned with or without a road association. “The ones without a road association can be particularly problematic as they don’t have a formal organization to help raise funds to get the needed work done”, adds Kristin Feindel, also of the DEP. This is where the Guide to Forming Road Associations can help.
While both Garland and Feindel say it is not hard to form a road association, they admit it takes time and commitment. To make the job easier, DEP, with the help of the local Soil & Water Conservation Districts, will beoffering workshops introducing the Guide at various locations around the state. To determine the workshop locations DEP is asking interested residents of private roads to contact Sue Miles at MDEP, 207-764-0477 orsue.miles@Maine.gov and provide basic information. As Garland explains “We will look to hold the workshops where there is strong interest and schedule the workshops to maximize the number of roads we can assist.” DEP will compile a list of interested roads up until June 28th, 2010 and will schedule the workshops for July and August. Workshop locations will be posted on www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/training/index.htm
The Guide and appendices can be found on DEP’s web site. Look for the link to Camp Roads at www.MaineDEP.com.
The single largest pollutant to Maine lakes is soil and the greatest source is private unpaved roads. Is your road one of them? Learn what you can do to ensure your road isn’t harming your lake visit www.MaineDEP.com.
Kathy Hoppe
Division of Watershed Management
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
1235 Central Drive
Presque Isle, ME 04769
207-760-3134
207-760-3143
Clean Water Starts With You!
