Author Archives: Jon Samuelson

RTE 153 VEGETATIVE BUFFER PART 1 A HUGE SUCCESS

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On Tuesday, August 12, 2025 a team of volunteers arrived at the beach area along Rte 153 in New Hampshire. There were 18 volunteers including 5 team members of our PLA partners the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance. The task at hand on the day was to plant 120 plants (a combination of sweet fern, huckleberry and juniper), and spread 40 yards of erosion control mulch along 300 feet of the guardrail at the beach. It was a warm day, but that didn’t stop the team of volunteers. We got going at about 8:15 and we finished up at about 12:30. We did have some equipment help with a power auger to dig some of the holes and two tractors to bucket the mulch from across Rte 153 to the guard rail and then dump it for folks to spread it manually around the plants. We now have the task to keep them watered, which is not that bad of a task as there is lots of water in the lake.

This is phase one and we will be doing the exact same amount of planting and spreading next year as we complete the project that was funded by a grant from the NH DES cyanobacteria mitigation fund. Keep your eyes open for volunteer opportunities next year.

A big thank you to all the volunteers, including the AWWA Youth Conservation Corps, and of course NH DES for approving the funding of the project.

Here are some pictures from the day.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BEACH PLANTING

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Hi All,
See attached flyer.  The PLA is looking for volunteers to help install a vegetative buffer along the guardrail on Rte 153.

f you have already emailed us that you will volunteer, if it’s not too much, we request that you please submit the google form. 

Below is the link to sign up using the google form.  Anyone with this link can access this form.  

https://forms.gle/jDpQDhsg5RiyDwuq5

If you have any questions, please reach out to Marcia.
Thank you for your support!

The PLA

TRIBUTARY SEDIMENT CONTROL RFQ

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The PLA has issued a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for Qualified Environmental Professionals to submit applications to us for the design of sediment control options for our major tributaries.  This is just another step to help reduce the amount of nutrients entering the lake and hopefully reduce the occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms.

You can read more at this link from NH DES https://www4.des.state.nh.us/blogs/watershed/?p=5420

Also, the actual RFQ package/instructions is HERE

2025 ANNUAL MEETING PRE-READ MATERIAL AVAILABLE

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The annual meeting on July 26th, at 9:00am at Edge Lake Farm (Province Lake Golf Course).

A virtual option is provided below if you are unable to attend in person.

Our guest speaker this year is James Shimansky, Program Coordinator for the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA). James will be speaking on the recently conducted Watershed Survey as well as our upcoming Septic Survey.

Attached, please find (.pdf) a copy of the meeting packet, which includes the agenda, information about the purpose and roles within the PLA, and bios for our Board of Director members that are up for re-election and those being newly elected. 

Physical copies of the packet will also be made available at the meeting.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

When: 
July 26th, 9:00am-12:00pm

In-Person Location: 
Parsonsfield, ME 04047
Edge Lake Farm (Province Lake Golf Course)
1804 Province Lake Road

Annual Meeting Pre-Read Doc

LOON RAFT PLACED MAY 3, 2025

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Hi All,

So you all are aware, the loon raft was put out on Saturday May 3 over in the Hobbs Brook area as normal.  A big thanks to Steve Craig for maintaining the raft over the winter and getting it ready to put out this spring. Also a big thanks to Jim Aiken and David Luce for getting the raft situated in the lake.  Please stay away from the nest while the loons decide if they want to nest there or not. 

The Loon’s have also been seen checking things out around the island.  As you may recall, the Loons nested on the island in 2023 and had a baby as well as an abandoned egg.  Should they nest there again, we will come out with some more warnings etc..   

The PLA 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – WATERSHED SURVEY APRIL 26, 2025

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Hello PLA Community,

As you may or may not know, the PLA had a watershed management plan completed back in 2014.  Included in that was what is called a watershed survey, which entails walking the watershed and identifying areas where erosion and nutrient/pollution loading is occurring. 

We will be updating this watershed survey on April 26, 2025 and desperately need volunteers to help.  Since erosion is one of the primary contributors to the excess phosphorus in the lake, which in turn causes cyanobacteria blooms, this is a great opportunity for those who want to do something to help to get involved!

See flyer for more information. PLEASE NOTE … the flyer below indicates an all day event. It will be no more than 8 hours and some folks will be done sooner.

Further information will be emailed as the event gets closer including the virtual meeting link, meet up location, etc

If you have any questions, prior to signing up, please reach out and ask.

Sign up using google form: https://forms.gle/KQJnhEbGqh7Wvbu47

While the Google Form is the preferred method, feel free to contact Marcia directly (see flyer) and sign up with her if that’s easier.

Thank you for your support in helping Province Lake!

The PLA

RESEARCH BUOY PLACED IN THE LAKE

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Hello Province Lake Community,

We are sending you a quick note to inform you that NH DES has put a Research Buoy on the lake near the deep spot over toward the golf course.  The picture below shows what it looks like.  The purpose of the buoy is to gather temperature and oxygen levels at various depths of the lake to see if the lake ever truly stratifies and if so whether the oxygen level gets depleted at the deepest area.  This will give us more information on whether phosphorus coming from the sediment at the bottom is a larger contributor to the phosphorus in the lake than we have previously thought.

There is a light on the buoy as well, so if you happen to be out at night, you will see it.  Please stay away from it and tell your friends and neighbors to do the same.  It is going to remain in the lake until fall of 2025, so basically a full year from now.

Again, please help us by not going near it and help spread the word.

Regards,

The PLA