SPRING/SUMMER 2024
Hello, Harriman Pond neighbors!
We are excited that summer at the pond is just around the corner! We are taking a step forward and registering the name of our group as the Harriman Pond Lake Association. Keep reading for more details on the name and what this means. We are really looking forward to this new moniker, which will help us better protect the lake, work together, and share news!
Upcoming Events:
- We are starting to plan for another gathering of Harriman Pond neighbors, so mark your calendars for August 4! Details to follow. If you would like to help plan the gathering, please get in touch.
- There will be another buffer planting workshop from 1-2pm on July 27th at 297 Phillips Drive, Ellsworth. At the workshop, you can learn about ideal plants for the shoreline and see a buffer along Branch Lake. See the insert for contact information.
Contact us at: HarrimanPond@gmail.com
Web site: https://harrimanpond.org/
Matching Funds Available until October 2024!
If you had water management problems in this year’s big storms, read on!
Because Harriman Pond was part of the Branch Lake Watershed survey, there are funds available through the state “319 Grant” for shorefront landowners to implement erosion control projects, such as:
- Planting (perennials, shrubs, trees) in the buffer – the area along the shore Gravel drainage under
- roof drip edges
- Improving stairs and paths to better drain water
- Driveway improvements
Contact Jeff Norment to find out more:
jnorment@hancockcountyswcd.org
Loon update!
The loons are back! A pair have been spotted consistently starting in April, shortly after ice out. The loon raft – a structure designed and built by Maine Audubon along with our long-time loon count observer, Cathy, is being deployed again this year (see photo below). This year it will be closer to the southeast area of the pond, so it can be better deployed and removed. The platform provides a secure place for nesting and chick rearing.
Dedham has a Fireworks Ordinance, as of June 2023.
Why are we mentioning it here? Loud noises can disrupt loon nesting and chick rearing. The ordinance reads,
“The use of consumer fireworks within the Town of Dedham is permitted between the hours of 12:00PM and 10:30PM local time on July 3 and July 4 of each year.” And as always, please don’t approach or disturb the loons and any of their chicks.
Photo courtesy of C. Anderson.
Pond or Lake: What’s in a name?
Is Harriman Pond a pond or a lake? There’s no formal
definition of ponds and lakes. In fact, what we might think of as large “lakes” (greater than 10 acres) in Maine fall under the “Great Pond Act” – which seems counterintuitive! Recently, a group of scientists used information from around the world to classify lakes versus ponds.* By their system, Harriman would be called a small lake, because it is very deep and does not have a lot of emergent plants (like a wetland does) but has a small surface area.
While having “pond” and “lake” in our name seems redundant, the name “Harriman Pond Association” was taken by an LLC and lake groups like us are often referred to collectively as Lake Associations (see:
www.lakes.me/lake-associations), so we are moving forward with it. Having a more formal lake association will help us become a non-profit so we can have meetings, raise dues, and have events. Up to now, a few individuals have been donating to cover costs like this
newsletter and the non-profit registration fee. As we move to this next phase. we welcome your participation! Contact info can be found above.
*Richardson et al. 2022, https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159 8-022-14569-0