Worromontogus Lake Association

Good news for our loons.

Calling all Maine fishing tackle retailers: Maine Audubon is offering to buy back your store’s lead tackle to help get it off the shelves—and keep it out of lakes.

As of September 1, 2024, the sale of painted lead jigs weighing one ounce or less or measuring less than 2.5 inches long is prohibited, and the use of these jigs will be prohibited starting September 2026. The state already prohibits the sale and use of bare (unpainted) lead jigs and sinkers containing any amount of lead in this small size.

Lead tackle is one of the leading causes of death for adult Common Loons. If we can reduce lead tackle currently being used by anglers in lakes it could help to increase loon survival and allow loon populations to thrive.

Maine Audubon and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are working to reduce small-sized lead tackle at its source and compensate retailers for their lost investments. Yes, we're offering to buy back tackle! To participate, contact Maine Audubon Wildlife Biologist Laura Williams (email: [email protected] or call: 207-781-2330 ext 235). Retailers can set up an appointment for Laura to come to their store, inventory the painted lead jig tackle selection, and reimburse retailers for the wholesale value plus a small markup to help offset costs.

This project is funded by Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund with support from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

Oktoberfest and WLA Fall Business Meeting! This will be an important meeting that you don't want to miss! We'll have Restoration Project and water quality updates. Just a few of the items we'll be discussing:

This is the last episode in Maine Public radio's series on the effects of climate change on Maine's lakes. Great information! Take a few moments to listen to each of them.

Climate driven storms add runoff to Maine lakes, degrading water quality Soil runoff from intense rainstorms can degrade water quality and trigger algal blooms.

This is the 3rd part in Maine Public radio's series on the effects of climate change on Maine's lakes. This one focuses on invasive plants.

Maine's warming lakes incubate damaging invasive plants Species such as variable leaf milfoil are growing faster and stronger as freshwater temperatures tick up.

Here's the 2nd installment in this four part series about Maine's lakes on Maine Public Radio. A lot of good information on algal blooms!

As lakes warm, pollution threats grow deep below the surface Seasonal water layers are lasting longer, helping feed algal blooms from nutrients buried in lake beds.

MPBN (Maine Public) is running a four part series this week about the effects the warming climate is having on Maine's lakes.
They mentioned Togus Pond in the first episode. Thank you Peter McGuire for bringing this important issue to the public!

Climate change is overheating Maine's pristine lakes Maine is home to almost 6,000 lakes and ponds, with some of the cleanest, clearest water in the country. But many are under threat from climate change.

There has been a change in the Fall Togus Social! Andrea and Sven Harmsen will be guest hosting an Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 5th! This will replace our September 21st social previously scheduled.
Sounds like a fun time! Hope lots of folks come and support this event. Thank you Andrea for stepping up and hosting!
RSVP to Andrea at [email protected] by September 15th.
Hope to see you on the 5th.
Festivities will begin at noon at the Hayes Road Boat Landing.

Kezar Lake Watershed Association gives a great overview of Maine's New Wake Boat Laws!

New Wake Boat Laws

Beginning on August 9, 2024, a new law goes into place that prohibits the operation of a motorboat engaged in a wakesurfing activity in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline.

Wakesurfing activity: is defined as an activity that involves using a surfboard, wakeboard, or similar device while being propelled by a motorboat’s wake or while on or in a motorboat’s wake directly behind that motorboat.

Watercraft dealers who sell a motorboat in Maine must provide the purchaser of that motorboat with information related to the boater safety and education courses offered by the department as well as information related to those operators who are required to complete those courses.

Boater Safety and Education: Participating in a recreational boating safety education course will teach you how to safely operate and maintain a boat and introduce you to Maine boating laws and resources. A person born on or after January 1, 1999, may not operate a motorboat greater than twenty-five (25) horsepower for recreational boating purposes on inland waters of this State or territorial waters, unless that person is 12 years of age or older and has completed a boater safety and education course. These persons must possess and present a boater safety and education course certificate for inspection upon request to a law enforcement officer. Exceptions: Registered Maine Guides (hunting, fishing, and recreational guides only), commercial fishermen, daily boat renters, and merchant mariners.

A person born after January 1, 1999 is also required to complete a boater safety and education course and be at least 16 years of age to operate a personal watercraft (such as a jet ski) on inland waters and territorial waters of the State or to supervise a person under 12 years of age who is operating a motorboat.

https://www.maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/educational-programs/safety-courses/boating-safety.html

Great to see everyone at the WLA picnic yesterday. Many thanks to the Social Committee for organizing the event and to all who contributed the delicious food to the picnic! We had a nice lunch followed by a short WLA meeting. Dale Finseth from Kennebec Soil and Water also joined us to give an update on the 319 Grant WLA received that will help many of the runoff issues on the lake.

We hope you'll join us for the WLA Summer Picnic on Saturday, August 17th at the Hayes Road Boat Landing beginning at 11:00! Always a great time and a fun way to connect with neighbors.

The invitation is open to members and everyone on Upper and Lower Togus. WLA will provide hotdogs, burgers, buns, condiments, plates, napkins and eating utensils. Folks are encouraged to bring their favorite side dishes, desserts, and a chair.

It is all fun with a little business and a few lake updates. Please RSVP today so we can get a good count for food. RSVP to [email protected]

A big thank you to Hannaford and to everyone who purchased bags last month to help Togus Pond! Cony Street Hannaford selected WLA as the charity of the month for the Community Bag Program during July. $245 was raised to support our restoration project!

Algae blooms, fueled by climate change, are threatening Maine's fresh water Algae blooms are showing up in more lakes and ponds. Climate change, which makes winters shorter and warmer, is largely to blame, one state biologist says.

Thanks to volunteers Dean and Debby Smiley and Dick and Betty Harvey for conducting the Togus Pond Annual Loon Count on Saturday. They counted 9 adults and 1 chick which is very similar to past years, but up a bit over average. The count has been done since 1983 on the southern half of the state and last year’s results were 2892 adults and 411 chicks or about a 7:1 ratio. Unfortunately, the chicks aren’t all hatched by the count date (like Togus in 2022) so the number of chicks could be higher in the end. We have Togus Pond records for 30 of the count years and we've had a total of 252 adults and 20 chicks or a 12.6:1 ratio.
The Annual Loon Count is a project of Maine Audubon. If you would like to learn more about it check out their website.
https://maineaudubon.org/projects/loons/annual-loon-count/

Don't forget to pick up some reusable bags at Cony Street Hannaford during July to help support WLA! Look for the bags by the self check out area.

Show your support for Lakes Appreciation Month in Maine during the WLA Summer Membership Drive!
Look for info in the mail soon or give online here https://www.toguspond.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=64b2c970de80b207ac936c75

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 Last week, Governor Mills signed an official proclamation declaring July as Lakes Appreciation Month in Maine! This recognition highlights the crucial role our lakes play in the environment, recreation, and our community. 🌊💙

We invite you all to join us in celebrating and showing your love for Maine's beautiful lakes throughout the month. In recognition of this important month, please share your photos, stories, and appreciation for our lakes. 📸💧
🔗 Lakes Appreciation Month Proclamation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxsHm8E1Zkte8FlppMXQ7zk6mUFDi_1I/view?usp=sharing

Thank you, Governor Mills, for recognizing the importance of our lakes! Thank you to Maine Lakes for coordinating the efforts to make this happen!

The Annual 4th of July Boat Parade is on. Join in on Thursday, July 4th at 9:30 AM.
As usual, this is a fun and lighthearted way to celebrate Independence Day with neighbors and enjoy getting out on our beautiful lake.
Dress up your boats with flags and decorations. Brings friends and lots of cheer!
We’ll meet at the Hayes landing at 9:30 am and plan to follow a clockwise route around Togus Pond. Join us at the landing, or tag on when we pass by your house. Hope to see you there for some good times!

We are excited to share that, for the entire month of July, Worromontogus Lake Association has been selected by our friends at Hannaford’s Cony Street location in Augusta to receive a $1 donation from every purchase of the $2.50 Community Bag. This is a great way for the community to help Togus Pond. Share the news with friends!

The Community Bags are located on displays around the store and at the checkout.

Now that boat season is here, this is a reminder to everyone about Maine's Wake Law, wakes above headway speed are not allowed within 200' of the shore. Watch this short video by 7 Lakes Alliance to see why this is important for the lake.

It's also important to watch out for loons and chicks right now and give them plenty of space.

https://vimeo.com/737907496?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2gCMsgDOUXBXtkeOpeAfKOVpXZ-OUxzOjIRH35AJc05w-h6z9Jse80BRo_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

wake video.MOV This is "wake video.MOV" by Anthony Wilson on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

A great piece on the importance of protecting our lakes and their natural shorelines.

New legislation will help Maine wildlife on lakes and ponds It’s a combined effort by local groups with the goal of keeping Maine’s lakes and ponds good for wildlife and wildlife habitat.

We listed the wrong time for the August 17th event on the newsletter that just went out. The Annual Picnic is on August 17 at 11:00. Hope to see you there!

https://mailchi.mp/f86f001fa9e1/reminder-togus-social-today-16195938

Click the link above to see this year's event calendar! Looking forward to a great summer and we hope to see you there.

We had a great time at the 1st Togus Social of the season. Nice to see some new faces and some old friends as well. Cindy and Gary that used to live on the lake joined us for a visit! We hope to see more of you at the next one in June. Everyone is welcome.
Thanks to the volunteers that cleaned up the landing for this summer!

Check out the latest WLA Newsletter! Updates after the Alum Treatment, 1st Togus Social of the season and the Membership Drive.

https://mailchi.mp/320c487940eb/2023-wla-membership-drive-16194426

HEY YOUNG ROAD - BUCKET TRUCKS GOING DOWN BY!!!

We hope everyone is doing OK after this incredible storm! The last several days have shown what an amazing and caring community we have on Togus Pond! People going above and beyond to help their neighbors. We are so fortunate to live here!
Please reach out if you need help.

Wondering where your birds are? Maine Audubon explains.

Ask Maine Audubon: New info helps explain behavior for birds staying for the winter Your wildlife questions are answered by Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox.

We had a great time at the WLA Holiday Party on Saturday night! As you can see people were in a festive mood! A big thank you to the WLA Social Committee for making this such a great event this year! Lots of great raffle prizes, delicious food, and a fun time celebrating with neighbors.