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NO NAME POND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN WATERSHED ACTION PLAN Adopted by Lewiston City Council - July 17, 2001 GOAL: To Improve the Water Quality of No Name Pond (Decrease the Trophic Level of No Name Pond) Objective 1: Develop a sustainable water quality monitoring program for No Name Pond. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 1. Establish an effective citizen-based water quality monitoring program for No Name Pond. The goal of the monitoring program will be to gather quality data over a sustained period of time to accurately assess the pond's trophic state index (TSI). The program will include: year-round water sampling of the pond & tributary streams; testing of water clarity, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus concentration and temperature; training sessions for volunteers as needed. City staff; VLMP; Citizen volunteers Short $3000/year Watershed Management Fund (WMF); DEP and EPA grants; Voluntary Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) 2. Ensure consistent monitoring and QA/QC evaluation of monitoring results. City staff; aquatic biologist; VLMP Short $1000/year WMF; DEP and EPA grants; VLMP 3. Provide a methodology to consistently evaluate the effectiveness of the monitoring program. The evaluation will include: Review of previous water quality data; Setting of intermediate goals for each parameter; Analysis of the results from each parameter and the pond's TSI, to gauge progress towards the watershed management plan's overall goal. Collaborator Group; Aquatic Biologist; City staff; Short to Medium $2000/year WMF; City of Lewiston; DEP and EPA grants; VLMP 4. Explore additional approaches to in- pond and stream monitoring, including: Habitat study; Fluorescent dye testing; Invertebrate and other flora/flauna studies; Monitoring wells. City staff; Aquatic Biologist; Bates; Stanton Bird Club Medium None DEP and EPA grants 5. Provide ongoing review of the strategies under this objective, including benchmarks and timetables, to assess their effectiveness and to make adjustments when necessary. City staff; Collaborator's Group; Short to Medium None City of Lewiston; ---PAGE BREAK--- Objective 2: Use best management practices (BMP's) to reduce non-point sources (NPS) of pollution, including polluted run-off and malfunctioning septic systems, within the watershed. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 1. Continue to identify, monitor and map non-point source pollution sites within the watershed. City staff; Citizen volunteers; Collaborator's Group; NRCS Short to Medium $5000/year City of Lewiston; WMF; NRCS;DEP and EPA grants 2. Provide systematic review and ongoing inspections of existing identified sites and other newly-identified sites. City staff; Collaborator's Group; NRCS; Short to Medium $2,000/year City of Lewiston; WMF; NRCS 3. Establish volunteer survey teams who will seasonally assess identified sites to determine the status of NPS pollution problems within the watershed. City staff; Collaborator's Group; NRCS; Short to Medium $1,000/year WMF; NRCS 4. Apply current and future phosphorus standards to all development within the watershed, including single-family home lots, driveways, roads, and other land use activities. Incorporate phosphorus standards within the building permit application process, using typical lot layout designs that will meet the proposed phosphorus standard. The phosphorus standard will include: Lot coverage ratio Limitations on impervious areas Necessary buffers to mitigate runoff. In order to broaden the application of the recommended phosphorus standard, a code amendment and other procedures will have to be put forward indicating that all development in the watershed must meet the phosphorus standard. City staff; Planning Board; City Council; Town of Greene; AVCOG; Short to Medium None City of Lewiston; AVCOG; Town of Greene 5. Require review of soil erosion and sediment control plans for all public and private development within the No Name Pond Watershed by the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). These plans include building and site construction, road construction, erosion controls and BMP's. The recommended review will require a sign-off from the SWCD, necessitating a change to the development, project review and permitting process. Review will also include adequate inspections and follow-up visits. City staff; Planning Board; City Council; Town of Greene; SWCD; Short to Medium None City of Lewiston; NRCS; SWCD; DEP ---PAGE BREAK--- Objective 2: (Continued) Use best management practices (BMP's) to reduce non-point sources (NPS) of pollution, including polluted run-off and malfunctioning septic systems, within the watershed. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 6. Follow-up, review and correct the NPS sites found in the original surveys and subsequent surveys. City staff, including Public Works; Collaborator’s group; AVCOG and impacted citizens. Short TBD NPS Implementation Grant Program; City of Lewiston; private citizens 7. Support efforts to construct the proposed community septic system within the neighborhood area on the north end of No Name Pond, to eliminate the effects of marginal or malfunctioning septic systems. City staff; Collaborator's Group; DEP; impacted citizens Short $175,000 City of Lewiston; impacted citizens; WMF; DEP 8. Commit to a schedule of road improvements, emphasizing good erosion control practices for both public and private ways City staff, including Public Works; Collaborator’s group; NRCS; and impacted citizens. Short to Medium TBD City of Lewiston; MEDOT; WMF; DEP 9. Create a watershed-wide septic system inspection, repair, and replacement program, that will identify problem areas, and help access resources to ensure properly functioning septic systems within the watershed. Increase code enforcement officer (CEO) oversight and assistance. City staff; DEP Medium to Long TBD City of Lewiston; WMF: DEP and EPA grants 10. Provide ongoing review of the strategies under this objective, including benchmarks and timetables, to assess their effectiveness and to make adjustments when necessary. City staff; Collaborator's Group; Planning Board; City Council Short to Medium None City of Lewiston; ---PAGE BREAK--- Objective 3: Promote public stewardship to provide long-term protection of the watershed. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 1. Continue support of the watershed management plan collaborator's group by providing resources for quarterly meetings, and through the tasks outlined within the watershed management plan implementation grant. City staff; Collaborator's Group Short to Medium $1000/year City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP and EPA grants; 2. Continue to support the ongoing efforts of the to include: newsletter publication meetings membership drives Other City staff and resource support Other productive partnerships will also be developed, that will enhance the watershed management efforts. City staff; Collaborator’s Group Short to Medium $1000/year City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP and EPA grants; 3. Accurately measure, forecast and model land uses within the watershed, using the City and Maine's geographical information system (GIS), to anticipate the location, density, and impact of future development and to guide future planning efforts. Based upon findings from forecasting, recommendations may lead to changes in land use ordinances within the watershed with respect to permitted uses, density of development and performance standards, and perhaps appropriate zoning changes. Collaborator's Group; City staff; Town of Greene; DEP; Lewison Planning Board; AVCOG; Lewiston City Council Short to Medium None City of Lewiston; AVCOG 4. Host regular, hands-on workshops and other collaborative demonstration projects to promote best management practices within the watershed, to include vegetated buffers, programs to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive aquatic species, and camp road improvements. City staff, including Public Works; Collaborator's Group; DEP; NRCS Short to Medium 2X’s/year - $500 ea. City of Lewiston; WMF; NRCS; DEP 5. Continue the collaborative efforts with the Town of Greene to establish a phosphorus performance standard for the portion of the watershed within the Town of Greene. The phosphorus performance standard will be consistent with the City of Lewiston's standard, and in conformance with Greene's newly adopted comprehensive plan. City staff; Public Works; Planning Board; City Council; Greene’s Conserv. Comm; Greene residents; AVCOG Short None City of Lewiston; Town of Greene; AVCOG ---PAGE BREAK--- Objective 3: (Continued) Promote public stewardship to provide long-term protection of the watershed. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 6. Provide technical assistance and other resources, including the installation of vegetative buffers and other soil erosion control practices, to help landowners reduce NPS pollution. Work with the City arborist and other agencies to encourage the incorporation of a buffer network on both public and private property. Educate people regarding the presence and protection from invasive plant species. City Staff; Collaborator's group; DEP Short to Medium $5000/year City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP and EPA grants 7. Conduct a natural resources inventory of the watershed, to include environmentally sensitive land and wildlife/fish habitat, and any non-point source pollution sources within these areas or habitats. City staff; Collaborator’s group; DEP; Consultants Medium to Long TBD City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP/EPA; NRCS 8. Support the acquisition of environmentally sensitive properties, so that they may be returned to their natural vegetative state, and/or protected from future development, in order to eliminate sources of phosphorus to No Name Pond. This could include the acquisitions of easements on land along inlet streams to the pond, restricting the use of land in these areas. City Council; City staff; Planning Board; Land Committee; Androscoggin Land Trust; Medium to Long TBD City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP/ EPA grants; Androscoggin Land Trust; Land for Maine’s Future Board 9. Develop and maintain public access to the pond in an environmentally responsible manner, dealing with such specific objectives as: a. Year-around access and vehicle type, which may involve restricting access or surface use to certain vehicles. b. Avoiding the spread of invasive aquatic species such as milfoil, which may include the installation of warning signs at all public access areas, signs/posters, brochure distribution, during registration and licensing, flyers or brochures at access point, boat inspection at ramps, boat inspection and wash stations, and may also involve restricting access or surface use to certain vehicles. c. The construction of one centrally-located, stable, public access area within a reasonable period of time. City staff, including Public Works, Planning Board, and City Council; Collaborator's Group; DEP; NRCS Medium to Long TBD City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP; Dept. of Conservation; LAWCON ---PAGE BREAK--- 10. Provide ongoing review of the strategies under this objective, including benchmarks and timetables, to assess their effectiveness and to make adjustments when necessary. City staff; Collaborator's Group; Planning Board; City Council Short None City of Lewiston; Objective 4: Further the ongoing educational efforts regarding the No Name Pond Watershed, and promote the active involvement of its stakeholders regarding sustainable watershed management. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 1. Increase the overall awareness and involvement of all watershed stakeholders, including elected and appointed officials, regarding watershed management issues. Involvement can include: Oversight Technical assistance Inspections Implementation of conservation practices City staff; Collaborator’s Group Short to Medium $500/year City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP and EPA grants 2 Integrate service-learning components involving No Name Pond watershed issues into primary, secondary and college curricula, in order to assist in watershed efforts such as: water monitoring, surveys, buffers, preventing the introduction of invasive aquatic species and to provide labor to install simple low-cost BMP's. City staff; Bates Center for Service Learning; Public schools; Kid's Consortium; L/A College Short to Medium TBD City of Lewiston; WMF; Kid’s Consortium 3. Create a municipal website for No Name Pond, linked to other sites, including the DEP and other watershed and conservation related web pages. City staff; DEP Short None City of Lewiston; DEP 4. Distribute watershed educational material, including technical assistance information, to the residents of Lewiston and Greene. Educational materials will include: The Watershed Management Plan, brochures on preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species, hands-on phosphorus control, vegetative buffers, septic maintenance, alternative lawn and gardening techniques and products, etc.; Information regarding shoreland zoning, the Natural Resource Protection Act (NRPA), and other relevant state and federal information. Distribution of the information will be via website, the newsletter, newspapers, kiosks, posters, and regular watershed status reports to Lewiston's Planning Board, the and Greene’s Planning Board. City staff; Collaborator's Group; Greene’s Planning Board Short to Medium $1000/year City of Lewiston; WMF; DEP; NRCS; ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Provide ongoing review of the strategies under this objective, including benchmarks and timetables, to assess their effectiveness and to make adjustments when necessary. City staff; Collaborator's; Planning Board; City Council Short None City of Lewiston; Objective 5: Create a process that will measure the effectiveness of the Watershed Management Plan. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 1. Invite all stakeholders and the general public, on an annual basis, to provide information regarding the state of the watershed, and the Watershed Management Plan and its effectiveness. City staff; Collaborator's Group; Short to medium None City of Lewiston; DEP; 2. Measure, through systematic review, the effectiveness of the Watershed Management Plan's objectives, benchmarks, timetables and progress toward the plan's overall goal. City staff; Collaborator's Group; Short None City of Lewiston; DEP; 3. Examine relevant ordinances and the comprehensive plan, and develop policy to support code amendments or rezoning, if necessary, to protect the watershed. These could include: Extension of overlay zones Fertilizer and phosphorus control, buffer, and erosion control ordinances. City staff; Collaborator's Group; Planning Board; City Council Short to Medium None City of Lewiston; DEP; “Town Ordinances for Protecting Town Lakes.” Provide ongoing review of the strategies under this objective, including benchmarks and timetables, to assess their effectiveness and to make adjustments when necessary. Provide a review of the entire Watershed Management Plan within five years of adoption. City Staff; Collaborator's Group; Short None City of Lewiston; DEP; ---PAGE BREAK--- Objective 6: Aggressively pursue federal, state and local resources to assist in the implementation of the strategies within the Watershed Management Plan. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 1. Continue to pursue federal resources for watershed management, such as the EPA's Livable Communities and Sustainable Communities grants. City staff; Collaborator’s Group Short to Medium None City of Lewiston; EPA 2. Continue to pursue state resources for watershed management, such as the Small Community Grant Program, the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, and the NPS Implementation Grant Program. City staff Short to Medium None DEP and EPA grants; VLMP Continue Lewiston’s commitment to the Watershed Management Fund through the Capital Improvement Program. The Watershed Management Fund can continue the support of the watershed management efforts through water quality monitoring, technical assistance, acquisition of environmentally sensitive land, resource support for the Collaborator’s Group, and City staff and resource support for the City staff; Collaborator’s Group; Planning Board; City Council Short to Long $50,000/year City of Lewiston Objective 7: Pursue adoption of the Watershed Management Plan as a component of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Aggressively pursue federal, state and local resources to assist in the implementation of the strategies within the Watershed Management Plan. Strategy Responsibility Term Cost Resources 1. Gain endorsement of the watershed management plan from the MEDEP, and other citizens and stakeholders. Forward the recommended plan to Lewiston's Planning Board for their required actions for adoption into the City's Comprehensive Plan. City staff: City Council; Planning Board: Collaborator's Group Short None City of Lewiston;