Forest Lake Association
Annual Meeting-MINUTES
West Cumberland Community Building
July 24, 2021
8 to 8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 to 9:00 am Greeting and Announcements
Janene began the meeting at 8:31AM by welcoming all. She then thanked the following:
- Brianna and Liz for their service as board members
- the towns of Cumberland and Gray for putting up watershed signs from the grant money
- the Town of Cumberland for the meeting space
- the FLA Newsletter crew
- the current board members
- the Bru Thru for their donation of coffee and tea
During the official loon count this year, 6 loons were spotted on the northwest shore.
Steve Moriarity, a Cumberland resident and state representative (for the parts of Forest Lake that include Cumberland and Gray) greeted the group and made brief remarks.
Lake residents in attendance introduced themselves- about 50 people.
Secretary Report
Paula read the summarized minutes from the last time an annual meeting was held.
Ted made a motion to accept the minutes; Kim seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
Treasurer Report
Gregg reported on behalf of Ellie. There is currently about $17,000 in the account. Of that $4,000 is committed to water erosion issues. Membership dues add to the coffer.
Ted made a motion to accept the report; Don seconded the motion. All voted in favor.]
Guest Speaker: Dennis Brown*
Dennis Brown is the President of Highland Lake Association.
His presentation was called, “Phosphorus effects on our lake and what to expect in the future” which he started at 8:55 AM.
Key points included:
- Phosphorus has been steady for a long time but at risk due the building boom in greater Portland
- What is phosphorous?
- Where does it come from?
- Human cause sources- point source if not controlled and nonpoint source
- Wake boats discussion between 2 members- Janene redirected
- Erosion examples
- Risks to Maine lakes
- Development Phosphorus budget
- Human Phosphorus Release chart
- Forest Lake Watershed
- Windham Point System for new individual homes to protect the lake from the 100 ???
- Compensation Budget
- Nutrient Management
- Questions from the audience included, our flush rate (1.4), rain barrels, and fertilizers.
* His powerpoint presentation can be found on our website.
Water Quality Update by Janene Gorham at 9:35 AM.
- Dissolved Oxygen readings have been stable
- The Secchi disc average in 2019 was 4.3 meters for clarity. In 2020 it was 5.4 m (about 16 feet) and so far for 2021 it is 4.8 m.
- Oxygen level is gone at about 6 meters which is pretty much consistent warm water fishing.
- We have about 11 plant patrollers.
- The average lake depth is 12 feet.
- Forest Lake is a manmade pond that got expanded.
- See the Lake Stewards of Maine’s website for water quality readings.
Safe Boating including:
At 9:45am Ed Keenan reviewed the following:
- The Game Wardens have power on the water and may be coming more often.
- A portable floatable device is required for 16 foot watercraft or longer.
- You must have space in your boat for everyone you tow.
- Counterclockwise travel has been the courtesy for safety for the past 18 years.
- Having a spotter is a law.
- Watercraft must have lights on at night.
- Tube in the center of the lake, please.
- Fishing licenses are needed for 16 year olds and up.
- 16 or 17 year old jet ski operators need to take a safety course.
- No wake zone buoys need to be obeyed.
- For safety reasons, please don’t go between rafts and the shore.
- Kids 10 or under need to wear a lifejacket; others need to have them
- The same OUI rules apply to the road and the water.
Dam Update
At 10:17 AM Ted Ney addressed this issue.
At the last Forest Lake board meeting the board discussed lowering the lake level 6 inches to a foot. This would be done in November and raised after ice out in April. This is due to ice scouring the land. The Lake Stewards of Maine and the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation support it. It used to be done on the lake.
Lake residents voiced their concerns which included: what is the recovery time; those who use lake water could lose water; could it be done less dramatically; are we creating another problem by solving another one; how far can the water drop for people. Residents also voiced their support.
The Board will take these concerns into consideration at the next meeting in September, which was decided will be opened to the public.
Elections
Ted Ney explained the slate of officers, trustees and alternates and which positions needed to be filled.
The following page contains the new list of officers and trustees and their term expiration dates:
Officers
- Janene Gorham, President 2024
- Jan Lavalle, Vice President 2023
- Ellie Schulz, Treasurer 2022
- Paula Curcio, Recording Secretary 2023
- Debbie Hastings, Correspondence Sec. 2024
Trustees
- John Gorham 2023
- Ted Ney 2022
- Greg Schulz 2024
- Gino Sferra 2022
- Kim Higgins [Alternate] 2022
- Heidi Joy [Alternate] 2022
- Donald Hughes [Alternate] 2022
- Antonio Rocha [Alternate 2022
- Cathy Whorf [Alternate] 2022
Jim G made a motion to accept the slate of officers; Kim seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
Janene thanked the new members for joining.
Adjournment
Ted made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:44 AM; Jan seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
Raffle
A fundraising raffle followed after the adjournment of the meeting.
With thanks to the following who donated:
- Martini glasses All Star Graphics
- CHOP
- Goose pond earrings
- Goose pond ornament
- Port Hole restaurant x2
- Lakeside Garage
- North Cove Design discount coupon
- Skillings
- Bru Thru x2
- Budd’s Gas Station
- Dirt Devil Ace Hardware
- Ed Keenan bowl
- Loon Coasters by Rod
- Blueberry jam
- Winslow Farm plant