Peter Siebert

November 9, 1954 – February 22, 2025

TLEA is sad to announce the passing of Board Director Peter Siebert. We will never forget Peter’s commitment and his many years of tireless effort to protect the environment of Thompson Lake.  We extend our sympathy to his wife, TLEA Board Secretary Candace Nelson, his children and the entire Siebert family.

Below is a link where you can learn more about Peter and his extraordinary life.

https://obits.concordfuneral.com/peter-siebert

2024  

The Warmest Year in History on Thompson Lake

Each year, TLEA retains Scott Williams, Limnologist with Lake & Watershed Associates (Turner, Maine) to take samples and assess the current status of Thompson Lake water quality.  In late June 2024, Scott measured the surface temperature of Thompson Lake at 78.8 F. This is unusually warm compared to historical data.  Lake temps everywhere are about 10 degrees warmer than they were 30 years ago, and the temps this summer are the highest on record for most lakes. This is a trend affecting all Maine lakes because of the effects of climate change.

Also, Thompson Lake presently has a high level of humic compounds from vegetative runoff that darkens the water and absorbs heat. This, combined with the unusually hot weather, results in greater heat retention.  The humic compounds are mostly from the heavy rains of 2023 and will flush out in about three years.

Warmer lake water causes dissolved oxygen levels to be lower, which could adversely affect the salmonid fish, such as salmon and lake trout. So far, Scott has not seen reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the deep regions of the lake.

Higher temps also favor the growth of algae such as cyanobacteria (aka: Bluegreen algae). To date, we have not observed any elevated levels in Thompson – due largely to the fact that phosphorus levels in the lake continue to be low (a good thing!). Fortunately, very little precipitation occurred during the recent lengthy hot period. Stormwater runoff containing phosphorus, combined with the unusually warm water might have otherwise significantly increased cyanobacteria levels.

To date, our Secchi disc readings of water clarity for May, June and July have been somewhat lower than historical numbers, due partly to the fact that the water color level remains higher than the historical average, and likely from the moderate rain in the spring and early summer. Weather in early August will have a critical bearing on how the lake fares in August and September.

Annual Water Quality Reports can be found under “Programs”, “Water Quality” and at https://thompsonlake.org/programs/water-quality/.

Also check out “Update”, “Ice Out” to see 122 years of data for the Ice Out date for Thompson Lake; also at  https://thompsonlake.org/ice-out/.

And you will also be interested in this report from Maine Public- https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2024-08-26/climate-change-is-overheating-maines-pristine-lakes

 Thompson Lake Watershed Survey

The Watershed Survey Report is available!

In May of 2023 TLEA volunteers and Technical Leaders surveyed the entire watershed of Thompson Lake. This nonregulatory survey was done to identify erosion sites and develop a Watershed Protection Plan for the next 10 years. We identified 299 sites that had significant erosion. Erosion, a form of non-point source pollution (NPS) is the biggest threat to the water quality of the lake. Property owners can go to the “Watershed Survey” page under “Programs” on this website to see the results of the survey. The Report lists sites of erosion, their level of impact, and what kind of remediation measures are recommended. Check it out by clicking:

2023 Watershed Survey Report

 Thank You

to Everyone

who attended Our

2024

Annual Meeting

2024 Fall

   OBSERVER

   NOW

   AVAILABLE

See “Publications” above

Youth Conservation Corp —  a Busy 2024 Summer

Local Students Receive Summer Employment and Environmental Education

TLEA’s YCC Program for Summer 2024  was busier than ever!   YCC Project Coordinator Chris Stoehner and TLEA YCC Board Member Jim Skinner worked closely with Thompson Lake homeowners to inspect erosion issues, develop work plans, obtain any necessary permits, provide cost estimates and complete the remediation work.

If your property needs attention, please contact Jim Skinner at YCC@ThompsonLake.org.

For info,  email:  YCC@thompsonlake.org

Learn More About the Youth Conservation Corps

Learn more about Youth Conservation Corp crews who focus on erosion-control efforts and other activities that improve lake and water quality. At the Maine Lakes Conference in 2023, Whitney Baker from 30 Mile River watershed association shared an overview of the YCC program, and her perspective from a staffed regional watershed organization. Jim Skinner from Thompson Lake Environmental Association will share his perspective from a lake association that relies on volunteers to run and manage the program. Both speakers will share “lessons learned”, ideas for success, and some of the challenges they’ve faced organizing YCC crews for their lake and their region.
More information can be found at the Maine Lakes Conference website.