The mission of the Thompson Lake Environmental Association (TLEA) is to preserve the natural beauty, water quality and biological diversity of Thompson Lake. TLEA will promote conservation practices through education and through monitoring and management of Thompson Lake and its watershed.
As part of the 319 Grant Program, we will be offering a 3-hour Gravel Road Maintenance workshop on June 27, 2025. The workshop will be held at the Otisfield Community Hall, 292 Oxford Road, Otisfield Maine 04270 from 9am-12:30pm. This will be coordinated by the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District. Participants will learn how to evaluate a gravel road for maintenance needs, create a road maintenance plan, advantages of various road materials and how to implement gravel road Best Management Practices. The class includes both classroom instruction and a site-walk of a local gravel road to provide a real-life scenario for discussion of potential improvements. This is intended for road associations, town officials, contractors, gravel driveway owners, watershed organizations, or any individual interested in learning the recommended practices for gravel road maintenance derived from the Maine DEP Camp Roads Maintenance Manual.
The registration fee of $50 will be waived if you own property in the Thompson Lake watershed. This course allows for 4 Continuing Education Hours (CEH) for individuals certified in Erosion Control Practices by Maine DEP.
If you are interested in attending this workshop, register using the link below and use the Promo Code RESIDENT to waive the registration fee:
To view a copy of the Maine DEP Gravel Road Maintenance Manual, click on the link below:
https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/watershed/camp/road/gravel_road_manual.pdf
For all other inquiries, contact Emma Lorusso at: projectdirector@androscogginswcd.org.
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
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:
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.
You can pay online or send a check.
TLEA Volunteers and Maine DEP surveyed the entire 35 square mile Thompson Lake Watershed. Learn More
TLEA employs students, age 15-18, who can perform responsible environmental remediation on your property. Learn More
Volunteers can help you identify and remediate erosion problems on your property using voluntary LakeSmart guidelines. Learn More
Get updated on TLEA’s 10+ Year effort to remove over 560 tons of invasive variable leaf milfoil from the lake. Learn More
The CBI Program hires inspectors to check watercraft entering and exiting the lake, for unwanted invasive aquatic plants. Learn More
Learn about TLEA’s Annual Water Quality and Water Clarity testing. Learn More
