We’ve had ongoing interest in having the Boating Safety Course taught regularly nearby, especially since it is now a requirement for any new boaters born after January 1, 1999. To help facilitate the ability to offer this course locally, the WLA would like to solicit for volunteers to become instructors. The primary requirements for becoming an instructor are to take the course (if you have not done so already), and to submit an application to the State of Maine. We
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The WLA would love to bring back a fun family day like the famous Watchic Lake Regatta. Please fill out our survey to help us gauge interest in activities, races, food, and help us pick a summer Saturday in 2025! We hope to see you there! CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
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Its that time of year again… the dam gate was opened on November 1st. Following the opening, the lake level will go down to its winter level (about 18 inches below full pond) over the course of about two to four weeks (depending in part on rainfall). Lowering the lake level protects our shoreline from winter ice damage. Plan your boat and dock removal accordingly. The dam is generally closed again shortly after ice-out.
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As we saw in fall 2023, there are Cyanobacteria (“blue-green algae”) aggregating in “scums” on the lake surface in sheltered locations. Cyanobacteria can appear bright green like the first photo (October 2023), or a more muted color like the second photo (October 2024). They look like pollen on the water surface. If you see surface scums near your dock, please let the WLA know. From samples collected on October 2, 2024, we know that these scums are producing the toxin
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LakeSmart is an education and outreach program that rewards lakefront homeowners who manage their land to protect water quality. This program is free, voluntary, and non-regulatory. The WLA has 5 evaluators trained by Maine Lakes who evaluate and submit recommendations to Maine Lakes for approval. Property owners not yet meeting LakeSmart standards will receive recommendations of ways to reduce erosion, create shoreline buffers, and reduce runoff impacts to the lake. John Blake recently renewed his LakeSmart award with WLA LakeSmart
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What’s in the water? Native aquatic plants! A dedicated crew of plant paddlers surveyed Watchic on August 24, 25, and September 7. We found 24 different species of native aquatic plants, and no invasive aquatic plants. This is great news for the lake, the more native plants we have, the less room there is for invaders to move in. As always, please remember to clean, drain, and dry your boats and gear after using it in other water bodies.
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What’s in the water? Have you seen these gelatinous blobs in the lake? They’re called freshwater bryozoans, invertebrates that eat by filtering microscopic particles from the water like algae and bacteria. Each blob, or colony, consists of hundreds to thousands of individual animals and attaches to a solid surface under the water. Not many animals eat bryozoans. Snails, some fish, aquatic insects, and raccoons will eat bryozoans, but they are a last-resort food for other animals. Colonies will disintegrate in
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Did you know that August is National Water Quality Month? Water Quality has been monitored on Watchic Lake since the 1970s by a dedicated crew of volunteers, and we are happy to report that water clarity was greater than 6 meters on the mid-August sampling day this summer. Much better than August 2023! This is partly due to the drier summer and largely due to the efforts of property owners around the lake, using programs like LakeSmart, to help control
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The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife sent out a reminder that 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
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Sadly, on July 28th, a dead loon chick was was found floating by Owen Smith near his property on the Hi Vu section of the lake. The cause of death is TBD and the body has been handed over to the game warden for further analysis. As a reminder loons dive deep and for minutes at time in search for food. They can pop up anywhere at any time. PLEASE keep an eye out for them and respect their space when boating.
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