Dear Citizens of Raymond,

The Raymond Conservation Commission continued to focus on Watershed Stewardship, Milfoil Management, and Land Conservation in 2003. We made progress on these issues by joining forces with the Raymond Waterways Protective Association, the Maine DEP, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and other regional groups to advance our interests. We are grateful to Don Willard, Elizabeth Cummings, and other Town staff for helping us do our conservation work.

Watershed Stewardship
The Crescent Lake and Raymond Pond watershed demonstration grant was completed in Fall 2003. This grant paid for the repair and proper landscaping of numerous eroding sites that were delivering soil and phosphorus into our waterways. Eroding soil sites were stabilized with mulch, crushed stone, landscaping ties, plantings along shorelines and other methods to best manage the erosive flows of stormwater. Volunteers from the RCC worked hand in hand with concerned property owners, Town of Raymond Public Works, Maine DEP and staff from Cumberland County Soil and Water to make these important watershed fixes a reality.

Foreseeing the end to the watershed grant, the RCC included watershed stewardship in both its 2003 request for funding from the town and in our Spring fundraising letter. These appeals were effective at providing us with funding for a part time watershed manager. In July 2003, Noralee Raymond began working for the Town on watershed management activities. These efforts include supporting the Panther Pond Association with completion of their Watershed Survey, securing additional grant monies to further watershed stewardship throughout Raymond, and working with Public Works and Maine DOT to address problem road sites. The Town is lucky to have Noralee on board to help make sure our lakes get the professional care they deserve.

Milfoil/Invasive Aquatic Plant Management
The 2003 Milfoil Program successfully continued our 2002 efforts, including ramp inspection, plant identification training, education, shoreline surveys and ongoing support for the management of identified plant colonies. Lakes Protection Ranger Kevin Hughes was assisted by Eric Dyer and by Ben Lubbers. A total of 401 boats were inspected at four launch sites (Raymond Beach on Route 302, Crescent Lake, Thomas Pond and Panther Pond at Panther Run), a 40% increase in inspections over 2002 with increased geographic coverage. To the best of our knowledge, the Rangers found no Milfoil/IAP on inspected boats. Rangers completed plant identification training and a detailed shoreline survey in June 2003 along the northeast shore of Jordan Bay. This effort confirmed the presence of colonies in canals and in Panther Run. Action plans to manage these findings are being developed for implementation in 2004. Additional survey work was completed on Panther Pond, the Tenny River and Crescent Lake with no colonies found. The best management practice for known colonies at this time is a combination of hand pulling, placing plastic sheeting on the bottom, setting buoys to keep boats clear and education. Our public education effort was substantially reduced by the discontinuance of the Raymond Road Runner monthly town newspaper.

The 2004 goals for Milfoil Management are to:

  • Get a 14 foot boat with 10 h.p. motor and trailer to facilitate more comprehensive shoreline monitoring of our lakes and ponds.
  • Work with property owners/marinas to develop and implement management plans for known colonies.

The Warrant Article for $9000 that was approved at the May 2003 Town meeting for Watershed Protection and Milfoil Management was matched by $6400 from Maine DEP and almost $18,000 from our 2003 fundraising effort. We have requested $9000 again for the 2004 program (i.e. no increase in requested funds to be raised by taxes), and we anticipate similar support from DEP and from our dedicated citizens in response to our upcoming 2004 fundraising letter.

Land Conservation
Most of us are well aware of the rapid growth that Raymond has experienced over the last two decades, one of the highest rates in Cumberland County. With more than 50 new homes being started each year, undeveloped land in Raymond is being converted to residential use at the rate of roughly 150 acres each year. Currently there are 7500 acres already in residential use; with 9000 acres of undeveloped land left, Raymond could easily be “built out” in two generations. Based on these trends, the RCC recognizes the need to preserve a portion of the undeveloped areas that define our very character. For many of us, these rural undeveloped areas were part of the reason for moving here. While several conservation projects by private landowners have recently been completed or initiated, land conservation in Raymond must be a bigger part of our land use diversity. Conserving land secures our rural character, recreational opportunities, scenic vistas, water quality, property values and ecological habitats. While providing all of the above benefits, conserved land requires few, if any, municipal or school services.

At the 2002 Town Meeting, Raymond citizens showed strong support for the conservation of open (undeveloped) land in their vote to establish and seed the Open Space Reserve Fund with $20,000. Budget constraints leading up to the 2003 Town Meeting resulted in the requested amount being reduced to $5000 which the citizens approved. The RCC has requested once again that $20,000 be included on the Warrant for a vote at the 2004 Town Meeting. In order to be effective, this fund needs to grow. Our vision is that the Fund be used along with grant funds from State, private foundation or federal sources to purchase special lands or conservation easements at market prices from willing sellers.

The RCC is grateful to the citizens of Raymond and our partner organizations that are supporting these crucial programs. Our mission is to sustain Raymond’s natural resources so that future generations may experience some of the same qualities that all of us have been able to enjoy.

Like the other volunteer committees in Town, the services provided by the RCC take time to manage and implement. We need active and energetic members to push our efforts forward, and to help conservation in Raymond keep pace with our rapid, resource intensive growth. For more information on RCC projects, contact a member or join us at our meetings. We meet on the last Wednesday of each month, September through May, in the Portable Classroom at 7:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

John Rand, Co-Chair
Elizabeth Algeo, Co-Chair
Louise Van Winkle, Secretary
Priscilla Rand
Russ Hutchinson
Peter Marcinuk
Mike Cline
Ben Severn
Kimberly Rowe
Greg Curtis