Youth Conservation Corps making a difference
By Elizabeth Prata

New Gloucester- At their regular meeting on January 12, Selectmen (absent Lynn Conger) heard a request for money from the Youth Conservation Corps. Lori Fowler is Secretary of the Sabbathday Lake Association (SLA).

Since March 1996, the SLA, in conjunction with the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation Commission has received two Federal grants under the Clean Water Act that totaled $151,583. They also had $70,561 in matching funds from the lake community and the Town of New Gloucester though supplies and work-time. "This shows we have spent a considerable amount of money and timekeeping up the health of one of the tow's greatest assets, Sabbathday Lake," Fowler said.

In the mid 1990s, the Maine Department of Environmental protection reported that Sabbathday lake's health would be impacted by future development. Development introduces phosphorus into the lake, depleting the oxygen levels and endangering the fish. Decline of a lake's health can also affect real estate values of surrounding properties.

In the summer of 2002, the SLA had a Youth Conservation Corps completing various projects on properties surrounding the lake. This program is educational in nature- through hands-on conservation work, participating youth learn to be stewards of and for their natural resources.

Fowler asked the Selectmen to consider giving $2,000 for financial support for the Corps, initially funded through a one-year grant. "We are trying to keep up the momentum of fixing the Non-point source pollution problems around the lake," she said. Especially helpful would be an in-kind contribution of payroll services ad coverage under worker's compensation.

The motion was worded "To see what action the board wishes to take regarding a request from the Sabbathday Lake Association for $2,000 or an in-kind contribution for the Youth Conservation Corps program" and Vice Chair Steve Chandler asked that it be amended to read "$2,000 and in in-kind contribution," but the emotion to amend failed. Chair Steve Libby said that, "Although the Town of New Gloucester benefits, we know that it is for a private organization, not a town organization. We have to be careful about giving money to non-town entities. Also I have concerns about the lack of access to the lake."

The SLA has already received funding from the Nine Wicket Foundation ($5,000), the Casco Bay Estuary Project ($2,000), the McKin Superfund settlement, ($10,000) and Town of Gray ($2,000).

Fowler said that the Corps' work area covers the Royal River, which has public access in New Gloucester. The Selectmen eventually voted to spend $2,000 on in-kind contributions.