Protecting Branch Lake: A Collaborative Effort to Reduce Pollution
In partnership with the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District (HCSWCD), as assisted by the Branch Lake Association, Inc. (BLAI), the City of Ellsworth’s Public Works Highway Department implemented measures to reduce nonpoint-source (NPS) pollution, preventing potential contaminants from entering the Branch Lake watershed. The project focused on the intersection of Winkumpaugh and Happytown roads, where runoff posed a risk to water quality.
A 2021 watershed survey, led by BLAI, identified this section of gravel road as a significant contributor of non-point source (NPS) pollutants and designated it as a high-priority mitigation site. Due to the steep slopes of Winkumpaugh Road near the intersection, heavy storms can cause ditch water to overflow blocked culverts, carrying sediment from the road into Winkumpaugh Brook—ultimately entering Branch Lake, the city’s drinking water source.
To address this issue, the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) and the City of Ellsworth entered into a Cost-Sharing Agreement to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs). HCSWCD developed the site plan, provided BMP guidelines, technical assistance, and created an Operation and Maintenance Plan to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the improvements. The city contributed materials, equipment, labor and construction expertise to install the recommended BMPs and will be responsible for ongoing operation and maintenance of the area. In November 2024, the Highway Crew improved ditching, installed riprap and rock check dams, replaced a culvert and armored inlets and outlets of two additional culverts to reduce nutrient and sediment transport into Branch Lake, helping to safeguard the city’s water supply.
“The City of Ellsworth stepped up to protect drinking water quality by reducing NPS pollution from reaching Branch Lake using financial aid from the 319-Grant to reduce the financial burden,” said Jeff Norment, HCSWCD. “City management and road crews were responsive, flexible and skillful during installation of BMPs to Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME-DEP) standards.”
“The willingness of the Public Works Department of the City of Ellsworth and HCSWCD to negotiate an agreement that helped reduce a significant entry point of NPS pollution into Branch Lake was an excellent example of collaboration. We appreciate their approach to solving this problem and look forward to other such partnerships in the future,” said Rand Griffin, President of BLAI.
This Branch Lake Watershed Protection Project was sponsored in part by a Grant under the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The 319-Grant was administered by the ME-DEP, awarded to the HCSWC with oversight provided by the Branch Lake Steering Committee led by BLAI. and project management by Ecological Instincts. Grant participants included the City of Ellsworth, Town of Dedham, Road Associations, and numerous Branch Lake and Harriman Pond residents.
Photos courtesy of EPW Highway Crew Supervisor Nathan Hardwick.
