Dana Little

Beavers love Taylor Pond and can often be seen cruising along the shoreline. They can be a delightful sight, but they may also cause trouble. Homeowners are naturally exasperated when they flood a driveway or landscaping by damming up flowing water. Their habit of cutting down trees for food or to construct their homes or dams can be annoying if the tree they chose is one you just planted. A few years back, I purchased and planted a 16-foot Red Oak in my front yard. Within days it was beaver food—a short stick with no bark and the guy lines still attached.

Although beavers can cause localized flooding with their dams, they are not the cause of flooding in Taylor Pond. There are multiple beaver dams in Taylor Brook beyond Hotel Road, and they help to slow down water flow and keep water levels higher during low rainfall periods. During high rainfall periods water easily flows over the top of beaver dams, which helps to prevent flooding. Taylor Pond Association hired an engineer in 2018 to analyze the reasons for flooding. He attributed it to three obstructions: water flow, (namely a narrow Hotel Road culvert which has since been replaced with a spacious bridge), the Kendall dam and the narrow culvert under the Stevens Mill Road extension that accesses the Kendall property. These obstructions to water flow, unlike the beaver dams, do not allow overflow of water and therefore contribute to flooding.

Another benefit of beaver dams is to slow the flow of water into Taylor Pond. There are at least two beaver dams on Lapham Brook between Youngs Corner Road and the entrance to Taylor Pond and one on Hodgkins Brook between Perkins Ridge Road and the pond. These beaver ponds help settle any sediment that the brook might carry and naturally filter out the phosphorus that could enter the pond. By slowing the flow of water, they also reduce erosion of soil into the pond that can carry phosphorus. 

The small ponds that beavers create attract a large diversity of wildlife. Warm-water fish ply the waters, frogs line the shores, mink hunt around them, herons and kingfishers seek them out to feed and otters prefer their quiet waters.

If we removed all beavers from the waterways around Taylor Pond, we would experience more flooding and poorer water quality. In addition, we would see a decline in the biodiversity of our local environment. So, how do we deal with the nuisance they cause? First, be aware that according to Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “It is illegal to destroy or damage a beaver house or a beaver dam.” Your best action is to call the local game warden to find a solution. If indicated, a game warden may kill a beaver or destroy the dam that is causing a problem. I have found that encircling trees with turkey wire to a height of three feet suffices to keep the beaver from chewing down my prize trees. To learn more about beavers and avoid conflict I recommend reading the “Living with Wildlife” section on Beavers at the Inland Fisheries &Wildlife website.

Debbie Hammond

Last summer Taylor Pond became home to a loon nesting platform launched by
resident volunteers in partnership with Maine Audubon Society. The platform,
essentially a floating island designed to protect a loon nest from predators, was moved
to the north end of the pond (by the inlet) this summer in hopes of attracting a nesting
pair of loons. Audubon staff recommended the new location for its calmer water and
hopefully less boat traffic. Experts recommend watching loon behavior on the platform
from a 50 yard distance with binoculars so as not to interfere with nesting.
In 2023, the official loon count included two pairs of adult loons on Taylor Pond. This
year’s loon count is scheduled for July 20. There have been early sitings of a pair of
loons on and around the platform; time will tell if a loon family ensues and there are
chicks to count this year! In the meantime, some of the greatest dangers to nesting
loons are excessive boat wakes which flood nests and disturbance by people who get
too close to the nest. Please give these loons plenty of space this summer!

Peter C. Bingham and Kristi Norcross, Co-Chairs 2025 Boat Launch Initiative

Exploring the waters of Taylor Pond by boat is one of the great joys of waterfront living. As residents, we have benefited from the use of the boat launch on Sunrise Lane for many years. As many are already aware, this launch will be open for the 2024 season, but is scheduled to close at the end of September. Concerned members raised the question of alternatives online in Taylor Pond Ripples and at last year’s annual meeting.

The Taylor Pond Association Board established a committee to explore options for boat access to Taylor Pond, co-chaired by Peter Bingham and Kristi Norcross. The committee has been researching alternatives and is hoping to establish launch access for Taylor Pond residents/property owners.

Toward that end, Taylor Pond residents/property owners were surveyed in May about boat launch use. From 103 respondents, 75 required access to launch a total of 112 watercraft. The need is significant, which confirms that a boat launch is neither a small nor simple undertaking and that Taylor Pond Association is both ill-equipped and ill-advised to take on such a responsibility. We have, however, identified a couple of potential partners and are in the process of exploring operational details, including access, cost, etc. It is our goal to have a more complete update well ahead of the Annual Meeting in August. We will keep members informed through email and Taylor Pond Ripples.

Taylor Pond Association will have its annual meeting at the Taylor Pond Yacht Club the last Sunday in August, the 25th at 7pm. We will have a brief business meeting followed by a talk by Emma Lorusso. You can also check out our annual newsletter here.

Emma Lorusso is Project Manager for watershed projects with the Androscoggin Valley
Soil & Water Conservation District (AWSCD), helping towns and lake associations access federal grant funding to clean up our lakes, ponds, and streams. Emma received a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She fought wildland fires out west and taught English in China before returning to New England, where she enjoys kayaking, gardening, and foraging for wild mushrooms. During her time at AWSCD, she has developed a youth education program for local schools, and hosted dozens of unique programs for the public–getting locals involved in agriculture, foraging, recreation, and more.

Emma worked with Taylor Pond Association to coordinate the 2023 Watershed Survey, and wrote the three reports necessary to apply for federal funding under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. She will present information collected from the reports and detail next steps in the “319” process.

The American Robin has been obvious these days as I drive the roads around the pond. With the recent heavy snowfall covering up many of their feeding areas, they have had difficulty scrounging for food. They have been taking advantage of the areas along the roads where the plows have cleared soil free and worms can be found. Often thought as a harbinger of spring, Robins live year-round in Maine. More reliable a predictor of warm weather is the arrival of the Wood Duck. They nest in hollows of trees near the pond. The hollows in the trees are often carved out by Pileated Woodpeckers. A pair has been calling lately in the swamp around my home and I expect will be nesting soon.

For the last 54 years, Taylor Pond Association has been tracking the date for the pond to be ice-free. The date has ranged from March 19 to May first with an average of April 14. This year will likely set a record with little ice seen on March 13. Just last week many folks were still ice fishing. Common Goldeneye Ducks and Hooded Mergansers have been spotted already, the loons will soon appear if not already. It’s beginning to feel like spring!

The analysis of the Taylor Pond Watershed Survey done in June of 2023 has been completed. To read about the results, I have provided a link to the complete report. The survey was conducted in response to concerns about Taylor Pond’s water quality and a desire to preserve the pond for future generations to enjoy.The primary purpose of the watershed survey was to identify and prioritize existing sources of polluted runoff—in particular soil erosion sites—within the Taylor Pond watershed and to provide the basis to obtain federal funds to assist in fixing those identified sites.

I gave a talk at Auburn Public Library 6/29/2022 and had a request to post the slides which can be found here.

Matthew Scott spoke at our Annual Meeting August 27, 2023. The slides for his talk can be found here. Matt created the Maine DEP Lakes Program in 1970 and after working for the State of Maine for 42 years retired from his most recent position as Deputy Commissioner for Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. A list below tallies some of his other accomplishments:

• Past Chairman, Maine Board of Environmental Protection Term expired June 29, 2011 
• BS, and MA   University of Maine, Orono  
• American Fisheries Society, Certified Fisheries Scientist # 617, 1970 — Emeritus status  
• American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, Fellow, 1979 — Emeritus status 
• North American Lake Management Society, Past President, 1988 – Emeritus status 
• Expertise in Maine freshwater fisheries, water quality and aquatic biology 
• Master Maine Guide License since 1970; Member of the MPGA 
• Life member of SAM 
• Beekeeping hobbyist for 59 years with lectures and education 
• Volunteer and bro bono lectures, reviews and work for Maine non profits

By Woody Trask

This report summarizes the findings of the 2022 water quality monitoring program for Taylor Pond. Clarity readings and water quality measurements were conducted monthly from June through September by Woody Trask with additional clarity readings taken mid-May to late September by Michael Heskanen. Since 2004, Taylor Pond Association has been collecting its own water samples and performing most tests. Phosphorus analyses are conducted by the DHHS Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. 

 2022 was an exceptionally good year for Taylor Pond. A record high single clarity reading (7.38m) and a new high average clarity reading (6.12m) were recorded. In addition, there was a low level of coloration especially in June and September. Both conditions might be attributed to having had very little precipitation; hence less run-off and infiltration. 

Collecting a water sample for phosphorus.

The average 5 meter core sample phosphorus reading was lower than last year, but slightly higher than the historical average. The average 12 meter bottom phosphorus reading was much higher than last year due to a very high reading in September (an anomaly?). All other monthly readings were in the low to normal range. 

Values for pH, alkalinity and conductance were all within the normal range of variation from the historic mean. 

The average surface temperature taken at 1 meter depth was 23.9°C (75°F), 0.6°C (1.1°F) higher than last year and 1.0°C (1.8°F) higher than the average for the past 10 years. In spite of the high temperatures, there were no algal blooms reported in 2022. 

 “Ice in” occurred on January 11, 2021, about a month later than last year, and the “ice out” date was April 4th making for a much shorter than average iced-over period. The historical average for “ice out” is April 14.