Greetings from Panther Pond on a beautiful day in late April
The lake refilled over the winter from a very low level in the fall and as of 4/24/25 is at a level of 181ft, which is 6” above the target level of 180.5 ft. Water will continue to spill over the dam until the target level is achieved. Beaver dams were removed this fall from the Rte 85 culvert as well as some blockage at the narrow entrance to the pool above Mill Street. The Rte 85 culvert has some remnants of the beaver dam still impeding travel under the culvert so please check before you attempt to take a boat through the culvert. The Panther Pond Association is leading a Watershed Survey of the entire watershed. The dates of the actual survey are June 6-7, 2025, and we encourage all property owners to allow their properties to participate in the survey. More information will becoming on this important effort. Thank you for your continued support of the Panther Pond Association.
The lake refilled over the winter from a very low level in the fall and as of 4/24/25 is at a level of 181ft, which is 6” above the target level of 180.5 ft. Water will continue to spill over the dam until the target level is achieved. Beaver dams were removed this fall from the Rte 85 culvert as well as some blockage at the narrow entrance to the pool above Mill Street. The Rte 85 culvert has some remnants of the beaver dam still impeding travel under the culvert so please check before you attempt to take a boat through the culvert. The Panther Pond Association is leading a Watershed Survey of the entire watershed. The dates of the actual survey are June 6-7, 2025, and we encourage all property owners to allow their properties to participate in the survey. More information will becoming on this important effort. Thank you for your continued support of the Panther Pond Association.
PPA Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Panther Pond Association will take place on Saturday, August 9th from 8:30am - 12 noon. This meeting will be held at Camp Hinds and more details will be forthcoming on the agenda.
The annual meeting of the Panther Pond Association will take place on Saturday, August 9th from 8:30am - 12 noon. This meeting will be held at Camp Hinds and more details will be forthcoming on the agenda.
Spring 2025 Updates
Panther Pond Watershed Survey (June 6-7, 2025)
The Panther Pond watershed drains 12.3 square miles in Casco and Raymond. Panther Pond is listed on Maine’s Nonpoint Source Priority Watersheds list based on historical monitoring and watershed development (DEP, 2014). Panther Pond is also recognized as one of Maine’s “Lakes Most at Risk from Development” by DEP under the Maine Stormwater Law. The biggest pollution culprit in Panther Pond and other Maine lakes is polluted runoff or non-point source (NPS) pollution. Stormwater runoff from rain and snowmelt picks up soil, nutrients and other pollutants as it flows across the land, and washes into the lake. The problem is not necessarily the water itself, It’s the nutrients in the runoff that can be bad news for Maine lakes. Studies have shown that runoff from developed areas has 5 to 10 times the amount of phosphorus compared to runoff from forested areas. In natural conditions, the scarcity of phosphorus in a lake limits algae growth. However, when a lake receives extra phosphorus, algae growth increases dramatically. In effect, we are “fertilizing” Panther Pond with the soil that erodes from our driveways, roads, ditches, pathways and beaches. Sometimes this growth causes choking blooms, but more often it results in small, insidious changes in water quality that, over time, damage the ecology, aesthetics and economy of lakes.
The Panther Pond Association (PPA) has approved a survey to be done June 6-7,2025. This survey will be done in cooperation with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) , Maine Conservation Corp, Portland Water District and the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District. The purpose of the watershed survey is multifold:
The Panther Pond watershed drains 12.3 square miles in Casco and Raymond. Panther Pond is listed on Maine’s Nonpoint Source Priority Watersheds list based on historical monitoring and watershed development (DEP, 2014). Panther Pond is also recognized as one of Maine’s “Lakes Most at Risk from Development” by DEP under the Maine Stormwater Law. The biggest pollution culprit in Panther Pond and other Maine lakes is polluted runoff or non-point source (NPS) pollution. Stormwater runoff from rain and snowmelt picks up soil, nutrients and other pollutants as it flows across the land, and washes into the lake. The problem is not necessarily the water itself, It’s the nutrients in the runoff that can be bad news for Maine lakes. Studies have shown that runoff from developed areas has 5 to 10 times the amount of phosphorus compared to runoff from forested areas. In natural conditions, the scarcity of phosphorus in a lake limits algae growth. However, when a lake receives extra phosphorus, algae growth increases dramatically. In effect, we are “fertilizing” Panther Pond with the soil that erodes from our driveways, roads, ditches, pathways and beaches. Sometimes this growth causes choking blooms, but more often it results in small, insidious changes in water quality that, over time, damage the ecology, aesthetics and economy of lakes.
The Panther Pond Association (PPA) has approved a survey to be done June 6-7,2025. This survey will be done in cooperation with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) , Maine Conservation Corp, Portland Water District and the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District. The purpose of the watershed survey is multifold:
- Identify and prioritize existing sources of polluted runoff, particularly soil erosion sites, in the Panther Pond Watershed.
- Reevaluate past identified sites and work that has been done on sites.
- Raise public awareness about the connection between land use and water quality.
- Inspire people to become active stewards of the watershed.
- Provide the basis to obtain federal funds to assist in fixing identified erosion sites.
- Use the information gathered as one component of a long-term lake protection plan.
- Make general recommendations to landowners for fixing erosion problems on their properties.
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Dam / Water Level
All repair work on the Mill Street Dam has been completed. As of 4/24/25 the lake level was at 181.0 ft which is 6” above the target level of 180.5 ft. Both spillways are active as the lake settles to the target level. You should expect the lake to drop 6” from the level on 4/24/25. It is important to remember that this target level was set many years ago with The State of Maine / Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Should you have any questions on the lake level please direct them to [email protected] and we will try to respond in a timely manner. Raymond Short Term Rental Initiative
The Raymond Short Term Rental Initiative (RSTRI) is moving forward and there have been many positive changes made to the Ordinance language based on resident feedback. Many of these modifications provided more freedom to the Code Enforcement Officer to work with Short Term Rental property owners on an individual basis on issues impacting seasonal, older and smaller structures. The revised version of the RSTRI Ordinance claims to safeguard the interests of permanent residents while allowing a safe, courteous, and lucrative STR industry to flourish. The latest version of the RSTRI Ordinance is published on the Raymond Short Term Rental Initiative (RSTSI) website www.raymondstr.com. The next step is for this proposed ordinance to be taken up with the Planning Board so please keep your eyes open for future announcements. |
LakeSmart
Our association is working with RWPA to take advantage of LakeSmart, a unique statewide, education and outreach program created by Maine Lakes (https://www.lakes.me/lakesmart). The program provides recommendations from local volunteer evaluators to lakeside-property owners about how to reduce erosion and protect the lake. The program is free, non-reporting and voluntary. RWPA is looking to increase the number of volunteer evaluators. For more information, please contact Steve Rand at 207–653-6092. Courtesy Boat Inspectors
The Courtesy Boat Inspection (CBI) program, managed by Raymond Waterways, is important in protecting Panther Pond. The program, with financial support from PPA, Raymond Waterways (RWPA), the State of Maine and various grants, provides boat inspections at the Mill Street launch site on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 7 AM to 1 PM. The CBI inspectors include both paid and volunteer positions. The rate for paid inspectors will be $20 per hour for the upcoming Summer. For more information, please contact Raymond Waterways at [email protected]. |
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Crescent Lake Association Collaboration
Watershed Survey / CBI Support The Panther Pond Association continues to collaborate and support some of the CBI costs for the public boat ramp on Crescent Lake. This is an important partnership and a priority given we are “downstream” of Crescent Lake. The Crescent Lake Association also recently completed their Watershed Survey and have been very helpful as we move forward with our 2025 Watershed Survey. |
Water Quality Monitoring
Now that the ice is finally out, we can look forward to putting our docks and boats in the water. The PPA Water Quality Monitoring team is gearing up for another year of performing biweekly water testing from May through September. We are always looking for more volunteers to become state certified Water Quality Monitors. Please contact John Wolanski at [email protected] if you are interested in joining the PantherPond Water Quality Monitoring Team. |
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Slovenski Boat Ramp
David Plummer Road Boat Launch Schedule, Rates, & Rules Schedule: Open to Panther Pond Association Members Only, 12:00 to 6:00pm
membership steps: [email protected]
E-mail for a launch & inspection appointment: [email protected] . We might re-schedule a launch day if the ground is too wet. Be sure your boat is clean, drained, and dry for inspection & launching. 4-Wheel Drive required. Sand bottom beach launch. The launch is somewhat narrow, so scout it out if you have a big boat. |
Invasive Plant Patrol - PPippers
Volunteer Opportunity PPIPPERS are preparing to launch for the season. PPipping is when stewards visually inspect the shoreline of Panther Pond in search of invasive species (mostly non-native plants) in its waters. If you have interest in participating in this important initiative, please call Sibyl French at 207 655-6379 for information on how to join the fun and receive mentoring. For those interested, there is a 3 hour Plant ID 101 zoom webinar scheduled by LakeStewards of Maine for April 30. To register go to https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org and go to Workshops and Events; Aquatic Invasive Species Workshops; Invasive Plant Patrol 101. If you do not receive this notice in time, Lake Stewards will post a recording later. You will also find the “In Person IPP Workshops Register Here” link for a listing of all the free live plant ID workshops and paddles around the state for 2025. Lake Stewards and Maine Lakes also have their joint conference focused on shoreline stabilization and lake health on Friday, June 13, 2025 at Univ. ME-Farmington. To register (early bird rates by April 30) go to https://www.lakeconferencemaine.org. |
~ Membership Dues and Call to Action ~
As we welcome spring back to Panther Pond, we are reaching out with our annual appeal. Your support helps sustain our beautiful lake and supports many efforts in the areas of water quality monitoring, boat ramp inspection, invasive plant patrolling, water level, erosion control, grant finding and other activities. Dues are $20 per year, and we encourage all property owners to become members of The Panther Pond Association. It is important to note that dues account for only 30 percent of our annual budget. The remaining 70% relies on generous donations from members like you. We ask you to please consider a donation (beyond your dues) this year to help assure our ability to continue our mission. We are undertaking a comprehensive Watershed Survey this summer and your financial support of this effort would be greatly appreciated. Every gift makes a meaningful impact.You can make your payment by check, Zelle, or PayPal - whichever is easiest for you. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to preserving our lake!
Check: Payable to: Panther Pond Association c/o Nancy S. Follett, Treasurer 16 Shadow Lane Ridgefield, CT 06877
Zelle (through your bank): [email protected] PayPal: [email protected]
Zelle (through your bank): [email protected] PayPal: [email protected]
