| August 30, 2006
The members of the Board would like to take this opportunity to thank
the management and staff of the Bosebuck
Mountain Camps for again hosting
the Bar-B-Q and Silent Auction to benefit the Aziscohos Lake Preservation
Council, Inc. The Council members would like to express their appreciation
for the support in the form of contributions from the management of
Bosebuck Mountain Camps and certain of the camp owners and local businesses.
It was nice to be able to eat either inside or out outside. The food
was splendid and the staff did a wonderful job in catering the event.
The meal was great but the desserts (blueberry delight and cream puffs)
were out of sight!
We hope everyone had a great time and again thank all those involved
in the event.
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May 2006, Sixth Issue
Aziscohos
Lake Preservation Council, Inc.
Mission
Statement- The Aziscohos Lake Preservation
Council, Inc. (ALPC), is a public, non-profit entity
with a regional focus, devoted to preserving the
environmental, archeological, historical and recreational
heritage of the headwaters of the Upper Androscoggin
Watershed, to monitor, protect and restore those
attributes which uniquely characterize the wilderness
attributes of this area, to educate, promote, and
to facilitate sound natural resource stewardship
by those who live in the region, who visit the region
or who benefit from the region’s natural resources. |
Dam Ownership - In December, 2005, the Florida
Power and Light Group (FPL Group), the owner/operator of the
hydro station
at Aziscohos Dam, and Constellation Energy (based in Baltimore)
announced their intention to merge. It is expected that the
merger will completed within a year, if federal and state
approvals are acquired. The result is described to be the
largest wholesale and retail competitive energy supplier
in the U.S., as well as the second largest electric utility.
FPL ownership will be 60% of the newly formed entity which
will have combined assets of 57 million. No changes in Maine
hydro operations are expected to result from this merger. The
hydro station at Aziscohos is fully operational and is fully
utilized by FPL.
Leadership Change at DEP - The Androscoggin watershed was much
in the news this spring. The Rumford Paper Co. met with the
DEP and formed an agreement vis a vis a pollution permit. However,
the DEP failed to keep public records of the transaction. The
only records there were, ended up on the company’s computer
which is a violation of the law. A Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) request revealed this embarrassing lapse. Dawn Gallagher,
the DEP Commissioner, resigned. On several occasions the ALPC
pointed out to the DEP violations of the water quality certificate
that governs the operation of the Aziscohos hydroelectric facility.
We requested Commissioner Gallagher to enforce the certificate,
to no avail. We hope that her successor, David Littell, will
uphold DEP’s responsibility to enforce the conditions
of the department’s water quality certificate.
DEP permits also came under a severe attack from another quadrant.
The water quality of the Androscoggin was challenged with a
total of 14 appeals to the Board of Environmental Protection.
Many related to International Paper discharge permits that
were not within water quality standards. Presumably, IP permits
will be re-worked to higher standards than permitted by the
current agreement. The politics (and ethics) of the issue was
dramatically emphasized when it turned out that a manager of
IP, who is a state representative serving on the Natural Resources
Committee, may have entered into a quid pro quo deal with (you
guessed it) now-former DEP chief, Dawn Gallagher in agreeing
to the faulty IP discharge permits. We have great expectations
for David Littell, Dawn’s successor, but it is clear
that he has only to be above board and avoid obvious conflicts
of interests to vastly exceed Ms. Gallagher’s performance.
Maine Legislature to Consider Bill to Establish Lease
Conditions - Thanks to Lawton Allen of Rangeley for calling our attention
to LD1646 (MRSA 6047). This is a bill introduced by Representative
Herb Clark of Millinocket and co-sponsored by Senator Paul
T. Davis of Piscataqua. It is designed to establish rules
and practices for leases in organized and un-organized territories.
Among the many aspects covered in the proposed bill are:
- the requirement
of a written lease and description of the property boundaries
by a professional surveyor, with the
cost to be the responsibility of the lessor.
- the requirement
that the leased parcel be recorded with the registry
of deeds.
- the presumption
of fair market value on leased parcels
- binding arbitration
to resolve boundary and value issues
- lessor to be
prevented from terminating leases without just cause
- lessee
to have right of first refusal to purchase property and
twelve months to consummate purchase
- the term for
leases to be fifty years at an annual fee of not more than
5%
of the
fair market
value
of the property,
not including the value of buildings and
improvements
On May 5, 2005 it was referred to the Committee
on Judiciary and the last action on this
bill took place
on June 18,
2005 when it was carried over to “any special or regular
session of the 122nd Legislature.” This bill
attempts to protect long-time lease holders of land
from forced purchase,
unreasonable termination of leases and sales at inflated
prices.
Lead Sinkers and Loons. In spite of NH legislation to eliminate
lead tackle, the number of loons dying from ingesting lead
sinkers has continued during the five years that a ban on their
sale and a fine for their use has been in effect. In New Hampshire
lead poisoning is responsible for 58% of the known loon deaths.
We wonder to what extent other heavy metals such as mercury
may also be involved. It is interesting to note, in the state
of Maine it is illegal to sell lead sinkers within Maine’s
borders, but not illegal to use lead sinkers purchased elsewhere.
This is one loop-hole that needs to be closed!
The US Supreme Court heard arguments in mid-February
that will have a major impact on Maine‘s rivers. The question
has been whether states have the right to impose environmental
regulations of the output of hydroelectric impoundments.
This suit brings focus on the collision of two major modern
objectives of our current world: our need for renewable energy
and our desire to reduce pollution. The Maine Attorney General,
Stephen Rowe argued for Maine’s right to regulate hydro
plants on the grounds that the Clean Water Act gives states
to right to regulate any discharge into their waters. Whereas,
S.D. Warren claimed that since impoundments add nothing to
the stream flow they should be exempt from regulation.
We have observed in Aziscohos and Flagstaff lakes that the
highest methyl mercury levels in loons are associated with
the manner in which the impoundment is operated. Deep draw
downs and slow lake filling suspend methyl mercury that has
been synthesized in anoxic sediments. We argue that additions
of pollutants are very much a consequence of the hydro power
operation.
Wagner Forest Management/Bayroot LLC Sale of Lease Lots- From
a conversation in February 2006, with Dan Hudnut of Wagner
Forest Management LLC, land managers for Bayroot LLC:
1. It remains their objective to sell lease lots to leaseholders
2. They are further interested in developing new lots where
they already have appropriate zoning (currently only Raspberry
Lane and Parmachenee)
3. Sale of new lots on Parmachenee and sale of existing lease
lots is waiting for LURC approval of subdivision. Parmachenee
will be the first sales, and will probably occur this year.
4. Sale of new lots on Raspberry Lane (Aziscohos) and sale
of lease lots will follow, but is not likely to happen in 2006.
5. Sale of lease lots on north end of Aziscohos will probably
be simultaneous to Raspberry lane, unlikely to be any sooner.
6. Current land plan does not include a "Grand Development
Plan" with creation of new subdivisions and lot sales.
Current sale plans are only in areas described above, already
LURC zoned DRS (development residential single family) and
not in areas zoned PGP (protection grand ponds)
Last year, Wagner/Bayroot completed the sale of lease
lots to campers on Kennebago, Little Kennebago and the Kennebago
River. Lease holders were offered the opportunity to buy their
leased properties in October 2004. The price was arrived at
by Wagner/Bayroot following a market analysis by a Maine Certified
General Appraiser. The appraisal was not supplied to leaseholders
and the price was non-negotiable. Buyers were offered discounts
of 5% for closing before 2/11/05 and an additional 5% for closing
before 12/20/04. The Kennebago sales offer affected approximately
18 camps. It is believed all but 3 exercised the option to
buy the leased land. One camp not purchased by the leaseholders
on Little Kennebago is now listed for sale with a local realtor;
the camp buildings for $ 87,500, by the leasee and the land
for $ 325,000, by the lessor (Wagner/Bayroot)
Wagner/Bayroot will
be offering camp owners the opportunity to purchase their
leased lots at something close to fair market
value. It is wise for camp owners on affected lease lots to
be prepared for sticker shock. The value of lake front property
in the Rangeley region is high and has been increasing at a
rate of 15- 25% a year for at least the last five or six years!
From the real estate sections of this week’s Rangeley
region papers:
Magalloway River- Rt. 16, Umbagog lease lot, river front, camp,
dock $ 119,000
Aziscohos Lake- 2 Br cottage, Maine State lease, dock $ 295,000
Parmachenee Lake- 3 Br, 1 Bath, septic, well, 276’ frontage,Wagner
lease $ 300,000
Mooselookmeguntic Lake- 1.81 acre waterfront lot $ 395,000
Rangeley Lake- Faunce Rd, deep water, southwestern exposure
$ 689,000
If you are faced in the next year or so with the option to
purchase the lease lot on which your camp sits, the Littleton,
NH office of the Passumpsic Savings Bank has demonstrated a
willingness to finance lease buyouts, and has financed commercial
and residential/recreational lot purchases on Aziscohos. You
may contact Brian Pettelle at Passumpsic Savings Bank at 603-444-1738.
Similarly, if you wish to have your lot and camp appraised,
you may contact Tom Mellen of Property Appraisal Services,
Farmington ME at 207-778-4377. Tom has vast experience with
camp properties on Aziscohos and throughout the Rangeley region.
Congratulations- ALPC director Mike Metcalf and friend Gordon Smith have purchased
the Wheeler Camp from Charlie and Katie
Wheeler. Mike has been a visitor at the Wheeler camp since
childhood. We wish Mike, Gordon and their families well and
hope they continue to create many happy memories at “Lil
Fella”.
Spring 2006
Lake Fill- On Thursday, March 23rd, FPL representative
Jerry Doughty presented the outlook for re-filling the lakes
in the Rangeley region. The meeting was hosted by the Rangeley
Lakes Heritage Trust at their office in Oquossuc. Representatives
for each of the lakes and rivers impacted by FPL dams in Maine
were in attendance.
Doughty reported
October 2005 was the wettest October on record with the US
Weather Service and, 2005 as a whole was the wettest
year on record. On average, the regions lakes were at 56% of
their full capacity on 3/23. Draining had stopped on all lakes
and refill was underway. This is approximately one month ahead
of normal. Snow pack in the area is in the bottom 25% of where
it is on average at this time of year, representing only 4-5” of
water. However, ground water levels are at record levels state
wide, indicating most of the snow pack and spring precipitation
will go into the lakes from run-off. The prognosis for the
filling of the lakes by the end of May is very good, assuming
average rainfall.
Aziscohos was at
a level of 1509’ on 3/23. This represents
a 12’ draw down from the top of the boards where the
lake remained from October through late winter. Don and Alan
were fortunate to drive all the way to Don’s camp, by
truck, on an ice packed snowmobile trail. The lake was still
iced over completely and 12-18” of hard packed snow could
be found all along the road on the east side of the lake. Conditions
were more like those of mid- April than March. Alan made another
trip in by truck on April 17th. There was still some snow on
the ground, the lake was filling and still covered with ice.
The roads were mostly free of snow and the frost just starting
to go out. On a return trip April 28th, the ice was out of
the lake, the lake full, snow gone and roads passable.
Lake Level
Management- We are pleased to report and commend FPL for maintaining
the lake through the fall and winter months
at near optimum levels for the environment and all wildlife
species. The fishery especially has responded well to high
lake levels through these critical months. We anticipate last
year’s top-notch fishing to be even better during the
2006 season.
Creel Survey- Maine
DIF&W will be conducting a creel survey
at Aziscohos this year. Fern Bosse, ALPC Director, has been
coordinating survey locations with Forrest Bonney, Fisheries
Biologist. One survey location is Black Brook Cove. All anglers
are encouraged to participate and see Jeff LaRochelle, also
and ALPC Director, for more information on this voluntary survey.
Information gathered impacts how Aziscohos is managed.
Fund Raising
We rely on the generosity of our supporters to fund ALPC’s
activities. We need your continued support. Your tax-deductible
contribution can be made payable to- The Aziscohos Lake Preservation
Council, and mailed to Dave Driscoll, 529 Broomstick Hill Road,
Littleton, NH 03561
Treasurers Report-
Aziscohos Lake Preservation Council, Inc.
For the year ended December 31, 2005
Bank Balance - January 1, 2005 $ 19.09
Deposits:
Donations-General Public $ 759.00
Donations-Fund Raiser $ 6,516.50
Donations- Held by The Wilderness Society $ 250.00
Deposit - Ticket Money Collected $ 157.00
Total Cash Available $ 7,701.59
Disbursements and charges:
Legal-Troubh, Heisler, et al $ 565.00
Repay start up loan $ 135.00
Money disbursed – Bosebuck expenses $ 202.00
Bank charges $ 30.00
Total Cash Disbursed $ 932.00
Bank Balance December 31, 2005 $ 6,769.59
We ended the year
with all our bills paid and some funds in the bank. We wish
to thank the owners, management and staff
of Bosebuck Mountain Camps for their time and assistance in
planning and hosting the "Fund Raiser". The "Fund
Raiser" was not only a financial success but a great opportunity
to meet your friends and neighbors. We hope to make this year's "Fund
Raiser" a larger and even more enjoyable event and welcome
your comments, contributions and participation. Submitted by
David J. Driscoll, Treasurer.
We welcome you input and value your support. Please feel free
to contact us with your questions and ideas.
Alan W. Johnson, President,
Aziscohos Lake Preservation Council, Inc.
P.O. Box 448, Walpole, NH 03608
603-756-3321 alan@rnjohnsoninc.com
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