How You Can Help

Volunteer as a Citizen Scientist

Read about three fun ways to volunteer as a Citizen Scientist.

Support the Weed Warriors

Knowing what to look for and what to do about it is key to timely response. Fun and easy training is offered. We can use your help! Learn to identify the natural and non-invasive aquatic plants in Farm Pond. Email Jackie Martin for more information.

Water Testing

Approximately every other week (April through November), join us as we head for the center of the lake and take a variety of measurements including water clarity, oxygen levels and temperatures. Email C Rocchio for more information.

Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (WCMC)

Join a team of volunteers that tracks cyanobacteria activity at Farm Pond. Between May and October, volunteers collect samples 1 to 2 times a month and examine them under the microscope for cyanobacteria. In addition, the samples are analyzed using several other indicators of bloom risk. Email C Rocchio for more information.

Other Simple Ways You Can Help Protect Farm Pond

Watercraft

Help spread the word! We have a bylaw to keep motorized craft out of the pond to help keep it protected from potential harm. Use of clean kayaks, canoes, sailboats, paddleboards and other non-motorized craft are super fun and help keep you and the pond healthy! Read Farm Pond Reservation Rules and Regulations (PDF).

Boating is permitted to the general public from April 1st to November 1st. Any off season boating can be reported to the Farm Pond Advisory Committee by email.

Algae Blooms & HCBs

We can control the addition of troublesome nutrients to the pond from public and private properties.

  • Reduce the total lawn area. This one factor will contribute to three measurable effects:
    • Help minimize (or better yet, eliminate) the use of lawn fertilizer
    • Limit erosion directly off of lawns
    • Limit areas that geese can gather on (abutters)
  • Native plants do not need any fertilizer applications. All pesticides/herbicides are too broad acting, and affect all wildlife - birds, fish, beneficial insects, etc. Some researchers feel the increase in HCB blooms may be also due, in part, to the decimation of beneficial zooplankton species that normally feed on HCBs and keep them in check.
  • Reduction of our non-pervious surface areas (paved paths, driveways, building footprints, etc), and conversion of non-pervious to pervious surfaces wherever possible. Signs of erosion on your property indicate that phosphorus has a direct path to the pond, pervious surface helps disperse water into the soils below, filtering out Phosphorus before it degrades the groundwater that flows into Farm Pond.
  • Eliminate any erosion paths to the pond. Take a walk around your property after a storm to find places where stormwater is channeling as runoff directly into the pond. Implement changes to allow the water to disperse into the ground so it filters.
  • Always maintain your septic systems. Upgrade any that are older and non-Title V compliant
  • See more information on the Maine LakeSmart Website or this condensed version (PDF)
  • Contact either the FPAC by email or the Select Board office at 508-651-7851 if you ever observe any unusual green surface occurrences and take photos if you are able. The very large HCB blooms most commonly start in the morning and often will be concentrated at a down wind shoreline. These blooms can disappear in a matter of hours, so the sooner you report it, the better.

Thank you for helping to Protect Farm Pond!