Saturday, January 31, 2015

Carry Ponds Association News Letter February 2015





Carry Ponds Association 
Newsletter

February, 2015

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Message From The President
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I hope that after our August Annual Meeting you all enjoyed the rest of your summer at the Carry Ponds.  I understand the fall fishing was pretty good.  I didn’t deer hunt this year, but I did do some bird hunting with the youngest of my dogs.  I was trying to teach her to not crash through the woods spooking everything there.  We made some progress, but there’s always next year, right?

While your Board has not met since the Annual Meeting, we have carried on several lively email sessions.  We will be planning a spring meeting to go over any loose ends.  We need to do some planning for the Annual Meeting; need to see if we can resolve the issues surrounding a couple of non dues paying property owners; need to come up with a slate of officers for next year and address an expiring Board position.  As members, you could help on several of these issues: we certainly could use your input on nominations for both the expiring Board position and for the Officer positions.  We could also use some volunteers for the Annual Meeting – food set-up, drinks, portable toilet and the like.  I expect the tent and generator will just happen (they always do).

Our Board members are elected for 3-year terms.  This year, Paul Saccoccia’s term will be expiring.  I have been in touch with Paul and he is interested in seeking another term.  Our Officers are elected for 1-year terms so there are four positions available.  Currently, I am president, we intentionally have no vice-president, Maryellen Royce is secretary, and Wanda Calder is treasurer.  Maryellen has indicated that she does not want to be re-nominated; Wanda would like to continue; I, as always, am ambivalent – willing to do it again, unless someone else wants to give it a stab. If you folks have any suggestions for members – including yourself - who might be interested in a Board/Officer position or in helping out at the Annual Meeting, please let me or any other Officer/Director know.  I can’t stress enough how valuable it is to have this information significantly in advance of the Annual Meeting.  Nominations at the Annual Meeting are always welcome, but advance notice is welcomed too.

Since the Annual Meeting, three fairly significant items have been on your Board’s plate: replacing the locks and keys on the gates, chasing around for gravel pits for gravel to use on or roads, and our new Membership Agreement.

With respect to locks and keys, John DiPierro took over the Keeper of the Keys position from Juddy Calder and has done a very good job with it.  From my correspondence with him, I think he was somewhat surprised by the effort it took, but it’s done, done well, and at a very reasonable price.  He has a report below so I won’t try to steal his thunder other than to say, thanks John.

After the Annual Meeting, Wanda Calder and I went map searching.  There are several older deeds from Tom Dickson to various paper companies that transferred land, but retained the right to use the gravel in several pits.  The pits were variously described in the deeds, and Wanda and I were trying to find them.  I believe we were successful, and I have decided that if I ever need a reference librarian, I’m going to Wanda – she’s relentless.  We then decided that even if we knew where the pits were, it didn’t help the Association much. Since I don’t know Tom Dickson, I asked Norm Kalloch if he would speak with Tom about his possible willingness to transfer, or to at least share with, the Association his rights to free use of gravel...  The issue being that the Association really appreciated the easement to use and maintain the roads, but free gravel from the pits would be even better.  Mr. Dickson agreed and said he would draft some form of a document giving the Association access to the pits under which he retained rights of use.  I don’t believe that document has been finalized, but free gravel would save the Association consequential funds.  For example, in the 2014 budget year, a rough estimate would show that the Association paid over $2,500 for gravel to use on the roads.

I’m not sure how the new Membership Agreement was received overall.  I spoke to half a dozen folks who thought it was a good idea.  I got one letter from someone, who hasn’t paid his dues for years, who was annoyed by it.  I have heard some other unspecified grumblings via the rumor mill.  At any rate, just over 60% of you signed it the first time around and I sincerely hope the rest of you will sign the reminder copy that was sent with your annual dues notice.


Sandy Runyon
President


 Treasurer's Report 
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Instead of printing the actual Financial Report I am presenting an overview of how the Road Dues collected by CPA are allocated.  Of course the fact that my computer is out of commission has a lot to do with that.

Each property owner is billed $150 annually.  As the money comes in it goes into the respective Road Account: East,Otter,Middle (EOM) bills forty three property owners totaling $6,450.  West Carry (W) bills fifty six property owners totaling $8,400.  Total income for CPA is $14, 850.

At the Spring Directors' Meeting budgeting is done.  Funds are transferred from the two Road Accounts on a proportionate basis to the Administrative Account and to the Contingency Account to cover unexpected expenses.  The balance remaining in each Road Account is the budget for the year for each Road Commissioner to use on the roads in his respective area.

The Administrative Account covers postage, stationary and any other day to day operating costs.  Normally $500 is adequate and it is customary to transfer sufficient funds to bring the account to $500.

Contingency is more difficult to budget.  This account handles repairs to bridges, gates, and road repairs due to unexpected events which occur after the regular budget is expended such as flooding by beavers, etc.  It also covers legal expenses and the costs associated with the Annual Meeting.

Of course CPA is very fortunate the Annual meeting expenses are covered almost entirely by donations from the members.  Essentially the only expense charged to Contingency is for the Porta Potty.

Since 2013 the Contingency account has been hit hard.  In 2013 the Sandy Stream Bridge near Time Square had to be completely rebuilt.  The cost was $3,181.  In 2014 the Middle Carry gate and the West Carry Gate were modified to prevent ATV's from passing under them at a cost of $175.  Parts to complete rebuilding the rock rake came to $288.  The major expense however, was the cost of replacing the bridge at the outlet from West Carry at a cost of $5,025.

Past policy has set $5,000 as a target amount for the Contingency account.  However the account never quite reached its target as the annual contribution from the combined Road accounts was held to a maximum of $3,000 so that the Road Commissioners would be left with a reasonable balance in their respective accounts to do the work that was required.  Needless to say the Contingency account is in negative territory as of the end of the year 2014.

It should be noted that the account for Keys and Locks has been self sustaining for quite a few years.  The income from keys sold has covered the costs associated with periodic changes of the locks.  Locks have been changed again as of this writing and it appears the CPA's share of the cost will be covered by the balance currently in the account.  John DiPierro has taken on the job of Keeper of the Keys and he will be personally covering a large portion of the cost.

The bottom line is that CPA has spent more than it has taken in for the past two years.  Two of our three bridges are new and the remaining bridge, the one at the inlet to Middle Carry, was rebuilt in 2014 by the paper company as they were hauling over it.  We can only hope we will not be hit by any major costs for the next few years.

If it were not for the fact that last year some property owners prepaid their 2015 dues, the cash balance at year-end would have been at an all time low of $1,161.

Hopefully CPA can avoid any further major expenses until the accounts are rebuilt to a reasonable level.  No one wants to raise dues if it can be avoided.


Invoices for 2015 road dues have been mailed totaling $14,850.Thirty three members have paid for 2015 as of the last week in January.  That is roughly one third of the total.  Thank you.


Wanda Calder, Treasurer



New Locks and Keys
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 Happy New Year everyone. 

  As you know, the Officers and Directors decided to change the locks on the CPA gates at last year’s annual meeting.  They also appointed me to be the new Keeper of the Keys.  After receiving bids from 3 locksmiths, one was chosen to provide replacement locks, cylinders and keys for the gates at the Carry Ponds.  Over the past two months, several hundred keys were mailed to property owners in good standing and various service providers. 
By now you should have received your replacement keys for the new locks.  You will note that this key series is unmarked; “CPA” is purposely not stamped on the keys.  This was done to make it more difficult (for anyone finding a lost or misplaced key) to determine that the key will gain entry to our ponds.    

As stated in the letter that accompanied your keys, the locks were changed over the weekend of January 17th.  My son Nic, Jim MacLeod, his son Jim, Jim Saccoccia, his friend Wayne and I trekked around the ponds and replaced 9 CPA locks on the various gates the association owns and maintains.  It was a team effort on a cold day in God’s country, and I’m thankful for the help!

Please discard your old keys to prevent snapping them off in the locks, as they will fit but not operate the locks.  Also, remember to keep the gates locked at all times other than when you are entering or exiting through them.  Let’s not undermine the security, privacy and safety that the gates provide all of the members of the CPA.  Finally, If there are issues of any kind with your keys, don’t hesitate to contact me. 

My hat goes off to Juddy Calder for doing this job for so long.  On behalf of the neighborhood, thank you Juddy!  Wishing you all a joyous and blessed 2015!  

See you at the ponds.  JD 
John DiPierro, Keeper of the Keys



Successful Deer Hunt at the Carry Ponds
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David (left )and Jim Gradie in front of the nice buck David shot in November. The deer dressed 203 pounds




Moose Dies on West Carry Pond
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 On April 19, 2014 a moose was spotted on the ice of West Carry Pond.  It appeared to be sick as it would stand and walk aimlessly for a short distance and lay down, a sequence it followed throughout the day. The local warden was notified but there was nothing that could be done to save the animal.  It died that night and its carcass remained on the ice until a few days before ice out when the weight of the animal no longer could be supported. The warden speculated it may have succumbed from a deadly  brain worm or perhaps a severe infestation of moose ticks.
April 19, 2014.  Sick moose stranded on West Carry Pond


Long Falls Dam Road Improvements Scheduled For 2016
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Hmmm-- these cracks are really getting wide.

The latest Maine Department of Transportation Work Plan  lists the Long Falls Dam Road to receive attention in 2016.

The LFDR is scheduled to be repaved beginning with its junction with Route 16 and proceed north for 17.55 miles.  It is a $766,000 project that will be a combination what DOT calls Light Capital Paving and Highway Paving. Light Capital Paving is defined as a thin layer of hot top generally around 5/8 inch thick and is often used as a holding action on "unbuilt roads".



New Bridge Over Pondstream


















































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In September the bridge over the outlet of West Carry Pond was replaced with new concrete abutments and a new deck.built over the the six I-beams formally used in the old bridge.

Leo Beane and David Robinson directed the operation.

The investment in the new concrete abutments should result in lower re-construction costs the next time bridge repairs are needed.



Bridge construction crew. left to right: Brian Goss, Brian Atwood, David Royce, Jimmy Stephens and David Robinson at far right

Leo Beane says, " I didn't know being a Project Supervisor was so easy."



West Carry Pond Fishery Investigations, 2014
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A Report to the Carry Ponds Association


Photo 1.  Typical West Carry Pond brook trout


The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife continued its fishery surveys at West Carry Pond in
2014. As in 2004 and 2006, the focus of our work was to evaluate the pond’s brook trout population following changes in fishing regulations. West Carry Pond was one of several lakes throughout the state selected for “trophy” brook trout management. In 2005, the length limit on trout was increased to 16 inches and the daily bag limit was reduced to 1 fish; in 2006, the length limit was increased again to 18 inches in order to conform with standardized regulations applied to trophy trout waters throughout the state. These rules were intended to improve the average size and abundance of trout by protecting them until most individuals have an opportunity to spawn at least once.

Shore-spawning trout and their incubating eggs are extremely vulnerable to any disturbances, particularly siltation. Sediments from eroding ditches, driveways, and roads can drive the fish from their spawning sites or suffocate eggs that are incubating in the gravels just below the surface, essentially destroying an entire year class. Camp owners need to be vigilant with efforts to deter any sort of development that may cause habitat loss in the future.

As in past survey years, we used trapnets to capture mature brook trout during October and November. Attached to the shoreline, trapnets take advantage of the behavior of pre-spawning fish, which often cruise shore areas in search of spawning sites. Once retrieved from the net, the trout are counted, measured, weighed, sexed, and then released alive.

We fished two trapnets in 2014 at different locations associated with tributaries along the western shore from October 21st to 31st. A total of 40 brook trout and 5 chain pickerel were captured. The average size and range of sizes are summarized in the following table:


Size range

Average
length (inches)
Average
weight (pounds)
Length (inches)
Weight (pounds)

Brook trout
17.1
2.1
11.1 to 20.7
0.5 to 3.6

 




Pickerel
19.1
1.7
16.3 to 20.6
1.1 to 2.1

Our catch of 40 brook trout was considered to be very good. Other fish species caught and their numbers are as follows: hornpout (73), white sucker (54), longnose sucker (1), golden shiner (20), and lake chub (2). No lake trout (togue) were caught during this recent survey, however they were not targeted. In past years, a total of 19 togue were collected.

Concurrent with this project, data samples for a statewide genetics study were being collected. West Carry Pond fell into the categories of waters in this study. We removed a small piece of the tail fin from each trout sampled, which will be analyzed and compared with other trout in the drainage and across the state. Results of this study will be reported at a later date.

Only 5 chain pickerel were caught in this netting effort, which is down considerably from our efforts in 2004 (67) and 2006 (51). Also of note, is that the average size was up over 19” from the 15.2” average of the past. These data suggest that the pickerel population may be down. However, a few large pickerel can still raise havoc with a wild brook trout population and we recommend that all pickerel caught by anglers be killed. We have removed all pickerel collected from the pond during our netting surveys.

Analysis of the 2014 data shows a healthy brook trout population overall. All trout caught exhibited very good color and body condition. A few noteworthy statistics are shown in the table below:

Year
2004
2006
2014
Brook trout sampled
15
9
40
Net hours / trout caught
25.6
52.6
6.0
Percent of age 6+ trout
0
0
23
Average length at age 3+
16.8”
16.1”
13.2”
Average length of all trout
17.1”
15.2”
17.1”
Condition factor at age 4+
1.142
1.085
1.123

Based on these and other trends, we believe that a slight increase in the harvest of West Carry Pond’s brook trout might be helpful to the population. The current 1 fish; 18” length limit (S-18) regulation has worked well at increasing trout numbers and allowing trout to reach older age class, but has clearly slowed growth and slightly decreased robustness. A 1 fish; 14” length limit (S- 21) regulation may be more appropriate. We will be proposing this change in regulation at the next IF&W regulations committee meeting in early March for the 2016 lawbook.

We at the IF&W headquarters in Strong would like to thank Norm and Audrey Kalloch for their assistance with a gate key during this project. Thanks as well to fisheries biologists Merry Gallagher and Tyler Grant out of our Bangor office for the first week of net tending. Also, to our Division’s director, Mike Brown, for a one day assist. Our summer/fall contract worker, Luke Libby, was also very helpful.

If you desire additional information on this fishery project or others in the western Maine region, please feel free to contact us at (207) 778-3322. We may also be reached via e-mail at: Robert.VanRiper@maine.gov , David.Howatt@maine.gov , or Elizabeth.Thorndike@maine.gov .


Submitted by David Howatt, Assistant Fishery Biologist
January 14, 2015


Photo 2.  Liz Thorndike with a
West Carry Pond brook trout



Keep it Under Cover!!!
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Example of a well -constructed road ditch built by David Robinson. A stable vegetated slope and channel means a minimum amount of silt reaching our Ponds.


Fisheries Biologist, David Howatt pointed out in his report the importance to minimizing the amount of sediment reaching the ponds because of the destructive effects silt and other sediment can have on trout spawning areas. The greatest source of sediment to the Carry Ponds is arguably from poorly constructed road ditches. Raw vertical banks allow soil to erode directly into the ditch where it washed into our ponds. A good ditch has graded stable slopes and is never excavated deeper than necessary. Both the ditch and the banks need to be vegetated to protect the soil from the erosive power of rain and spring runoff.  
Over 1000 Hikers Passed By The Carry Ponds in 2014
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 David Corrigan,  paddles two of the 1200 AT through hikers across the Kennebec River in 2014.


David Corrigan, Fletcher Mountain Outfitters reported to the Maine Appalachian Mountain Club  near record number of hikers using his Kennebec River Ferry Service in 2014.

David reports that he ferried across the Kennebec in his canoe: 265 southbound through  hikers and 945 northbound through hikers as well as another 590 section hikers.

So, during the course of last years  hiking season at least 1207 AT hikers passed by the Carry Ponds, either heading for Mt. Katadhin or Springer Mountain in Georgia. In addition to the through hikers it is likely that a good number of the 590 section hikers passed along the shore of West and East Carry Ponds as well. A small army of people who pass through our area and for the most part go unnoticed.

I t's also a good  bet that many of these hikers were the beneficiaries of more than one of Mary Ellen Royce's treats she deliverers to the West Carry lean-to twice a week during the summer!



New Wind Project Near Carry Ponds
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View From Red's Bench.  Greg West relaxes and enjoys the view from the outlet of West Carry Pond.
The large mountain in the background is Burnt Hill in Highland Plantation. Burnt Hill is being eyed by Iberdrola
Renewables as a future site for Wind Turbine Development


Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I'm writing this letter to let you know there is a major push to build 25 wind towers initially and another 25 later in Pleasant Ridge, Lexington, and Concord Townships which border Carrying Place Town Township.
This project is known as the Fletcher Mountain Wind Project.

My husband and I own a lot on West Carry Pond. We bought the land in 1985 and built a camp. We have lived in New Portland in an old farm house since 1977. My husband is a building contractor and I'm a real estate agent. I enjoy everything this area brings to our lives- hiking the mountains, boating the lakes and streams, skiing, fishing, standing on my dock and looking at the stars, painting a picture from Red's Bench.

Generally, I'm a live and let live type of person but, I cannot be silent while the very thing we all love is about to be destroyed.

Many people believe that land based Wind power makes no sense. It's expensive, inefficient,and threatens watersheds.

As a real estate agent, I know first hand that a property with views of wind towers will not have the same value and will be harder to sell.

If you would like more information about the near-by industrial wind projects approved or being considered please email me and I will put you in touch with the Friends of Highland Mountains.

Thank You for listening.  Nora West
From The Archives
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This bull moose was caught in the phone line in the late summer in of 1969. The location is the steep grade on the Spring Road where the water bars are located.  Ernest Watling was on his way to his camp at West Carry (Watling's camp lot is now owned by Jim and Sue McLeod) when he and his friend were stopped from going any further by the irritated animal.  They backtracked to the Highland Store and called the local warden..  Unfortunately, the moose was short by the warden which caused a minor up roar when it was later learned that a tranquilizer gun could have been used however it was not immediately available to the warden. Prior to the phone line being buried it was strung tree to tree from the Long Falls Dam Road to West Carry Pond. It was reported that the meat from the animal was given to the Somerset County Jail.


Summer of 1969.  Moose tangled in phone line


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