Branch Lake Association Volunteer Opportunities
Loon Count: Every year on the 3rd Saturday in July, we count loons between 7AM and 7:30
AM. This requires very little (less than 1 hour) of training. Loon counts, especially when viewed
over a period of a few years, provides some great information about the overall health of the
lake. We have an InfoGraphic (
available here) which tells a bit about the importance of counting
loons.
Be A Loon Counter
IPP Ranger: This is probably our greatest volunteer need. As little could be more catastrophic
to Branch Lake than an infestation of invasive aquatic plants, the single biggest threat to Branch
Lake. In 2021, Alamoosook Lake, less than 15 miles from Branch Lake, discovered an
infestation of invasive variable milfoil, one of the more aggressive aquatic plant invaders; having
a nearby infested waterbody greatly increases the risk of an infestation. In 2023, milfoil was found in Cobbossee Lake in Winthrop, Maine. It is a real threat! As with many things,
early detection makes eradication easier.
IPP rangers survey a section of the lake shoreline, usually from a canoe or kayak and look for
invasive plants. This requires about 8 hours of training and about 4 hours to perform a survey.
Our InfoGraphic on invasive aquatic plants can be found
here.
IPP Ranger
Lake Smart Surveyor: LakeSmart is a program where we are invited to visit a property and talk
about how to reduce a property’s effect on the lake’s ecology. Requires more investment in
training than the other opportunities mentioned and provides a great opportunity to provide 1:1
education about how to help keep Branch Lake clear, clean and beautiful. If you enjoy public
outreach and teaching, this is a great place to volunteer.
Request a Survey
Become a Lake Smart Surveyor
Water Quality Monitor: Our Water quality Monitors go out on the lake 4-6 times over the
course of the summer and measure key variables of lake water quality, including water clarity,
temperature and oxygen level (important for fish!) and on some occasions (and as budget
allows) samples for chemical composition. On some occasions, the monitoring will occur as
soon as practical after a heavy rainfall - this helps us identify areas for follow up.
Be a Water Quality Monitor
Ice-in / Ice-out Maine’s lakes are clear in no small part due to the fact that historically they have
been covered with ice and snow for significant parts of the year. A short ice season can portend
other problems in the lake. Checking for ice in / ice out is easy; it does require that the observer be a
year round resident (or an unusually dedicated seasonal resident).
Ice-in/ice-out dates are often reported to Lake Stewards of Maine. Here is there description of
ice-in/ice-out.
Lloyd Ireland, a distinguished lake scientist who has studied Maine lakes for his entire career, gave a
fascinating presentation in 2020 about why ice dates are important for lakes, and what the changes
in when the ice forms on the lakes heralds for our magnificent Maine lakes.
Be an Ice In - Ice Out Monitor
Lake Navigation Marker Monitor: There are 16 navigation markers on Branch Lake, either to
identify a hazard or to mark a passage channel (for example, at the narrows). Each winter, we
typically lose 1 or 2 markers to the ice. This program surveys the lake in May of each year, and
works with the City Lake Steward to replace missing markers This work helps make boating
safer and also protects the lake - a boat striking a rock can damage a boat enough that fuel and
oil can spill into the water, damaging the ecology of the lake.
Be a Navigation Marker Monitor