About
The Cold Stream Camp Owners’ Association (CSCOA), now with over 180 members, is dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality of Cold Stream Pond. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all dues and donations are tax deductible.
Cold Stream Pond is located within the towns of Lowell, Lincoln and Enfield. With a surface area of 3,628 acres, the lake has more than ten miles of shoreline. This frontage includes over three miles that are zoned as resource protection (250’ setback). But, with more than 500 lake-front properties, storm-water runoff from roads, homes and lawns causes erosion and sedimentation which have become the most important problems we face in protecting the water quality for future generations.
CSCOA Activities
Some activities supported by member dues and our annual foodsale include:
- Taking monthly water quality measurments and making an annual donation to the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
- Making an annual donation to support the Maine Lakes Society
- Lake surveys by volunteers to document problem areas
- Mailing semi-annual newsletters to all members (past issues available on-line)
- Sending members email updates on Cold Steram Pond happenings.
- Other direct mailings to all 500 + lake front property owners
- Coordinating the annual loon count in cooperation with the Maine Audubon Society
- Maintaining an informational kiosk at the Enfield Town boat launch site
- Starting in 2018, sponsoring a fishing derby to help reduce invasive small mouth bass in the lake
Protecting Water Quality by Reducing Uncontrolled Storm Water Runoff
In addition to self-supporting activities,our association receives financial aid from the Town of Enfield for Lake Water Quality Preservation. Using these donations, CSCOA upgrades Enfield camp roads to reduce uncontrolled storm water runoff. Also, in 2015, the CSCOA was awarded an EPA 319 Clean Water Grant for projects in all three towns to protect lake water quality. The Towns of Enfield and Lincoln, Gardner Logging, The State of Maine, and The Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District are partners..
- Making annual grants to road associations and landowners to correct significant erosion problems near the lake
- Providing advice and assistance to camp owners by conducting LakeSmart visits
- Grading and crowning roads to get storm water off roads and into vegetated filter strips
- Re-shaping, re-vegetating and cleaning out roadside ditches
- Rip-rapping ditches and erecting check dams on steep slopes
- Installing larger culverts to prevent freezing that allows runoff to overflow and erode roads
- Building plunge pools and settling ponds to trap silt
- Conducting camp road maintenance workshops
Many of these measures would not have been completed without the continued support of the Town of Enfield Special thanks to the Budget Committee, Town Manager, Board of Selectmen and all residents for helping keep Cold Stream Pond one of the cleanest lakes in Maine.