Water quality of Taylor Pond continues to be stable by the measurements performed last summer by Ralph Gould and me. The phosphorous measurement improved for the pond. It averaged 9.5 by core sampling which was below the average of 11 for Taylor Pond and below the average of 12 for all Maine lakes measured in 2005. The phosphorous measurement is considered to be the most reliable measure of a pond's capacity to have an algal bloom. Ponds with levels below 15 are considered unlikely to have an algal bloom.
The clarity of the water measured by Secchi disk was
slightly but, not significantly, worse than usual. The depth averaged 4.71 meters in 2005 compared to a historical average of
4.59 and an average for all Maine lakes of 4.84.
The oxygen measurements below 5 meters of depth continue to
be too low to sustain fish. As a result
of low oxygen in our deep cool waters, fish have to remain in the top 5 meters
where the water is warmer. This warm
water will not sustain cool water fish such as trout or salmon. However bass, perch and pickerel continue to
thrive.
The water quality of Taylor Pond continues to be considered
average compared to other Maine lakes. The potential for an algal bloom continues to be moderate and has not
changed from prior years. Taylor Pond is
still considered to be threatened by non-point source pollution and is
considered to be a lake “most at risk”. Each new structure or expansion
of an existing structure, whether a home, garage, driveway, road, lawn or beach
threatens to increase the phosphorous in the pond. A wide natural vegetation buffer between the
pond and your lawn is our best defense against loss of quality water.