Investing in the Youth Conservation Corps = Investing in the Lakes

Right: 2018 Youth Conservation Corps Left to Right: David, Sally, Tyler, Dexter, Brian, Sarah, Jake. Below: Brian, Emily. Above: Installing Erosion Control Mulch

7 Lakes Alliance is proudly home to Maine’s largest Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). YCC is a preventative program that aims to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the water by increasing infiltration and stabilization. Unfiltered runoff entering the water is a key reason for algal blooms.

YCC installs Best Management Practices (BMPs) like rain gardens, infiltration

trenches, erosion control mulch, and more. BMP’s are long term solutions

to a very serious problem in the Belgrade Lakes. Luckily landowners are becoming increasingly concerned about algal problems and are signing up for YCC projects to protect the watershed. The support of our watershed community is an important piece as to why the YCC program has been successful over the last 23 years.

“Thank you for a job well done! This project will protect our water frontage from erosion and benefit the water of North Pond!“ – Beth Enman

In 2018, the crew installed over 80 projects to decrease erosion in the Belgrade

Lakes watershed. Another important benefit of YCC is that we provide

summer employment to 10-15 young individuals- typically high school or

college students. This is the first employment for many of our crew members

and we aim to teach them responsibility and other important job skills they

can use in the future. 7 Lakes Alliance is adding another crew to the YCC

team for the 2019 season to keep up with growing demand. With increasing

costs, we need additional funding to keep this program robust and sustainable.

Thanks to everyone who has had or plans to have YCC install erosion control projects on their property to protect the lakes!

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