Dexter Lakes Association 2006 Annual Report Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Currently the DLA has approximately 140 members and continues to grow as we have completed the fifth year of our organization.  Next season we hope to increase our membership to hopefully include people who are not necessarily lake-front property owners, but those who fish or swim and enjoy the benefits of the lake as well. Our representation on the Dexter Town Source Water Committee has provided us with the opportunity to share important lake issues and concerns with town officials in order to find the best ways to protect the Dexter Water Supply. We were disappointed this season not to have received grant money from the Penobscot Soil and Water Department  after having participated last summer in an extensive lake survey with them.  We still hope to obtain this grant in the future which would assist property owners in paying for road and property improvements around the lake.   The lack of  State funding in this case points to the need for watershed residents to be lake-smart with their property.   One of the DLA's  main  goals has been to connect lake owners with the larger network of water quality experts and organizations that can assist people in regard to lake management practices.   For the past 5 years, DLA representatives have attended the annual conference sponsored by COLA (Congress of Lake Associations). This year's session was held in June at the University of Maine, Farmington and was co-sponsored by the New England Conference of Lakes.  Any interested person may attend these conferences.   An example of this connection has been the increased number of Lake Smart surveys that were completed this summer by Grace Nelson, Watershed Coordinator from the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Thirty residents have now had their property evaluated.   We appreciate their cooperation and interest.   A donation of 22 perennial plants for our Landscape Design area at the public beach was gratefully received.   Also, over 10 hours of weeding was done by DLA members and friends  at this site.   The DLA had a booth that featured a watershed model at this year's successful Wild West Weekend.   Many children and parents worked at the model,  showing how pollution even far away from a lake can affect water quality. Secchi disk testing at Lake Wassookeag (by Bob Crawford)  and Puffers Pond (Echo Lake) (by Beth Lagasse)  was again conducted this summer. Testing on Lake Wassookeag by late August indicated that the lake clarity was 10 feet less clear than at the same time last year. The run-off from heavy rains is probably the main reason for this change. Also, earlier spring ice-out has provided more time for algae growth and additional release of underwater phosphorous in the lake which affect water quality. A reference manual about the DLA containing its mission statement, minutes of the annual meeting , copies of the annual newsletters, etc., can be found in the Historical Society and the Abbott Memorial Library. Other information and photos of the DLA can be found on the town's, minutes of the annual meeting, copies of the annual newsletters, etc. can be found in the Historical Society and the Abbott Memorial Library.   Other information and photos of the DLA can be found on the town's website: www.dextermaine.org.   Respectfully submitted, Ed Graham, President