Cobbossee Lake Restored: 35 Years of Sustained Work Succeeds

Cobbossee Lake had a long history of nuisance algae blooms and high phosphorus loads, but 35 years of restoration work have improved the lake's water quality.

After widespread installation of best management practices, including upstream continuous alum treatments, agricultural BMPs, and residential erosion control measures, Cobbossee Lake exhibits remarkably improved water clarity. The lake has been free of nuisance algae blooms for the past 10 years and now attains water quality standards. This impressive recovery prompted the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to remove Cobbossee Lake from Maine’s section 303(d) impaired waters list in 2006. http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/state/me_cobb.htm.