To Preserve, Protect and Enhance the Beauty of Lake Winnecook
Unity Pond is Experiencing an Algal Bloom
As of July 26, 2025, the Secchi disk reading dropped to 1.88 meters (6.2 feet)—a clear indication of an algal bloom now underway in Unity Pond.
Algal Bloom onset comparison:
· 2025 bloom onset: July 26 (1.88 m)
· 2024 bloom onset: August 7 (1.93 m)
This summer’s bloom began earlier than in 2024, suggesting the potential for a longer bloom season. Algal blooms affect water clarity, recreational use, wildlife, and overall lake health.
📅 Come Learn More at the Annual Meeting
To better understand what's happening and how you can help protect Unity Pond, please attend:
Friends of Lake Winnecook Annual Meeting
📍 Stone Tree Farm, 317 Albion Road, Unity
🕓 Social Hour: 4:30 PM
🕕 Meeting Begins: 6:00 PM
📆 Thursday, August 7
We'll discuss lake health, contributing factors to blooms, and actions you can take to make a difference.
7/19/2025 - Loon Count Recap: A Beautiful Morning on the Lake
It was a beautiful morning on Lake Winnecook for the 42nd Annual Audubon Loon Count, with flat calm waters and temperatures in the low 50s. At 7 a.m., 23 volunteers launched their boats and kayaks, armed with binoculars and keen eyes. With just 30 minutes to survey the lake, they recorded 14 adult loons and 2 chicks—just short of last year’s count of 16 adults and 2 chicks.
Water Quality Update - Secchi Disc Readings 7-11-2025
The Secchi Disc reading on July 11, 2025, was 2.95 meters. This is consistent with last year’s measurement, an improvement over the readings from 2022 and 2023, but not as clear as the readings recorded in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Readings
Dissolved Oxygen levels are lower this year to last across all depths.
Unfortunately, Dissolved Oxygen has dropped below 1 mg/L at depths of 9 meters and deeper, resulting in anoxic conditions. In these oxygen-depleted zones, phosphorus that is normally bound to iron in the lakebed sediments can be released into the water column. This released phosphorus can act as a “fertilizer” for algae, increasing the likelihood of an algal bloom.
Learn More about what you can do to help reduce future Algae Blooms !
The June 26th Special Membership Meeting at Stone Tree Farm and Cidery in Unity was a tremendous success!
The event drew a record-breaking crowd and we’re thrilled to report that the kickoff of the
“For the Love of Our Lake - Let’s Make It Clean, Not Green” Campaign
in support of the Alum Treatment Project was met with enthusiastic support.
Dana Mosher - Campaign Co-Chair
Membership Information
Friends of Lake Winnecook (FOLW) and our beloved lake would love your help; please click below for more information on how to become a member or renew your current membership.
FOLW Blog
Stay up to date with what is happening on Unity Pond
6/28/2025 - Want to learn more about what factors affect the water quality of our lake? See the update on the FOLW Blog Page!
5/22/2025 - Sign up to host a Plant Patrol Paddle and help protect Lake Winnecook from invasive plant species! For more details, please click on the link below and check out the blog post!
Lawrence Mangan Memorial Page
Please click the button below to visit the Lawrence Mangan Memorial page, honoring the memory of our dear friend Larry Mangan. In accordance with his family's wishes, any funds that would have been spent on flowers are instead being donated to Friends of Lake Winnecook to honor his memory and love of our lake.
Let’s Make it Clean, Not Green!
We Have a Winner!
Out of 41 submissions, we are thrilled to announce that Donna Gillette, of Corinth and Unity submitted the winning name for Phase III of the Unity Pond Watershed Restoration. A huge thank you to Donna and to all 14 members who submitted their ideas. Let’s rally behind this inspiring message and work together to restore the health of our lake!
Internal Loading Study Results
Leveraging the funds received through a grant from the John Sage Foundation, as well as in-kind donations, & support form the ME. DEP an analysis of lake sediment was conducted. One of the next steps in the Watershed-Based Management Plan (WBMP). Please click on the button below to view the study.
Watershed Survey: Final Report
The link below will display the Final Report of the Unity Pond Watershed Survey, which was conducted last year. The report will provide our members with insight regarding the sources of pollution around the Watershed, a list of properties that have been identified as potential risks, as well as suggestions on how to rectify the issues found.
The protection of the watershed should be an effort undertaken and supported by the entire Lake Winnecook community, especially after the announcement by the Maine DEP regarding the PFAS contamination.