In 2016, the Friends of Worthley Pond and Ecological Instincts conducted a Worthley Pond Watershed Survey that included properties and roads on and around Worthley Pond. The results were documented in a Watershed Survey Report
In 2025, the FWP Water Quality Committee partnered with Scott Williams, Lake and Watershed Associates, and the Maine Department of Enviromental Protection (MDEP) to review the pond’s current water quality statistics and determined that Worthley Pond should be considered a “threatened” body of water. The FWP was also advised to conduct a new Watershed Survey in order to identify areas where soil erosion continues to impact the pond’s water quality . . . because polluted runoff can carry excess nutrients into the pond, fueling algae growth and contributing to water quality concerns.
The Friends of Worthley Pond will conduct another watershed survey on May 16, 2026. The resulting Watershed Survey Report will help FWP prioritize future conservation efforts and strengthen applications for grant funding to address identified areas of concern. Trained volunteers, working alongside technical partners from the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District, will walk roads and properties throughout the Worthley Pond watershed to document erosion issues.
This survey is strictly informational, i.e. findings will not be used for regulatory enforcement, property owners will not be required to make repairs, volunteers will knock before entering any property. And, all property owners (identified through Town of Peru tax records) will receive advance notice by mail and will have the opportunity to opt out of the survey. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, please contact Bob Burke.
And, lastly, if you’d like to learn more about watersheds and their impact to Maine lakes, ponds, and streams, please refer to the Watershed Management 101 series of articles published in the Friends of Worthley Pond News, November 2021 through February 2022.