Scott Williams, from Lake and Watershed Associates in Turner, Maine, is the person who evaluates and documents Worthley Pond’s water quality every year.  Bruce Paster, Certified Volunteer Lake Monitor and FWP member, provides Scott with monthly water clarity data (June-September) which is included in the 2024 Worthley Pond Water Quality Report.  Per Scott, “The value of the work of trained volunteer lake monitors in assessing the health of Maine’s lakes cannot be overstated. It has been extremely helpful in the analysis of the condition of the lake . . .”  THANK YOU, Bruce!!

Here are the historical metrics that have been measured since 2017:

The 2024 Worthley Pond Water Quality Report no longer provides a water quality rating like above (or below) average.  Instead, it provides the following summary statements:

Page 2:  Worthley Pond water clarity in 2024 (aka Secchi transparency), an important indicator of lake water quality, was slightly higher (clearer) than the historical average for the lake.  Total phosphorus (TP), the key nutrient that influences algal growth was slightly lower than the historical average, but chlorophyll-a (CHL), which directly measures algal density, while relatively low in July, spiked sinificantly in August – possibly an anomaly (laboratory error).  Water color remained significantly higher than the historical average for the lake, very likely influenced by stormwater runoff from the previous year, and the relatively slow natural flushing rating for the lake (0.7 flushes/year).

Page 17:  With the exception of a single chlorophyll sample taken in August, all other samples, measurements and readings taken at Worthley Pond in 2024 suggest that water quality recovered from the unusual conditions in 2023, and compared favorably (slightly better than) the historical average for the lake.

Climate warming is having a pronounced effect on Maine’s lakes. Worthley Pond is no exception to this. Watershed conservation measures will need to be “ramped up” in order to offset the potentially negative effects on the lake. Known/existing conservation measures should be inspected to insure that they have been able to withstand the effects of extreme weather.

Worthley Pond Water Quality Reports have been prepared and published since 2006.  As you can see, water quality has been a key focus for the Association for many years!  Note: Historical water quality reports are available upon request.