Messalonskee Lake Association

Snow Pond / Messalonskee Lake Association

The Snow Pond/Messalonskee Lake Association is a nonprofit, volunteer Organization founded in 1990 to promote the preservation of the lake.

The Association works to educate the public and promote the responsible use of the lake. Activities include wildlife preservation, testing & promoting water quality, promoting the practices which protect the lake ecosystem and encouraging safe recreational use of the lake.

The last lake in the Belgrade Chain of Lakes in Kennebec County, Maine. Messalonskee Lake contains approximately 39 billion gallons of water, . The lake’s water flows into the Messalonskee Stream at the town of Oakland, which in turn flows to the Kennebec River, then to the Atlantic Ocean 45 miles South near Bath, Maine.

Scenes on Snow Pond

The lake is a 9 mile long, narrow, natural creation, resulting from continental collision and glacial scouring. A dam originally built in the town of Oakland in 1905 increased the lakes size.

The lake is officially named Messalonskee Lake but also commonly known as Snow Pond (named after Philip Snow who hunted the area around the lake in the mid 1700’s) and less commonly as Nine Mile Pond. More history of the lake can be found on the Lake Information page.

This historically recreational lake has substantially developed shoreline and is located in a watershed that is experiencing rapid residential growth. This puts tremendous pressure on the ecosystems of the lake.

Scenes on Snow Pond

Arial view of Messalonskee Lake

NEWS – Updated June 12, 2008

Milfoil and Safety Zone Maps - Messalonskee Lake Association has created information packets that will be available to boat owners on the lake that provides information on the location of Headway Speed and Slow Zone areas of the lake as well as information on Milfoil areas of the lake. The packets will be provided in zip lock plastic bags and will be available at the boat launches through the Courtesy Boat Inspectors there as well as on the Lake Patrol Boat and at the Oakland Town Office. An overview of the Milfoil and Safety Areas of the Lake that is provided in the information packet can be seen HERE

Messalonskee Lake Milfoil Control Program - The Messalonskee Lake Association has started an active program to test various methods of controlling Milfoil on the lake. The first step was the installation of a Benthic Barrier in a small cove on the North end of the lake in mid August. For more information, click here.

Membership Drive On – IT IS TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP. With the start of the Spring season it is time Join or Renew your membership in the Messalonksee Lake Association. This is especially important this year with our added work on fighting Milfoil, Supporting the Lake Safety Patrol, and Increased activity with the Lake Trust. PLEASE join or renew now by clicking HERE.

Where My Dues Go. Courtesy Boat Inspection Program (CBI) at Oakland and Sidney ramps, Milfoil research and surveys, BRCA Conservation Corps, Lake Safety Patrol, Newsletters, Web Site, Maine Congress of Lake Associations , Community Support (cold water survival suits for the Oakland Fire Department) etc..

Spring 2008 Newsletter available now. To download a PDF copy click HERE

MESSALONKSEE LAKE ASSOCIATION TO JOIN FORCES TO BATTLE MILFOIL IN 2008. The annual Lakes Environmental Association Milfoil Summit was held in Lewiston on March 7th kicked off the Milfoil Program in the state of Maine for the ninth consecutive year. The income from the sale of the milfoil stickers helps to fund the Courtesy Boat Inspection Program throughout the state of Maine. Currently, the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) has positions available and is seeking applicants for a Courtesy Boat Inspection Coordinator and Courtesy Boat Inspectors.

Applications will be forwarded to any interested parties who call the office at 495-6039 and ask that one be sent.

Lake Association Purchases Cold Water Rescue Suit for Oakland Fire Department – The Messalonskee Lake Association has purchased a DRIFLEX Cold Water Rescue Suit for the Oakland Fire Department to help them replace old suits used to support winter rescue activities on the lake. Dave Coughlin, Oakland Fire Chief, demonstrated the suit and the need to replace the old suits at a recent Board Meeting and the Board then voted to support the Fire Department with the purchase of the new suit.