Dear Editor:

I am writing to implore the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to be a good citizen and neighbor and take the necessary steps to best protect the water quality of Knickerbocker Lake, which is an important source of our drinking water. I would think that being a good environmental steward would be of utmost importance to them. Considering that their mission is to protect and preserve the area’s natural habitat, shouldn’t they also want to protect and preserve one of our area’s greatest natural resources?

I have watched the public outcry grow. I have seen the pleas and offers of help to find grants to connect CMBG to public water and sewer from the Boothbay Region Water District, ignored. I feel compelled to encourage the leadership of CMBG to do the right thing before permanent and irreparable damage is made to our area’s drinking water. Knickerbocker Lake is already listed by the Department of Environmental Protection as most at risk from new development. In a DEP water quality report, the water quality of Knickerbocker Lake is considered to be slightly below average. We cannot risk further degradation of the water quality of a lake that is one of only two sources of our region’s drinking water. With part of the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden’s expansion in the watershed zone, watershed management is critical in preventing polluted run-off from reaching the surface water of the lake. Phosphorous contamination is an imminent threat and must not be ignored. The CMBG’s proprietary septic system has already failed and backed-up. There are no guarantees that this will not happen again with their proposed septic system. They should be looking at connecting to public sewer to prevent another failure and further contamination of our region’s water supply.

It is time for CMBG to acquiesce and do the right thing. It is time for them to heed the expert advice of the region’s water district. I feel so strongly about this that I am willing to offer financial support. Let’s work together to raise the funds necessary and secure the grants available that will allow us to protect and preserve our drinking water. This is too important of an issue to be ignored.

Paul Coulombe

Southport