by Chip Wendler, vice president
During the summer months, it is hard to drive across the route 302 causeway without seeing someone taking a picture with the mountain and island in the background. That big mountain and little island appear in countless numbers of family photo albums including my own.
Yet, in recent years, Caruso Island has been under assault from a combination of severe weather events along with increased boat and foot traffic to the point where it has lost much of its topsoil, a number of its trees and most of its ground cover. Root systems of many of the remaining trees are exposed putting these trees at risk too. The island is now in a place where it is increasingly vulnerable to accelerating deterioration if we do not take action.
The MPA has been working with a landscape architect, the LEA, and several other contractors to scope out a two-phase project to revitalize Caruso Island. The cost of the project is approximately $20,000 and we have already raised approximately half of that amount from a core group of generous donors.
Phase 1 (fall of 2020) is stabilizing the base of the island and adding soil/erosion-control mulch. Phase 2 (spring of 2021) involves planting new trees and vegetation.
If you want to join us in support, please send your extra/one-time donation by check made payable to Moose Pond Association (PO Box 674 Bridgton, ME 04009) with “Save Caruso” in the memo line or send via our go-fund-me site. (gofundme.com/f/caruso-island-restoration-project)
Your donation is separate from the annual funding of the MPA’s work to control the introduction of invasive species to our lake.