Lake Winnecook rehabilitation campaign enters final stretch with $80,000 matching opportunity

Friends of Lake Winnecook is seeking the final $80,000 in community contributions by December 31, 2026, to unlock an additional $80,000 from an anonymous matching donor and help fund a major rehabilitation project for Lake Winnecook, also known as Unity Pond.

The lake, which connects the communities of Unity, Burnham, and Troy, faces recurring algae blooms fueled by excess phosphorus. Friends of Lake Winnecook is working to fund an alum treatment to address phosphorus stored in lake-bottom sediments, alongside continued efforts to reduce erosion and polluted runoff in the surrounding watershed. Permitting is underway, with treatment anticipated in 2027, subject to permit approval.

A $2 million federal grant
The campaign has secured $2 million in federal funding and $370,000 in community donations and pledges. An anonymous donor known as the organization’s “Silent Friend” has committed to matching up to $450,000 in eligible community gifts. The $370,000 in donations and pledges already counts toward that goal. Raising the remaining $80,000 by December 31, 2026, will unlock the final $80,000 of the match.

“Protecting Maine’s lakes is about more than preserving a beautiful view—it’s about clean water, healthy wildlife habitat, and what we leave for future generations,” said Brian Levesque, president of Friends of Lake Winnecook.

“Our community has brought this clean-water project a long way. Now we’re asking people beyond our shoreline to help us close the fundraising gap. Every dollar contributed toward the remaining match brings us twice as close to a healthier Lake Winnecook.”

“Protecting Maine’s lakes is about more than preserving a beautiful view—it’s about clean water, healthy wildlife habitat, and what we leave for future generations.”

— Brian Levesque, President, Friends of Lake Winnecook

Gifts received by December 31, 2026, will be matched dollar for dollar, up to the remaining $80,000: $50 becomes $100, and $100 becomes $200. Every contribution helps close the gap.

The campaign is now reaching beyond the lake’s shoreline to invite support from people throughout Maine and beyond who care about clean water, wildlife habitat, and environmental stewardship.

Phosphorus is the problem
Lake Winnecook supports wildlife, outdoor recreation, and community life. Its rehabilitation requires addressing both phosphorus entering the lake from the surrounding landscape and phosphorus already accumulated in its sediments. Alum treatment binds sediment phosphorus, making it unavailable to fuel algae growth. Continued watershed protection remains an essential part of the long-term effort.

Lake Winnecook’s effort is part of a broader clean-water story in Maine. In the Belgrade Lakes region, 7 Lakes Alliance and its partners completed an alum treatment on East Pond in 2018 and are preparing for a similar treatment on North Pond, alongside continued watershed protection efforts.

GoFundMe campaign launched statewide
Friends of Lake Winnecook has launched a GoFundMe campaign to make contributing and sharing the effort easier. The organization has also updated and expanded its website, providing additional information about the lake, the proposed treatment, watershed protection, and ways to support the lake’s rehabilitation.

To donate or share the GoFundMe campaign, visit [INSERT GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN LINK].

About Friends of Lake Winnecook
Established in 1987, Friends of Lake Winnecook works to preserve, protect, and enhance Lake Winnecook, also known as Unity Pond, and its watershed. Its efforts include supporting water-quality improvement, watershed protection, and community involvement in the lake’s future. Friends of Lake Winnecook is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.