Representatives from the 30 Mile River Watershed Association and the Androscoggin Lake association updated the board on a recent Elko View Community Forum that drew about 150 in‑person and online attendees and hundreds of subsequent video views.

Lydie Robbins, executive director of 30 Mile River, summarized the forum and the group’s proposed next steps: form a small advisory group of stakeholders representing lakefront property owners, non‑lakefront residents, local businesses and recreation interests; populate technical subworking groups (science, ordinances, communications); assemble a work plan and budget for multi‑year study; and pursue grant funding that would require the town to be the applicant so outside scientists and engineers can be hired to analyze data and study flows from the Dead River.

Robbins said the association and partners have made a septic vulnerability database with prior grant funding and plan to share results and FAQs collected from the forum publicly. Ted Kuche, president of the Lake Association, and retired lake expert Matt Scott described volunteer and remediation options; board members asked staff about coordination and whether town ordinances might be needed later to protect lake water quality.

Board members signaled support for continued communication and for considering ordinance options tied to septic practices if technical work indicates such a need. The groups offered to provide periodic written updates and return to the board as work progresses.