NORWAY — A total of 54 sites are identified as contributing to polluted runoff to Pennessewassee Pond/Hobbs Pond, according to a survey presented at the Oct. 3 meeting of the Select Board.

The survey was conducted by the Lakes Association of Norway and erosion experts.

The pond has had algae blooms for at least three years and the survey has helped to “identify types and location of problem areas, provide recommendations to fix soil erosion, and raise public awareness on how to protect water quality,” according to the summary of the results.

The pond is listed as “threatened” on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s nonpoint source pollution priority list, meaning it is “sensitive to additional phosphorus inputs that can be exacerbated by development and human activity in the watershed,” the report reads.

“Phosphorus and other nutrients attach to eroded soil particles, which are carried into the lake by storm water runoff,” according to the report. “Too much phosphorus in a lake ecosystem creates ideal conditions for algal growth, and can lead to blooms that can degrade water quality and create a nuisance for recreation.”

The survey focused on developed areas impacted by human activity such as roads, driveways, properties and trails because “human activity tends to be the main cause of soil erosion and polluted runoff.”

A total of 54 sites were identified as contributing to polluted runoff to the pond. The sites were ranked on “impact to water quality based on the type of erosion, the size of the area, and if there was any buffer or filtration of the runoff.”

Fourteen sites are considered high impact, 18 medium impact, and 22 low impact. Most sites (28%) are located on residential properties, most of which were low impact, and 24% are private roads, which are mostly considered high impact.

“Only a few sites will possibly need engineering support and design, while the remaining sites can be fixed via recommendations from a technical person or by the property owner equipped with reference materials,” the report reads.

The full survey report will be available this fall. Landowners will notified if their site was identified as contributing to polluted runoff and given links to find information and recommendations and cost estimates to fix the issues.

“The watershed survey was voluntary and was not for enforcement purposes. The goal was to gather data to make informed decisions in how to continue to protect the lake’s water quality,” the report says.

Resident Steve Siskowitz, who lives on the pond, expressed frustration that nothing is being done about farm animals on Hobbs Pond Lane polluting the pond. He said he has been complaining about pollution in the pond for 30 years.

“There are animals in the drainage ditches,” Siskowitz said. “Whenever it rains, it all gets washed into the pond.”

Select Board member Danielle Wadsworth noted that pollution on Hobbs Pond has improved and a lot of runoff was coming from the washed out piece of road on Scout Lane that was repaired earlier this year.

“There’s so many different factors,” she said of the pond pollution. “It takes time. This summer, there was no point where we could not swim.”

Interim Town Manager Jeffrey Campbell said he hasn’t seen the full results of the survey and does not have a list of sites where pollution is coming from.

“There’s big projects on the horizon,” he said. “It’s just a matter of money and time.”

The Norway Select Board will next meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Town Office.