GREAT POND REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The Lakes Association of the Belgrades is a composite of four lakes associations in the Belgrade Lakes Chain: the Belgrade Lakes Association, the East Pond Association, the McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Association, and the Snow Pond-Messalonskee Lake Association. We were funded by these associations to work 800 hours on five lakes in the Belgrade Lakes Region. These lakes were East Pond, Long Pond, Great Pond, Salmon Lake-McGrath Pond, and Messalonskee Lake.
We were required to divide up our hours evenly between the five lakes. Thus, our goal was to work 160 hours on each lake (two weeks), including lab work and training which was partitioned evenly among the five. Approximately 86 hours were invested in training and LINK "ExcelWorksheet" "Power Mac 3:Summer Lakes:Hour sheet" "R6C9" \* mergeformat \r \a 153 hours for lab work.
Lab work entailed running phosphorus standard curves and controls, analyzing water quality data, reviewing past lake quality reports, calibrating water quality instruments, and acid-rinsing sampling bottles. The hours for the actual phosphorus testing were designated to the particular lake that we were testing for. A single run takes app. 3-4 hours. Training hours involved learning how to use the equipment for water sampling and phosphorus testing. We also spent a day with Mitch Michaud of the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District as part of our camp road survey training.
The Belgrade Lakes Association (BLA) set up a summer agenda which included certain projects that they would like us to fulfill. The BLA requested four main projects on Great Pond-

* Phosphorus testing on a monthly basis

* A camp road survey of the east shore of Great Pond, identifying problematic roads and recommending corrective action

* A shoreline survey by boat with BLA President Peter McManus

* preparation of a letter urging the owners of properties identified in the shoreline survey to plant buffer strips between their properties and the lake shore

Since our hours were limited for each lake, we sacrificed depth for more breadth in some areas in order to accomplish the goals set by each lake association. We feel confident in the quality of the work done for Great Pond and hope that this report gives an accurate portrayal of our work.

WATER QUALITY

The greatest water quality concern on developed lakes is the accelerated rate of phosphorous input brought about by agricultural and residential land use in the watershed. Non-point source (NPS) pollution i.e. pollution with no exact source, may come from several sources: camp road runoff, shoreline erosion, septic pollution, and agricultural nutrient loading. When a lakes phosphorous concentration reaches 15ppb, algal blooms become likely. This summers algal blooms on East Pond, North Pond, and Salmon Lake support this claim. Although Great Pond is currently recognized as having good water quality, Land use patterns in the watershed raise concerns about NPS pollution and the effects that it could have on water quality in the years to come.
We tested Great Pond total phosphorus levels for the months of June, July, and August using the absorbic acid method (standard test for phosphorus). Ed Mayer of the BLA collected the samples. The accuracy of the phosphorus analysis used has a detection point less than 1ppb. Epilimnion core grabs were collected for all three months, and a bottom grab (19m) was collected in July. For every testing event, a duplicate was collected and a split was made on at least one sample. Another sample (in this case the duplicate) was split and then spiked. At least one control sample was run with each sampling set.

.
Table 1. 1995 Great Pond phosphorus levels (ppb) for the months of June, July, and August
JUNE*
Epicore Grab 9.3
JULY+
Epicore Grab 12.4
Epicore Grab (10ppb spike) 8.3 17.1
Bottom Grab (split) 14.1 16.7
AUGUST#
Epicore Grab (split) 11.8 10.1
Epicore Grab (10ppb spike) 11.0 20.8
*Sample taken 6/19
+Sample taken 7/18
#Sample taken 8/8

CAMP ROAD SURVEY

A camp road survey was conducted the east shore of Great Pond. Twenty-six camp roads were evaluated for their proximity to the lake, evidence of erosion, and quality of the crown, surface, ditches, diversions, and culverts. See Appendix I: Great Pond Road Notes for particular comments on each road.
Nine of the roads surveyed were noted as having drainage problems that have come about due to the lack of a crowned surface, and twelve of the roads surveyed would benefit from improved roadside ditching. A well ditched and crowned camp road is easier to maintain, more drivable, and minimizes the amount of excess phosphorous pollution contributed by residential development. Pinkham Cove Road is excellent in terms of ditching and crowning and should serve as a model for other shoreline residents interested in altering their camp roads to reduce the impact of their properties on lake water quality.
Un-crowned road surfaces cripple a roads ability to drain properly during storm events, and make roads susceptible to erosion problems, especially if the roads are over steep terrain. As the fine particles that make up a part of the roads surfaces are eroded away, rocky, concave road surfaces are left. In addition to not being very drivable, these washed-out roads channel storm runoff containing phosphorous-rich sediment into the lake. A crowned surface would cause storm runoff to be quickly drained from the roads surface and would no doubt reduce the extent of the problem.
Properly constructed roadside ditches serve a number of purposes. Roadside ditches collect subsurface water, preventing structural problems in the road, serve as storage areas for large amounts of rainfall, and collect soil particles that normally would be washed into the lake (KCSWCD 1992). Without adequate roadside ditching in place, investments in improving road surface quality are a waste of time and money.
Problems with camp roads are compounded by the presence of driveways that provide runoff with an unobstructed path to the lake. Driveways of this type negate the effects of any buffering that may exist between the camp road and the lake. Steepness of grade, proximity to the lake, quality of surface, and the presence or absence of a buffer strip are a few of the factors taken into consideration when evaluating a driveway. Many driveways that could be categorized as being problematic were observed during the road survey. Pinkham Cove Road, Snug Harbor Road, Camp Merryweather Road, and Snake Point Road were all noted as having troublesome driveways.

SHORELINE SURVEY

A shoreline survey by boat was carried out to identify insufficiently buffered properties on Great Pond. Approximately one hundred and twenty shoreline properties were observed and photographed. Most of the properties photographed had lawns that extended right up to the lakes edge. Although grasses do an excellent job of preventing erosion by stabilizing soil, a mowed lawn does not absorb water quickly enough to be considered an adequate shoreline buffer. The southern shore of Pinkham Cove and the west shore of North Bay had high concentrations of properties lacking sufficient buffer strips.
With the assistance of BLA President Peter McManus, 121 property owners were identified using tax maps and lists of residents (many of the properties photographed were shared properties maintained by associations of owners). Letters and information guides explaining how to plant an effective buffer strip were sent to the property owners identified. (See Appendix II: Great Pond Buffer Letter)

CONCLUSIONS

Based on phosphorous concentration data, Great Pond currently has good water quality. Effort must be put forth to assure that Great Pond will remain a healthy lake for many years to come.
Great Ponds shoreline residents need to be educated about the impact that residential development has on a lake if it is done either ignorantly or irresponsibly, and about the consequences of ignoring problems in the watershed. With algae blooms occurring this year on three other lakes in the Belgrades Chain, property owners need to be made aware that their future could hold the same fate.
Improving camp roads and driveways will greatly reduce the amount of NPS pollution in the Great Pond watershed. Since runoff from camp roads and driveways pose the single greatest threat to water quality on developed lakes, road improvements are the logical starting point for those interested in protecting water quality.
Water quality would also benefit from improvements made to shoreline properties lacking sufficient Buffer strips. According to a University of Maine study, a seventy-five -foot-wide buffer strip consisting of a mixture of trees and shrubs is necessary to remove all of the excess phosphorous contributed by residential development. In instances where this width is not feasible, the widest possible buffer strip should be planted. It has been shown that a vegetated buffer strip consisting of trees, shrubs, and grasses with a good mulch layer significantly reduces the phosphorous levels in runoff, even if it is much narrower than seventy-five feet. Although professional landscaping can be quite expensive, an effective buffer strip can often be planted with no cash investment by the landowner. Native species of plants such as maples, ashes, oaks, birches, Eastern Hemlock, White Pine, Spiraea, ferns, and Lowbush Blueberry can be transplanted at no cost. Even leaving a ten-foot-wide strip of unmowed grass between a lawn and the lake will improve a propertys buffering capacity, although such a buffer strip is not as effective as one which includes trees and shrubs as well.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Peter McManus, Ed Mayer, and Dick Park of the BLA for their help with this study. We would also like to thank Rizzo Mattson Realtors of Belgrade Lakes for their assistance with our shoreline survey. We like to acknowledge Roy Bouchard of the DEP and Mitch Michaud of the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District for giving us information on Maine lakes and camp roads. Lastly, we would like to thank Dr. David Firmage for his help and guidance.

LITERATURE CITED

Davis, R.B., et al. 1978. Descriptive and comparative statistics of Maine
Lakes. Life Sciences and Agriculture Experimental Station.
Technical Bulletin 88.

KCSWCD, (Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District). 1992.
Camp Road Maintenance Manual: A Guide For Landowners.
KCSWCD. Augusta, ME. 46pp.

Pearsall, W. 1991. Understanding Maines lakes and ponds. A Guide for the Volunteer Monitoring Program. Division of Environmental Evaluation and Lakes Studies.

Appendix I: Great Pond Road Survey Notes
GREAT POND ROAD NOTES

- EAST SIDE (STARTING AT PINKHAM COVE AND ENDING AT
CAMP BOMBAZEEN).

PINKHAM COVE- (about 1 mile length)
- crowned- winding path where road is steep
- ditched- good in terms of culverts
- diversions- camps spread out
- a few steep, troublesome
lawns and driveways- model camp road

GRANDVIEW DR (06A)-
- Paved, leads into dirt driveway- has crown, ditch, and
- Some recent excavationdiversions
- too many fines, not enough gravel
- leads to two new well-buffered
camps

0-10
- length: 1.5 miles- composition marble-like, no crown
- poor surface- winding path
- lacks ditching- ditches and diversions (after .5 mi)
- ditched in places where ditching is really needed, though

HEMLOCK PT
- surface fair, but marbley in places
- ditching present but inadequate
- diversions

PINE ISLAND-
- crowned- road surface gets worse in steep
- surface composition marbleysections
- inadequate ditching, diversions - campers doing mulching

BFD 07- app. 1 mile long
- bad concave surface- needs surface work and better ditching
- ditched- but no crown

UNMARKED #1-
- Inadequate ditching
- not enough fill covering culvert
- needs surface work
- one tiny camp w/ access for canoes

S-3
- Marbly surface- camps are well-buffered
- inadequate ditching
- need more regular maintenance

S-4 (Loon Call Dr)-
- paved- no noticeable problems
- lots of yr. round homes

S-5
- surface pretty good- better ditching might make for easier maint.
- insufficient ditching- three developed properties

S-6 (Log Haven Camps)
- Good suface at first- inadequate ditching
- bottom half needs more - not steep, not to close to lake,
of a crowncamps well-buffered

O-7 (DAMREN Rd)
- paved, leads to O-7B- Owned by Damrens
- Bad surface, berms, no ditches, but at least road doesnt slope towards lake

SNUG HARBOR Rd
- Dust problem (CaCl2)- Colby-owned property on road
- Good surface- would benefit from better ditching
- PROBLEM SPOT AT END OF LEFT FORK
- Buffering needed at end of culvert and between bend and shore
-Ditches on right fork should be expanded
- Good culverts into well-buffered areas
- some troublesome driveways
- surface quality deteriorates towards end of road

H-2 and H-3 (Haven Camps)
-Well ditched- A few trouble spots (lack of ditching, poor surface, and erosion)
- Concave road surface- Generally bad
- Intricate network of camp roads
- terrain not steep, but camps do not apear to be well buffered

H-4
- Camp/home owners Nadeau and Trask
- Not ditched, but roads is not steep

H-5
- short road with a crowned surface over gently sloping terrain

H-6
- Camp/home owners Caswell and Harvey
- Not ditched or crowned- Not steep
- Not a problem unless properties are insufficiently buffered

UNMARKED #2
- not bad

H-7
- not bad

UNMARKED #3
- not bad

CAMP MERRYWEATHER Rd
-Road itself not a problem
- Poor surface in places, but no potential for runoff into lake
- Bad driveway at Camp Merryweather

H-10
- Mostly paved- Ditched
- Not a problem

H-11 (Pine Beach Camp)
- Excellent diversions
- Potentially problematic erosion near T in road

H-12
- Well Maintained - Ditching should be expanded
- Dust problem (CaCl2)- Big lots

SNAKE POINT ROAD
- Bad driveway at bend right before Camp Bomazeen
- Poor road surface near Camps tents
- Slopes towards field that is not particularly well buffered

Appendix II: Great Pond Buffer Letter

DATE \@ "MMMM d, yyyy" August 6, 1998
Dear Great Pond shoreline resident,

Our names are Chris Wnek and Noah Owen-Ashley and we have been employed for the summer by the Belgrade Lakes Association to monitor and improve the water quality of Great Pond. Our main objective in our work is to identify areas within the watershed that may be contributing to non-point source (NPS) pollution. NPS pollution has no exact source, but occurs in water runoff from farmland and residential areas. Phosphorus, the limiting nutrient for plants in lake systems, is the pollutant responsible for the algal blooms which have been experienced by the Belgrade Lakes in the past.
The most effective way to reduce NPS pollution from residential areas is through the use of vegetated buffer strips (see enclosed informational guide). At the present time the lakes are maintaining a relatively healthy state, but with continued development around them it is inevitable that phosphorus loading will trigger algal blooms once again. By reducing the NPS pollution, the amount of phosphorus input can be reduced to levels that can be flushed out of the lake naturally, thus prolonging the healthy status of the lake indefinitely.
Through shorelines surveys by boat, we have identified homes and camps that have the potential for significant phosphorus pollution due to driveways next to the lake and to inadequate buffers strips between the home and the lake. Your home is one of approximately 100 shoreline homes on Great Pond that could benefit from further buffering or driveway maintenance. The lawn/driveway of your home, and those of several of your neighbors, drains directly into the lake, allowing an easy path for any phosphorus to enter the lake in storm runoff. Simply by leaving the last several feet of your lawn unmowed, a beneficial buffer can be created. Also, any moisture-tolerant shrubs that could be planted at the edge of your lawn would also be most helpful in preventing phosphorus loading into Great Pond.
Please read the enclosed buffer strip guide for more information. The summer is nearly over now, but please keep this letter in mind as you spend next summer on the lake.

Sincerely,

Chris Wnek
Noah Owen-Ashley
for the Belgrade Lakes Association

Appendix III: Great Pond Shoreline Survey Addresses

GREAT POND SHORELINE SURVEY ADDRESSES

(1)Gregory Coscia
PO Box 321
Dalton, MA 01227

(2)Fred & Barbara Zinckgaf
Red Oaks Lodge RD
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(3)Robert & Yvette Bonefant
Box 202
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(4)Thomas Bangs
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(5)Leo A Duplessis
PO Box 544
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(6)James J. Mahaney
1 Sunrise Circle
Augusta, ME 04330

(7)Gordon Corson
7 Paine ST
Winslow, ME 04901

(8)John Govostes
12 Carlton ST
Peabody, MA 01960

(9)Richard H Becker
132 Broadway
Valley Stream, NY 11580

(10)Thomas Gilroy
791 Melinda Ferry RD
Whitesburg, TN 37891

(11)John D Robinson
PO Box 471
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(12)Frances Massa
5 Morning Side Place
Cranford, NJ 07016

(13)Gloria Fenn
81 Dawes AVE
Auburn, ME 04210

(14)Jane C. Schultz
Box 1106
Ridgefield, CT 06877

(15)Club Taconnet
Water RTE 75
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(16)Bruce Labbe
RFD Box 1830
Norridgewock, ME 04957

(17)John Brower
Rt 1 Box 441A
Rincon, GA 31326

(18)York Family
96 Quimby ST
Augusta, ME 04330

(19)Millard & Jeanalys Ballard
RT 4
Augusta, ME 04330

(20)Steven Feldman
54 Mt Vernon ST
W Roxbury, MA 02132

(21)Robert Johnson
163 Rocky Hill DR
Plymouth, MA 02360

(22)Edward Walsh
152 Lincoln AVE
Ridgewood, NJ 07450

(23)Marion & Irving Sachs
1015 Harvard DR
Yardley, PA 19067

(24) David Blake
PO Box 100A
Belgrade, ME 04917

(25)William Stanford
24 Bruley Farm RD
Danvers, MA 01923

(26)Pooler Family
RT 2 Box 1960
Oakland, ME 04963

(27)Richard Walsh Jr
309 Bacon ST
Natick, MA 01760

(28)Paul, Mary, and Mary Leavitt
Box 153 Water RT
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(29)Cynthia & Gary Wilkie
RFD 2
Oakland, ME 04963

(30)John & Margaret Jabar
8 Prospect ST
Waterville, ME 04901

(31)Laurier & Beatrice Poulin
24 Smiley AVE
Winslow, ME 04901-7607

(32)A. Lee Roberts
East Jamaica Shores
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(33)Yvette Mitchell
14 Eustis Parkway
Waterville, ME 04901

(34)Dr and Mrs Richard Dole
250 Covell RD
Fairfield, ME 04937

(35)Clyde & Theresa Arnold
RFD 2 Box 1967
Oakland, ME 04963

(36)Marian Schmidt
Rt 2 Box 2019
Oakland, ME 04963

(37)Ward & Marjorie Humphrey
RFD 2 Box 1955
Oakland, ME 04963

(38)Bear Spring Camps
Marguerite Mosher
Rt 2 Box 1900
Oakland, ME 04963

(39)Norman Pederson
4 Basswood RD
Brunswick, ME 04011

(40)Glen Larue
13 Salem DR
Colts Neck, NJ 07722

(41)Pine Tree Council
Boy Scouts of America
Camp Bomazeen
Portland, ME 04103

(42)Dana & Ruth Johnson
RR 3 Box 4200
Oakland, ME 04963

(43)Richard & Lorraine Chipman
7 Harold ST
Waterville, ME 04901

(44)Fred Lagomarsino
17 Averill Terrace
Waterville, ME 04901

(45)Richard & Audrey Cooke
PO Box 553
Oakland, ME 04963

(46)Mary E. Held, Trustees
Joan Fitzgerald & Gregory Held
104 Harvard RD
Fair Haven, NJ 07704

(47)Frances & Barbara Poulin
PO Box 552
Oakland, ME 04963

(48)Edward & Marcia Salmon
325A Kennedy Memorial DR
Waterville, ME 04901

(49)Sylvie Witkin
3 Ashley Terrace
Waterville, ME 04901

(50)Eugene & Christine Wanser
PO Box 504
Belgrade, ME 04917

(51)Richard & Sharon Grahn
29 Crest RD
Sharon, MA 02067

(52)Donna Richardson
RR 3 Box 4070
Oakland, ME 04963

(53)Janet Towle
28 Brek DR
Merrimack, NH 03054

(54)Peggy Laverdiere
23 Woodlawn DR
Winslow, ME 04901

(55)Philip Inglis
5 Grandview DR
Holmdel, NJ 07733

(56)Anne Chandler
17 Royal Crest DR
Marlborough, MA 01752

(57)Jeffrey & Cynthia Caverly
93 Rolston AVE
Sayville, NY 11796

(58) Jeffrey & Cynthia Lovitz
75 High ST
Fairfield, ME 04937

(59)Steven Dubord
PO Box 708
Waterville, ME 04901

(60)Cary Johnson
762 Webster ST
Needham, MA 02192

(61)Rodney Johnson
PO Box 163
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(62)Everett Trask
46 Ramsdell RD
Gray, ME 04039

(63)Earl Bessey
27 Johnson Heights
Waterville, ME 04901

(64)Jane Powers
c/o Pelligrini
26 Garden ST
Bath, ME 04530

(65)Stephen Gove
PO Box 332
East Winthrop, ME 04343

(66)Fontaine Family
RFD 1 Box 6095
Oakland, ME 04963

(67)Oscar Morin
RFD 2 Box 1510
Augusta, ME 04330

(68)Gladys Matte
39 Kennedy Memorial DR
Waterville, ME 04901

(69)Robert Goodwin
4 Marlboro RD
Georgetown, MA 01833

(70)Robert & Donna Merril
RFD 1 Box 360
North Vassalboro, ME 04962

(71)George & Ellen Ruth Levesque
RR 1 Box 1800
Jay, ME 04329

(72)Robert & Susan Costello
9432 Tobin Circle
Potomac, MD 20854

(73)Yvette Farris
PO Box 94
Belgrade, ME 04917

(74)Gerald & Anna May Pooler
PO Box 94
Belgrade, ME 04917

(75)Bennett Schlaack
9 View ST
Brunswick, ME 04011

(76)Linda Bradshaw
PO Box 1
Belgrade, ME 04917

(77)Ronald & Mary Randall
Leighton RD
Augusta, ME 04330

(78)Harlan & Mary Weeks
172 Carver ST
Waterville, ME 04901

(79)Harry & Lilja Dick
Water RTE #84
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(80)Robert & Gwendolyn Knight
111 Merryfield AVE
Waterville, ME 04901

(81)Leslie & Donna Graves
23 South RD
Londonderry, NH 03053

(82)Frank & Kathleen Nocera
60 Victoria ST
Revere, MA 02151

(83)James & Audrey Murphy
28 Paine ST
Wellesley, MA 02181

(84)Savage, James et al
1004 Orange Isle
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315

(85)Elliot & Rhonda Thayer
64 Windsor AVE
Augusta, ME 04330

(86)Richard Jr & Nancy Elias
RR 1 Box 465
Vasselboro, ME 04989

(87)James & Margaret Fitz
RFD 1 Box 302
Hollis, ME 04042

(88)Everett & Louise Nisbet
98 Hillside AVE
SO. Portland, ME 04106

(89)Kenneth & Ruth Crowell
36 Henry AVE
Melrose, MA 02176

(90)Saturnino & Mary Garcia
199 Elm ST
Dedham, MA 02026

(91)Frank & Ruth Mitchell
PO Box 107
Belgrade, ME 04917

(92)Clement Dostie
PO Box 100
Belgrade, ME 04917

(93)William & Sandra Sullivan
PO Box 94A
Belgrade, ME 04917

(94)Jeanette & Neil Gardner
19 Garand ST
Winslow, ME 04902

(95)David & Lucienne Raynes
84 Clinton AVE
Winslow, ME 04901

(96)Dwinald & Merry Bubier
PO Box 526
Belgrade, ME 04917

(97)Carl & Ruth Cote
PO Box 94
Waterville ME 04901

(98)Robert & James Piscatori
194 Center ST
Bridgewater, MA 02324

(99)Donald & Germaine Carpenter
36 Western AVE
Fairfield, ME 04937

(100)Jeanne & Erwin Clements
PO Box 445
Belgrade, ME 04917

(101)Brett & Jane Eberle
187 Pilgrim RD
Portland, ME 04106

(102)William Gerencer
68 First Rangeway
Waterville, ME 04901

(103)Thomas & Leslie Doolittle
9 Loon Call DR
Belgrade, ME 04917

(104)Todd Morrison
89 Six Rod RD
Fairfield, ME 04937

(105)William Tabert
198 West Bayview AVE
Lindenhurst, NY 11757

(106)Joseph Jabar
RR 1 Box 769
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(107)Jeane & George Rough
Water RTE
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(108)Helen Burgess
PO Box 148
Belgrade, ME 04917

(109)Donald Fitzwater
RR 1 Box 790
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(110)Alfond Trust
Belgrade Lakes Realty Trust
Dexter, ME 04930

(111)Jack Fuller
993 Mountain RD
Cheshire, CT 06410

(112)Robert Sandy
74 Silver ST
Waterville, ME 04901

(113)Camp Runiona
Philip & Elizabeth Cobb
RR 1 Box 775
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(114) Lisa Tabber
General Delivery
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(115)Richard Kidder
Box 118 Sahagian RD
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(116)Ralph Pope
PO Box 147
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(117)Robert Vitalius
142 Maine ST
Yarmouth, ME 04096

(118)Anita S Cook Family Trust
Box 273 Water RTE
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(119)Albert E Hodson
10 Common ST
Waterville, ME 04901

(120)Antonio Gagne
PO Box 493
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

(121)Elanor Williams
PO Box 161
Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918


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