2014-05-06T12:22:44-07:00 2013-12-31 990 2013-01-01 043047156 BELGRADE REGIONAL CONSERVATION ALLIANCE INC BELG 2074956039 137 Main St 2nd floor PO Box 250 Belgrade Lakes ME 049180250 Richard Greenan Treasurer 2074959045 2014-05-06 2013 2015-11-30 17:44:51Z X Melvin Croft 90 Eastwood Lane Smithfield ME 04978 698688 0 X www.belgradelakes.org X 1988 ME The Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) conserves the lands, water quality, and natural heritage of the Belgrade Lakes Watershed. We are a land trust for the Belgrade Lakes Watershed and an umbrella organization for the five, individual lake associations of the Begrade chain of lakes. Our activities include land preservation, watershed protection, and a youth conservation corps. 13 13 52 85 0 0 401449 384038 249680 256626 27505 46733 648 11291 679282 698688 0 0 0 0 298091 300685 0 0 29503 274551 265752 572642 566437 106640 132251 1880418 2021794 12941 22066 1867477 1999728 The Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) conserves the lands, water quality, and natural heritage of the Belgrade Lakes Watershed. To promote for the benefit of the general public the preservation of natural resources, to engage in and promote the scientific study of, and education regarding natural resources, and to use all property held by the corp, and the net earnings thereon, for the benefit of the general public and for charitable, educational, recreational, conservation, or scientific purposes. 0 0 254271 89040 303581 BRCA's Milfoil Program seeks to protect aquatic ecosystems & public enjoyment of the lakes in the Belgrade Lakes watershed, by preventing and mitigating the spread of invasive aquatic plants. BRCA stations both paid & volunteer boat inspectors at public boat launches to check for plant fragments on boats entering & leaving lakes, and educates boaters about the threat posed by invasive aquatic plants. BRCA also organizes Invasive Plant Patrols to search for invasive plants that may have become established in at-risk areas. In 2013, BRCA employed 24 part-time workers and worked with 20 volunteers to provide 7,982 hours of coverage, & inspected 12,939 boats on 7 public boat ramps and 2 private launches. In 2010, variable milfoil was found growing in the Great Meadow Stream that runs between North Pond and Great Pond. During the summer of 2013, BRCA worked in partnership with the Belgrade Lakes Association to mitigate the variable milfoil infestation and pulled nearly 28,000 gallons of variable milfoil, while employing 6 summer staff and 4 contracted staff, and many volunteers. BRCA also hired contractors to pull almost 10,000 gallons of variable milfoil from areas along the Belgrade Stream and the southern end of Messalonskee Lake. 92911 2000 81947 The primary goal of BRCA's Youth Conservation Corps is to protect the water quality of the Belgrade Lakes chain from degradation due to the impact of developed areas within the watershed. To accomplish this, the Conservation Corps employs local students to complete erosion control projects in the Belgrade Lakes Watershed, reducing the input of sediment, phosphorus, and other pollutants into the lakes. Typical projects include shoreline riprap, bare soil stabilization, buffer plantings, infiltration structures, rain gardens, and runoff diversion. Projects are completed primarily on privately-owned property around the lakes, and homeowners pay only for the cost of materials used; the cost of planning and labor is covered by donations to BRCA from area lake associations, municipalities, and individuals. 55376 25000 67855 Lakes Trust division: BRCA's Lake Trust program is a collaborative between BRCA and the five lake associations in the Belgrade Lakes Watershed that was formed to: (1) Improve and maintain water quality in our lakes; (2) Build the capacity and strengthen the branding of lake associations; (3) Create public support and increase funding for water quality restoration. Through the Lake Trust, BRCA provides technical expertise and capacity-building assistance to the lake associations and facilitates watershed-wide discussion of water quality issues. Specific services provided by the Lake Trust include: providing staff support for water quality programs of the Belgrade Lakes Association, primarily for data collection & analysis; facilitating monthly collaborative meetings between BRCA and the five member lake associations; and providing direction for the Courtesy Boat Inspection Program and Youth Conservation Corps. 26279 3000 57657 Stewardship Program: BRCA operates an active stewardship program to monitor conservation easements and ensure that the conservation values of fee properties are adequately protected. In 2013, each fee property and conservation easement was visited at least once to monitor conditions on the property. BRCA staff and volunteers completed work projects on several trails owned by BRCA in 2013. In all, 40 volunteers contributed 260 hours to help with the stewardship program. BRCA also contracted to provide stewardship services for the US Wildlife Land Trust (WLT), a national land trust with holdings in Maine. Under this contract, BRCA staff conducted monitoring visits to eight WLT properties and easements in Maine. 19542 5000 30323 Land Trust division: BRCA's Land Trust Program develops plans and strategies for conserving land either through fee purchase or conservation easements. Potential properties are evaluated using our long-term conservation plan and the Land Trust Committee negotiates purchases or donations with landowners and works to raise funds with a capital campaign. Many of our major acquisitions, including the Kennebec Highlands, are in partnership with the Maine Department of Conservation, at least partially funded by matching grants from Land for Maine's Future (LMF) program administered by the State Planning Office. Our priorities are to expand high value wildlife habitat and protect water quality while expanding low-impact recreational opportunities in the watershed. The following is from BRCA's strategic plan: Responsibilities are to develop and apply criteria for selecting land or conservation easements for BRCA acquisition; select target properties for BRCA ownership or conservation easements; negotiate purchases and donations of land or easements with landowners; coordinate with Stewardship Committee to identify long-term goals and costs of ownership or easement of properties prior to acquisition decisions; document all steps of the land acquisition process in accordance with LTA Standards and Practices; and in cooperation with the Development Committee, apply for grants and conduct capital campaigns to fund land and easement acquisition. Goals are to add to the conserved land area in the Belgrade Lakes region in accordance with a long range conservation plan; to protect areas that provide high-value habitat and/or are important to the water quality of the Belgrade Lakes; to expand existing conservation lands and establish wildlife and trail corridors to connect natural areas; and to expand recreational opportunities by linking existing trails and properties, creating canoe/kayak trail, etc. 11016 9118 11118 Watershed Program: The BRCA Watershed Program performs projects oriented towards improving water quality throughout the watershed. These projects are normally funded through Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) grants from the 319 (h) Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program. The program both administers projects and participates in projects administered by others, such as the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation district (KCSWCD). Projects include performing watershed surveys, presenting education and outreach programs on water quality, preparing watershed based plans, & designing and implementing drainage Best Management Practices (BMPs) for gravel roads or other polluting properties. 5729 2000 2250 Education and Outreach Program: The education and outreach programming is responsible for developing and directing BRCA's educational & outreach programs. Also with the development committee, raise funds to support education center and programs. Goals are to establish a strong environmental education program that provides services to schools and summer camps in the Belgrade Lakes region as well as to the general public to increase public awareness of conservation issues & encourage members of the public to make environmentally responsible choices. Specific activities in the summer of 2013 included weekly programs, guided hikes, and canoe trips by BRCA volunteers for the general public, one summer camp and one day camp, and a lecture series held 2-3 times per month for the summer. 62566 19118 101348 465124 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 0 1 52 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 13 13 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 X X X Richard Greenan 2074953740 137 Main St 2nd floor PO Box 250 Belgrade Lakes ME 049180250 X Mel Croft President 10 0 X 0 0 0 Don Mairs Secretary 5 0 X 0 0 0 Richard Greenan Treasurer 8 0 X 0 0 0 Margaret Shannon Member at Large 1 0 X 0 0 0 John Schultz Member at Large 3 0 X 0 0 0 William Swan Member at Large 3 0 X 0 0 0 Jane Eberle Member at Large 5 0 X 0 0 0 Patrick Donahue Member at Large 2 0 X 0 0 0 Warren Balgooyen Member at Large 6 0 X 0 0 0 Christine Cook Member at Large 6 0 X 0 0 0 Jodie Mosher-Towle Member at Large 6 0 X 0 0 0 Mark Heuberger Member at Large 2 0 X 0 0 0 Peter Kallin Member at Large 8.00 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52423 40946 8100 139566 143003 0 384038 Milfoil Program 813312 203165 203165 0 0 Youth Conservation Corps 813312 36421 36421 0 0 Lakes Trust Division 813312 14500 14500 0 0 Stewardship Program 813312 2040 2040 0 0 Watershed 319 grant Program 813312 500 500 0 0 0 0 0 0 256626 46733 46733 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40946 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 398 0 398 398 0 0 Administrative Rebates and Photocopier Sharing 561000 8736 8736 0 0 Savings Account Interest 813312 185 185 0 0 1972 1972 0 0 10893 698688 314650 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 267723 235448 31721 554 0 0 0 0 7309 5036 2273 0 25653 22694 2925 34 0 0 0 0 11147 3297 7850 0 400 0 400 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1025 1025 0 0 96542 95597 595 350 49 0 0 49 31849 17102 11603 3144 9827 5160 3582 1085 0 0 0 0 18333 10600 7733 0 8306 7964 342 0 0 0 0 1649 1237 412 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5753 4142 1611 0 Program Service Costs 30876 30876 0 0 Biennial Fundraiser: Alfond Memorial Golf Tournament 24287 0 0 24287 Americorps Veteran Community Leaders Program 11000 11000 0 0 Stewardship's Program: Property taxes on Fee properties 4588 4588 0 0 10121 9358 763 0 566437 465124 71810 29503 5129 23319 101187 136236 0 34118 61532 15613 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22727 1435214 5647 1405435 1429567 307135 360214 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1880418 2021794 8034 19605 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4907 2461 12941 22066 X 36141 41488 1831336 1958240 0 0 1867477 1999728 1880418 2021794 132251 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 351149 269642 309104 365912 384038 1679845 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 351149 269642 309104 365912 384038 1679845 261318 1418527 32100 17937 271 27506 46733 124547 0 0 0 0 0 0 134410 148191 145725 249680 297572 975578 2779970 0 0.51027 0.45025 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 Fundraising events (BRCA Harold Alfond Memorial Pro Am Golf Tournament and the BRCA 5K Race for the Lakes) and Program Service Revenue (Milfoil Program's Courtesy Boat Inspections; Youth Conservation Corps' erosion control projects; Land Trust, general and as related to the Kennebec Highlands; Stewardship duties for the Humane Society for the United States' Wildlife Land Trust; and the Lakes Trust division performing water quality projects and tasks for the Colby College EPSCOR Sustainability grant). RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X 13 951 0 0 0 1 1 115 2500 1 307135 7371 45708 0 0 0 360214 282366 0 26269 0 1500 0 307135 216687 67025 271 0 0 0 283983 188241 12325 16121 0 0 0 216687 159368 0 28873 0 0 0 188241 1 0 0 0 0 0 1429567 1429567 0 5647 5647 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1429567 594 Accrued Payroll Taxes - State of Maine 1202 Short-term Liability, Flexible Spending account 665 2461 698688 0 0 0 0 0 698688 0 0 0 698688 566437 0 0 0 0 0 566437 0 0 0 566437 Schedule D, Part II, Line 5 The Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance's (BRCA) Conservation Easement Monitoring Policy: Every parcel on which BRCA holds an easement will be monitored at least once a year. Monitoring will be done by BRCA staff or trained volunteers. The monitor will follow established procedures and will thoroughly document the result of the monitoring visit. Monitoring report forms will be kept on file at the BRCA office. Whenever a new conservation easement is acquired, the Stewardship Committee will, within six months of the easement signing, consider the monitoring requirements of the easement, establish an appropriate monitoring schedule, and appoint a monitor for the property. When a landowner exercises reserved rights requiring notification of BRCA, one or more additional monitoring visits will be made to ensure that the activities are carried out in accordance with the easement. The landowner will be informed in advance of all monitoring visits and invited to attend. Following the visit, the owner will be informed in writing of the results of the visit, whether they were present or not. The person conducting an official monitoring visit on an easement may not be the owner of the property. Whenever possible, the same person will monitor an easement from year to year. Schedule D, Part II, Line 9 BRCA Conservation Easements are valued using the zero valuation method. Schedule D, Part V, Line 4 The goals of the BRCA endowment funds and its accounts are to maintain the integrity of BRCA Lands and easements and to fund improvements and public services related to their maintenance. Stewardship endowment funds may be used to pay for operating costs of BRCA conservation lands. One of the funds is intended to provide a portion of the annual operating funds of the Youth Conservation Corps. BRCA Harold Alfond Memorial Pro Am Golf Tournament 40946 0 40946 4500 1817 0 1931 0 19765 BRCA Youth Conservation Corps Program 25068 25068 0 0 0 0 0 0 1489 0 66014 25068 40946 4500 1817 0 1931 0 21254 29502 11444 X 1 0 knowledge X 1 0 appraisal 1 0 0 0 Schedule M, Part I, Line 33 The conservation easement on the property is of no value to BRCA and the land remains property of the owner. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 6 Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 6 - BRCA is supported in part from our membership. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7a Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7a - BRCA members may attend the annual meeting where they may elect one or more members of the governing body. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7b Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 7b - Only by-law changes. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b - The 990 review process includes review by the president, the treasurer, the office manager, the executive director, and then reviewed by the board. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c - The BRCA conflict of interest policy is semi-annually reviewed at the April and October board meetings. Also, when issues arise during monthly board meetings, where voting is needed on issues that may entail issues of conflict of interest, board members abstain. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 - The process for determining the executive director's compensation included a review and approval by the board using comparability data from outside resources. Performed annually. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 18 BRCA makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public. The by-laws are made available to members upon request and distributed prior to any proposed amendments. The conflict of interest policy is written in the BRCA organizational manual and available upon request. The BRCA financial statements and 990 are available to the public through the Guidestar website and to members at the annual meeting. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 - BRCA makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public. The by-laws are made available to members upon request and distributed prior to any proposed amendments. The conflict of interest policy is written in the BRCA organizational manual and available upon request. The BRCA financial statements and 990 are available to the public through the Guidestar website and to members upon request. Form 990, Part IX, Line 11g The bulk of this expense line for programs is pertaining to the hired contractors with a DASH (diver-assisted suctioning harvester) boat to remove the milfoil infestation for our Milfoil Program; $83,468. $4,200 is for the contractors for the 319 Federal grant Watershed Program for road work. $1,035 is for the contractor that worked on the Youth Conservation Program's database. And the rest is for the plowing contractors that keep our trail parking lots free of snow all winter. The management expenses are computer/technology services for our office. The fundraising expense is the race coordinator's fee for the 5K Race for the Lakes held Labor Day weekend.