Maine Lakefront Property Owners Use LakeSmart Program to Reduce Impact on Lake

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Maine Lakefront Property Owners Use LakeSmart Program to Reduce Impact on Lake

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Crystal Clear Water of Crystal Lake, Raymond, Maine

Pristine lakefront property in Maine. Mirror-like crystal clear water. Spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Captivating mountain views. Gentle afternoon breezes. Starry-starry nights. Serenading loons. Basking painted turtles.
When you think about purchasing a classic Maine cabin, camp or cottage on the lake, chances are you envision the above. And we’ll help you find it.



But . . . as development increases along the waterfront, immaculate lawns replace the forested shorelines and seasonal camps are renovated to year-round homes, the amount of phosphorus that enters the water leads to algae blooms and diminished water quality. With an algae bloom, you can see less than two meters into the water. Our lakes are fragile and it doesn’t take much phosphorus to make them bloom.
To protect the watershed, many lake associations participate in the LakeSmart program, originally supported by the State and now administered by the Congress of Lake Associations (COLA). The LakeSmart Program is a free opportunity for lakefront property owners to learn how to manage their home and yard to create a more natural, lake-friendly environment. The end result–protecting the water quality.
Through the program, homeowners learn good land-use techniques: how to keep rainwater from running into lakes, maintain a fairly deep and healthy screen of groundcover, plants, shrubs and trees along the waterfront, maintain septic systems, avoid using harmful chemicals and obey shoreland zoning laws. For their efforts, they receive the coveted LakeSmart Award.
To begin, a site visit is conducted, usually by a DEP-certified Soil and Water Conservation District staff member. Areas of interest include roads and driveways, existing structures and the septic system, lawn, recreational areas and footpaths, shorefront and beach areas and undeveloped land. The evaluator will recommend any necessary improvements.
There may be matching grant monies available for improvements, but even if there aren’t, it will pay off in the end to make changes that will have a positive effect on your  property. Land use impacts water quality. Sustainable landscaping + improved water quality = added property value. That’s an equation we all love.
About 30 lake associations participate in the LakeSmart Program. But even if your association doesn’t participate, you can still make changes to protect the water. Sometimes it’s as simple as adding a roof dripline trench and some erosion control mulch to your property.
According to a fact sheet produced by the Portland Water District, “Dripline trenches collect and infiltrate stormwater, and control erosive runoff from the rooftop. The trenches collect roof runoff and store it until it soaks into the soil. These systems also minimize wear on your house by reducing back splash.”
From personal experience, I know that the installation involves digging an 18” wide X 8” deep trench that slopes away from the house so water drains away from the foundation.   We had installed a dripline more than twenty years ago, but it was no longer functioning as it should. And our land slopes from the cabin to the water. During rain, it was obvious from the rivulets that water was flowing directly from the house to the short, straight path leading to the dock and lake. Before starting the project, we sought permission from the PWD and set up a silt barrier.
To extend the life of the trench, we lined it with a non-woven geotextile fabric, which we purchased at our local hardware store. We filled the fabric with 1⁄2” -11⁄2” crushed stone to within 3” of the ground level, then folded the fabric over and topped it with additional stone. Next, we strategically planted lowbush blueberries and several other native plants to fill in the bare space and create a meandering walkway from the house to the waterfront. We lined the walkway with stones and spread  3”-4” of Erosion Control Mix on the path and between the plantings.
Another PWD fact sheet states: “Erosion Control Mix is a kind of mulch made of partially composted bark, sand, gravel, stone and wood fragments. It is much heavier than other types of mulch and its mixture of elongated fibers, gravel and soil lock together to protect the underlying soil from erosion. Like other mulches, it also retains moisture, controls weeds and improves the soil as it decomposes.”
Finally, we created a meandering pathway, designed to direct foot traffic, absorb water and protect soil. Ultimately, the pathway will also minimize the amount of pollutants that flow into the lake. It’s only a couple of feet wide and filled with ECM and pine needles.
We’re fortunate in that we have a wide vegetated buffer around our property, but that bare space had been shouting at us for years. Now, it not only looks natural and nice, but we’ve reduced our lawn space (and time spent on lawn care), and more importantly, we’ve reduced our impact on the lake.
Following lake-friendly practices makes sense and cents!
To view lakefront property listings on Crescent Lake in the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine, click on the green box above.
To learn more about the LakeSmart Program, check out these blog links below.
Vacationland Paradise Waiting for You on Crescent Lake in the Sebago Lakes Region
Find Your Waterfront Getaway on Lake Anasagunticook in Canton and Hartford, Maine
City Amenities in Taylor Pond’s Lakefront Neighborhood in Auburn, Maine
Crystal Clear Waters Define Worthley Pond in Peru, Maine
14th Annual Maine Milfoil Summit Convenes in Lewiston

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