Maine’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts Partner with Locals to Solve Water Pollution Issues

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Maine’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts Partner with Locals to Solve Water Pollution Issues

Maine’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts Partner with Locals to Solve Water Pollution Issues

Stillness of Autumn Day Reflected on Phillips Lake, Dedham, Maine

by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
“‘The Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself’ was the warning issued in 1937 by President Roosevelt when he signed legislation authorizing the creation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.” This is the opening statement on the Maine Association of Conservation Districts’ Web site.

 

 

 

 

 


“At that time, the nation was facing a monumental task of protecting our soil and water from the ravages of improper use that resulted in the ‘Dust Bowl’ era. The Federal Government realized it could only solve the problem through strong local involvement and participation. Local people had to be a major part of the solution, which is why Soil and Water Conservation Districts were formed.”
Today, it’s non-point source pollution (NPS) that greatly concerns the Districts of Maine. NPS pollution comes from a variety of sources. You can’t point to it like point-source pollution, which is discharged from pipes. Erosions, pesticides and toxins are all examples of NPS pollution, which are picked up by stormwater runoff and carried to the lake.
Healthy watersheds are the main goal for a healthy environment and economy. At the local level, the S&W Conservation Districts provide leadership, while teaching lakefront property owners about conservation efforts. They help lake  and road associations plan and implement voluntary programs based on local issues.
The following are some of the benefits of working with your local S&W Conservation District:
• Help solve statewide problems by providing local solutions to many local natural resource problems (one size does not fit all)
• Develop local leadership
• Provide local hands-on training on natural resource issues
• Teach the value of natural resources directly to local people
• Provide voluntary technical assistance to landusers
• Offer technical assistance and education to help prevent and reduce polluted runoff (non-point source pollution)
• Offer technical assistance to help protect drinking water supplies
There are sixteen Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the State of Maine. For the past 60+ years, they have helped us protect the soil, water, forests, wildlife and other natural resources that we value–and all to often take for granted.
As a 501c(3) organization, the different Districts work on a variety of projects from battling the spread of aquatic weeds in York County and building “LakeSmart” communities in Kennebec and Franklin Counties to promoting native plants, gardens and buffer strips in Knox-Lincoln County and restoring polluted lakes and streams in several counties including Cumberland.
For strong, technical expertise about the waterfront, we strongly encourage you and your lake or road association to partner with the S&W Conservation District in your county.
To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Phillips Lake in Dedham, Maine, click on the green box above.
To learn more about Phillips Lake and the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine, check out the blog links below.
Phillips Lake, Dedham Township, Maine: Own Lakefront Property in “The Switzerland of Maine”
Green Lake, Dedham and Ellsworth, Maine: An Idyllic Gem in Downeast Maine

 

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