Maine Lakefront Neighbors Need to Share Passion For Water Quality

Lakefront House For Sale on Mousam Lake, Acton, Maine: Perfect for Family Vacations
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Maine Lakefront Neighbors Need to Share Passion For Water Quality

Maine Lakefront Neighbors Need to Share Passion For Water Quality

Azure Sky Reflection on Mousam Lake, Acton, Maine

by Leigh Macmillen Hayes

One day you’re paddling along on your Maine lake and notice a neighbor has destroyed the vegetated buffer or committed some other wrongdoing at the shoreline. As a lakefront property owner and one who cares about the water quality, what should you do?

Well, we’ve got a few ideas for you to consider. Face-to-face communication is best, but not all of us are comfortable with this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talk: Perhaps your neighbor isn’t aware that he shouldn’t be ripping up the shoreline vegetation. Give him/her the benefit of doubt. Pay a visit. If you’ve never met before, introduce yourself and then broach the subject in a polite and respectful manner. Explain how the buffer helps control runoff and reduces erosion, thus protecting the lake.

Write: Keep a log of the problem, jotting down what you actually see happening. If possible, take photographs. Is the person breaking a law or shoreland zoning ordinance? Then put your concerns in a letter, stating actual dates and infractions. Send it to that person and your town’s Code Enforcement Officer.

Reach Out: Have other neighbors noticed what is happening? Perhaps one of them who has a better relationship with this person can intervene.

Contact Authorities: If you have a lake or road association, contact the president or executive director. Also, as stated above, contact your town’s Code Enforcement Officer. Explain the situation. They may have a way to help you broach the subject yourself, or they may reach out to the individual.

Remember, you share a direct connection and common interest with your neighbors and other lake enthusiasts: your shared passion for your lake.
But in the case of the shoreland zoning violations, maybe some lake residents don’t understand how the lake works. If they begin to learn about causes and disturbances responsible for changing the lake’s condition, perhaps they’ll begin to work to restore the ecosystem.

The trees and vegetation surrounding the lake serve as a buffer and a filter for run-off, which may contain fertilizers and herbicides, along with other pollutants. Without this natural filter, contaminants seep directly into the lake and can impact water quality. The vegetated buffer near the shoreline also provides cover and habitat for wildlife, and reduces the potential for shoreline erosion.

The bottom line is that you and your neighbors should care about the impact of your actions on the water quality of the lake.

To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Mousam Lake in Acton, Maine, click on the green box above.

To learn more about the Acton/Shapleigh area of the Sanford Lakes Region in York County, Maine, check out the blog links below.

Mousam Lake in Southern Maine – Perfect for Boaters, Anglers and Vacationers

Great East Lake is Acton, Maine’s Golden Pond

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