Maine Lakes Society’s LakeSmart Program-Bill 959

Out and About for the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine Mar. 14-20
Out and About for the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine Mar. 14-20
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Out and About for the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine Mar.28-Apr.3
Out and About for the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine Mar.28-Apr.3
March 28, 2019

Maine Lakes Society’s LakeSmart Program-Bill 959


On Thursday, March 14, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee will hear Bill 959 which, if passed, will provide increased grant funding from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Maine Lakes Society’s LakeSmart Program and to the Lake Stewards of Maine for their Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program. The bill will also provide funds to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission for pollution control training programs. According to LakeSmart Coordinator Maggie Shannon, the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program measures water quality in more than 400 lakes throughout the state. Shannon claims that the program is “critical” for planning water quality protection and repair, and that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection depends on it heavily.
Along with the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, the LakeSmart Program has been helping protect Maine waters since 2004. The Maine Lakes Society assumed management of the program in 2014, and since that time it has grown by 600%. The program involves sending trained volunteers to the homes of lakefront property owners who express interest in having their property assessed for to protect site-specific recommendations to protect water quality, improve wildlife habitats, and preserve the market value of shoreland properties. The program is free, voluntary, and non-regulatory; property owners that make suggested improvements to meet LakeSmart standards receive two award signs–one for the shoreline and one for the driveway head–to distinguish good stewardship, signify lake-friendly living practices, and help spread LakeSmart participation. The program helps Maine meet its Clean Water Act obligations. Due to its recent growth, the program will cost the Maine Lakes Society $105,000 this year. In order to continue its good work of keeping Maine’s lakes protected, the program will need to continue to expand. The bill asks for an $100,000 appropriation that will provide a sustainable foundation on which the Society can expand the program.
As a lakefront homeowner, potential buyer or seller, or, simply as a resident of Maine, it is worth understanding the positive effect this bill could have on the quality of lakes across the state. 65,000 Mainers–a full 50% of our statewide population–recreate on lakes each year. And, unsurprisingly, Maine’s lakes are a significant contributor to its top industry: tourism. Regions populated with lakes depend on the health and water quality of those lakes to drive their economy. Shorefront tax revenues provide vital services to hundreds of Maine towns, sometimes comprising of more than 80 percent of a town’s income. As the Maine Lakes Society quips, “have you ever wondered how many lakes it takes to float a school?”
Furthermore, water quality issues can extend beyond the shores of Maine’s lakes and ponds. These freshwater sources drain to rivers that flow into Maine’s gulf, affecting the coastal ecosystem and industry. If you care for the protection of Maine’s waters–as you should!–this is a bill worth supporting. For more information on Bill 959, the Maine Lakes Society, or the LakeSmart Program, you may visit the following link:
https://mainelakessociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/FINAL-959-WEBSITE-TPs_1mar19.pdf

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