Maine Lakes Society

TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OF MAINE'S LAKES, BOTH TODAY AND LONG INTO THE FUTURE. OUR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES PROMOTE HEALTHY LAKES FOR ALL LAKE USERS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS, VISITORS, LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITIES, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAKE STEWARDS.

LAKESMART: LAKESMART IS MAINE LAKES' FLAGSHIP PROGRAM THAT USES TEAMS OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO VISIT, EDUCATE AND REWARD LAKEFRONT HOMEOWNERS WHO MANAGE THEIR PROPERTIES IN WAYS THAT PROTECT WATER QUALITY, AQUATIC HABITAT, PROPERTY VALUES, AND THE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES HEALTHY LAKES PROVIDE. IN 2022, THE PROGRAM HAD A NEW PROGRAM MANAGER (ANDREA STEVENS) WHO SPENT MUCH OF THE BUSY FIELD SEASON MEETING VOLUNTEERS AND FAMILIARIZING HERSELF WITH THE PROGRAM. THERE WERE FEW TRAININGS FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS, BUT 99 VOLUNTEER EVALUATORS WERE ACTIVE AND CONDUCTED A RECORD 237 LAKESMART EVALUATIONS ON 45 DIFFERENT LAKES ACROSS THE STATE. THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR LAKESMART IS CONTINUING PROGRAM MOMENTUM ON LAKES WITH ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS, CREATING A BEHAVIORAL NORM AMONG LAKEFRONT HOMEOWNERS THAT THE RIGHT THING, IN FACT THE ONLY THING TO DO, IS TO STOP EROSION AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY.

OTHER PROGRAMS

CONFERENCE: MAINE LAKES USUALLY HOSTS AN ANNUAL MAINE LAKES CONFERENCE EVERY JUNE BUT DUE TO LINGERING PANDEMIC CONCERNS, WE ONCE AGAIN PIVOTED OUR SPEAKERS TO ONLINE WEBINARS. THE 10 WEBINARS WERE ORGANIZED AROUND THE THEME OF 50 YEARS CELEBRATING THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND ADDRESSED AN ARRAY OF TOPICS AROUND LAKE HEALTH. THE BROAD ARRAY OF TOPICS INCLUDED MANAGING ROAD SALT FOR LAKE HEALTH, USING THE EPA'S "HOW'S MY WATERWAY?" ONLINE DATABASE, LAKE PROTECTION ON TRIBAL, LANDS, LIVING SHORLINES, AND THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF MAINE'S GREAT PONDS. RETIRED FISHERIES BIOLOGIST MATT SCOTT CONCLUDED THE WEBINAR SERIES WITH A RETROSPECTIVE OF 50 YEARS OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT. HE WEBINARS HAD OVER 1,000 UNIQUE ATTENDEES, WITH MORE THAN 200 ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF RECORDINGS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING.

EDUCATION: MAINE LAKES LAUNCHED SEVERAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES IN 2022, INCLUDING THE PUBLICATION AND SALE OF A REVISED LAKE BOOK: A HANDBOOK FOR LAKE PROTECTION. WE FILMED FOUR VIDEOS THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE INSTALLATION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE GROUND AT LAKES ACROSS THE STATE. WE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED RECENTLY DEVELOPED PUBLICATIONS COVERING SEPTIC CARE AND SHORELINE BUFFERS. WE VISITED LAKE ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR GOOD WORK PROTECTING MAINE'S LAKES. WE PUBLISHED TWO NEWSLETTERS THAT COVERED TOPICS OF INTEREST TO LAKE DWELLERS TO HELP THEM BECOME MORE INFORMED AND TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THEIR LAKES.