Water Quality Milfoil Conservation Corps Water Quality Technical Info

LakeSmart Program

What is the LakeSmart program?
Six years ago, Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MEDEP) introduced the LakeSmart homeowner award program.  This program rewards lake friendly landscaping, living, and use of best management practices (BMP’s) by recognizing homeowners whose properties score well in 4 categories: (1) driveway and parking; (2) structures and septic; (3) lawn, recreation and foot paths; (4) shorefront and beach area.  LakeSmart has given the LakeSmart Award to 202 properties and recognized 208 others for qualification in at least one landscape component. So LakeSmart, a program that rewards the lakeside homeowner, gives a pat on the back to those who do what they can to protect water quality.  It’s a person-to-person effort to explain the ins and outs (the mostly downs) of runoff, and how each of us can make the little changes that will add up to a big difference when added all together over time.

Who does the LakeSmart program?
In our watershed, we’ve had a trial using volunteers to extend LakeSmart this summer.  In June, a number of folks were taught to evaluate properties on the LakeSmart model and make suggestions to homeowners who asked for help.  Over the course of the summer, these trainees have done a lot of site visits and made many recommendations for LakeSmart Awards and Recognitions.  In this, the first of a three year test period, our volunteers completed 34 property surveys, resulting in recommendations for 22 LakeSmart Awards and 6 LakeSmart Recommendations.  A few Awards have been given out, but most will be celebrated at Lake Association Annual Meetings next summer.

The program was active on four lakes. Volunteers who made the program a success were Mel Croft on East Pond; Mark Heuberger, Michael Bernstein, Pat Donahue, and Maureen Maslak on Great Pond; Maureen Maslak on Long Pond;  and Dick and Betsy Enright on Salmon Lake. 

We expect this volunteer-led program will grow over the years; we see it as the best way to make needed change.  Property owners should be assured that LakeSmart evaluations are not judgmental, pass/fail kinds of things.  On the contrary, we’re all learning, all the time, about what makes good practice.  Over time, any property can become more lake friendly, and that’s what we’re really after.  Through LakeSmart, the Lake Trust hopes to establish comfortable working relationships with property owners, helping create awareness about lake friendly living and assisting homeowners with information, technical advice, and Conservation Corps projects.

For more information about LakeSmart in the Belgrade Watershed, please call Clark Freeman, Conservation Corps Director, at 207-495-6039.