Being lake smart is the key to protecting the Lake Region’s greatest resource — lakes and ponds.

Lakes Environmental Association recently recognized individuals and families who in 2023 participated in the LakeSmart Program.

“LEA thanks each of these individuals and families for helping to ensure that the beautiful lakes and ponds of this region stay pristine for generations to come,” LEA posted in its recent electronic newsletter.

LEA is a LakeSmart hub for only six towns — Bridgton, Denmark, Harrison, Naples, Sweden and Waterford. If you are outside of the LEA service area, visit lakes.me/lakesmart

LakeSmart is a program that educates landowners about best practices to protect the lakes they live on! The goal is to reduce or eliminate erosion and storm water runoff because it carries pollutants, including phosphorus. Properties which are particularly lake-friendly receive the LakeSmart Award, with accompanying signs for display!

LakeSmart properties are more natural than suburban; preventing erosion, providing wildlife habitat, food for pollinators, cooling shade, privacy screening, and so much more. They are functional properties, too…with docks, decks, recreation areas and winding paths.

How does it work? Interested owners can request a free property evaluation. The evaluation involves a volunteer walking your property with you, looking at different criteria that affect lake health. Some questions LakeSmart volunteers are looking to answer are:

• Is there erosion on the driveway?

• How often do you pump your septic system?

• Are pathways limited and protected with mulch or other stable ground cover?

• How thick is the vegetated buffer* between the house and the lake?

• Is there erosion on the shoreline?

• Is the leach field healthy? (No woody plants or obvious malfunction)

(*a vegetated buffer is the trees, shrubs and groundcover plants between your house and the lake that catch sediment and other pollution.)

The evaluation report provides recommendations intended to make your property more lake-friendly by eliminating and preventing erosion or other pollution. It’s a normal part of the process to not meet the requirements on your first evaluation! Common recommendations for improvement are:

• Increase native plants on your property

• Reduce lawn area

• Divert stormwater to natural areas (away from the lake)

• Cover pathways with erosion control mulch

• Stabilize the shoreline with native plants

• Pump the septic system regularly (every 3 years for a lakefront property!)

If your property meets LakeSmart requirements, you get the LakeSmart award! Each award is accompanied by two distinctive signs intended for display at the shoreline and at the road.  These signs may encourage lake-friendly practices throughout your neighborhood.

If your property does not, you receive a report with recommendations for improvement. There is not pressure or obligation to make these changes! If you choose to make changes, your property can be re-evaluated for award!

2023 Lake Smart award recipients were:

Alan and Julie Whitaker (Woods Pond)

Andy and Cathryn English (Hancock Pond)

Ben and Tim Peierls (Sand Pond)

Bruce and Sharon Riedell (Long Lake)

Cheryl Robertson (Long Lake)

Daniel Goldberg (Long Lake)

David and Jeannine Rogers (Hancock Pond)

Elizabeth Hutchinson (Woods Pond)

Geoffrey and Judy Jones (Sand Pond)

George and Karena Poonen (Sand Pond)

Gitte and Rick Irving (Highland Lake)

Glen Gerrish (Sand Pond)

Hio Ridge Shores Association (Moose Pond)

Irish Meusel (Hancock Pond)

Jason and Christine Chasse (Moose Pond)

Jeffrey Mendel (Long Lake)

Jim Gilchrist and Maria DelBaccaro (Moose Pond)

John and Wendy Furey (Woods Pond)

Joseph Nagy and Myung-Hee Hur (Hancock Pond)

Laurence and Kathryn Clark (Hancock Pond)

Margot Kingston (Woods Pond)

Mary and John Morganti (Hancock Pond)

Melissa and John Nairn (Hancock Pond)

Michael McLeod (Moose Pond)

Nancy Lubin and John Sopko (Long Lake)

Peter LaPolice (Moose Pond)

PJ and Pam Ricatto (Moose Pond)

Rick and Chris Siegrist (Moose Pond)

Robert Bickford (Moose Pond)

Roy Lambert and Mary Maxwell (Woods Pond)

Stacy Lamson (Moose Pond)

Susan Welchman (Heald Pond)

The Narrows Lot Owners’ Association (Moose Pond)

LEA joined the LakeSmart program in 2016. LEA is proud to report that since then:

• The LEA team has evaluated 239 properties

• 118 properties have earned the LakeSmart Award

• LEA has evaluated properties on 23 area lakes and ponds

LEA thanks the LakeSmart evaluator team who make this possible: Chris Brink, Larry Clark, Emlyn Crocker, Bill Dexter, Dave Durrenberger, Ginger Eaton, Doss Hasson, Roy Lambert, Peter LaPolice, Lauren Pickford, Cheryl Robertson, Kevin Ronan, Kevin Rooney, Elizabeth Stockwood, BJ Warner and Martina Witts.

If you live in LEA’s service area (Bridgton, Denmark, Harrison, Naples, Sweden and Waterford) contact lauren@mainelakes.org!

If you are outside of this area, contact info@lakes.me