A Laker’s Dozen
13 Ways You Can Help Our Lake
- Always check boat, trailer, and equipment for plant fragments before launch and right after take out.
- Respect shoreline zone regulations. Before making any change on your land, check with your town to see what’s permitted and what’s not in the shoreland: 250’ of the lake and 75’ of streams.
- Control storm water run-off from buildings, paths, drives, and roads. Check your property on a rainy day and fix run-off sites by planting vegetation or constructing swales to direct water flow away from lake.
- Cultivate a wooded buffer. Trees, shrubs, and grasses slow the flow and filter soil and pollutants from rainwater before they end up in the lake.
- Limit lawn size, mow less often and don’t rake duff within 75 feet of the shore.
- Limit fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide use. Long lasting residues in these chemicals can turn lakes green and harm aquatic life.
- Don’t stress the septic system. Inspect yearly and pump out regularly. Use phosphorous-free cleaners and detergents. Minimize water use.
- Construct docks and floats with lake=friendly materials. Chose cedar, cypress, plastic, or aluminum over wood that has been pressure treated with arsenic.
- Dogs, humans, and boats should never be washed in the lake!
- Observe headway speed within 200 feet of shore. Boating in shallow waters disturbs fish habitat and stirs up sediment.
- When you replace a boat motor, chose a clean 4-stroke engine.
- Preserve wildlife habitat on land and underwater. Lake shallows and shorelands are home to many native species and nurseries for young.
- Support you local lake association and Maine COLA
(Reprinted with courtesy of Maine COLA)