Ben Franklin used to say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." If Old Ben had been a watershed manager, he would have said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure."

Watershed managers often speak of the need for Best Management Practices (BMPs).  There are two types of BMPs: Structural BMPs such as properly designed culverts, rain gardens, rock-lined swales, etc.; and Nonstructural BMPs such as effective shoreland zoning ordinances or behavioral modifications such as not cutting your grass to the shoreline, not washing yourself or your dog in the lake with soap, or not using fertilizer or detergent that contains phosphorus. In general, nonstructural BMPs are much cheaper, much more effective, and focused on prevention rather than remediation.  

When it comes to lake protection, the most common concern we hear is that lakeside residents frequently violate Maine's Mandatory Shoreland Zone Act (MSZA) and get away with it.  The threat to lakes from noncompliance is real, especially if it is as common as you report. Maine's Lake Leader Network, a collaboration of the state's eleven regional watershed alliances that we convene twice yearly in partnership with the Lakes Environmental Association, asked us to address noncompliance when we asked them what legislative issues were of most importance to their work. The Lake Leader concern matches the results of a statewide survey of lake association concerns we conducted in 2005, but we don't have the data to know the true extent of the problem. We have introduced a bill to help us get a handle on noncompliance, figure out why it occurs, and stop it.  

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In 1970, there was no DEP, no shoreland zoning, and the Great Ponds Act was generally ignored as people dumped sand in their lakes to create beaches that could not last. Municipal sewage and industrial wastes were pouring into our rivers, streams, and lakes. Times have changed!

For 45 years, as COLA and now the Maine Lakes Society, we have advocated for strong but sensible regulations to protect the water quality and beauty of our lakes.  Lakeshore property owners have accepted more stringent land use regulations because we know our lakes are fragile and our land use activities can impact the future of the waters we love.  We accept regulation "for the sake of our lakes."

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Several years ago, the Maine Lakes Society and the Lakes Environmental Association of Bridgton brought the state's regional watershed alliances together to exchange information for mutual benefit.  This informal collaboration is known as the Maine Lake Leaders' Network, and it meets twice yearly to share information and work together for the benefit of our lakes and ponds. 

Most recently, when we were researching possible legislation to better protect lake water quality, this experienced group told us that the best thing we could do was address the problem of noncompliance with Maine's most important lake protection law, the Minimum Shoreland Zone Regulations.  We introduced that bill; it will come up for a hearing next month, and we're asking for your help and theirs to pass it.   

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In late December 2014, the Executive Committee approved the hiring of a new Development and Communications Director, Cheryl Daigle. Funding for the position has been supported by a benefactor of Maine Lakes who is interested in helping the organization's development efforts - William Schawbel, the founder of Thermacell Corporation. 

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Passengers feel the wind blow through their hair and the soft, slick lake bottom slide between their fingers.  These experiences connect the science of lake stewardship to the emotion of having fun on a Maine lake. The equipment we use enables riders to handle "tools of the trade." A rush of excitement flows over the boat in anticipation of seeing a fish, crayfish, turtle, or whatever else might appear.  

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