What is LakeSmart
LakeSmart is the flagship program sponsored by Maine Lakes, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting lakes, ponds, and watersheds throughout its network of 130 member lake associations.
LakeSmart is a free and voluntary educational program to help property owners protect lake water quality and preserve their property values.
With your permission, a friendly neighbor from the GPA will walk your property with you and help assess how your property contributes rain runoff into the pond and discuss some low-cost ways to minimize that runoff.
Why is Lakesmart important
There are 140+ lakefront properties on Georges Pond, and all of them contribute stormwater runoff that carries nutrients into the pond.
One tiny rivulet from one rainstorm may not seem like much, but when multiplied across the pond’s watershed and added up over decades, the result can lead to algae blooms, fish kills, loss of water clarity and spawning habitat, and a pea-green mess that no one wants to swim in. Georges Pond experienced serious algal blooms in 2012 and as recently as the end of 2017.
LakeSmart is one of the most effective lake protection programs available today. It encourages waterfront homeowners to use natural landscaping strategies to protect the health of the lake. While an alum treatment will help in the short term, as the GPA has witnessed in 2020 and, we hope, again in 2021, the most effective long-term strategy is for every property owner to adopt best management practices on their own property.
Examples of Lakesmart
How you can Help
Sign up for LakeSmart by emailing GeorgesPondAssociation@gmail.com.
After your LakeSmart review is completed, continue to improve conditions on your property by adding new BMPs (best management practices).