8544-R5_ML&P_LSLA_2023_FallNewsletter_Web

Watershed Update Layne Albert & Kevin Ronan

Watershed. I’ve heard that before, but what is it exactly? Simply stated, our watershed is the area of land surrounding our lake that drains or “sheds” water into our lake. Essentially a watershed is a buffer zone of land surrounding our lake. If you appreciate our clean clear lake, the evocative sound of the loons and days filled with swimming and boating then you should care about and protect our watershed. Take care of our watershed and our lake will be beautiful for us and our families and their families for years to come. As storm water, snow melting and other runoff water flows downhill to our lake, it often carries contaminants with it (loose soil, fertilizer, pet waste, pollutants from malfunctioning appliances, etc.). These contaminants, left unchecked, can cause unsightly and potentially dangerous algae blooms to grow uncontrolled in our lake. Our enjoyment of our lake would suffer as would our precious wildlife inhabitants. How can you help prevent or minimize the amount of contaminants that enter our lake? There are many ways to prevent erosion and minimize the amount of pollutants that enter our lake. The most important and highest impact actions you can take center around increasing the buffer zone of our watershed. Roads, driveways, homes, paths and other improvements on the watershed create impervious surfaces that prevent runoff water flows from soaking into the ground (where the soil filters out the nutrients and replenishes groundwater). Instead of the runoff waters soaking into the ground, the improvements create pathways for runoff waters to gather momentum and carry unwanted pollutants (mostly phosphorus) directly into our lake. Phosphorus is like junk food for algae causing it to grow out of control, turning our lake water green, lowering water quality and even

killing fish. Here are some easy actions you can take to increase your buffer zone and help minimize pollutants from entering our lake….

1. Participate in a LakeSmart Evaluation or Volunteer to Become an Evaluator. LakeSmart is an education and outreach program that rewards lakefront homeowners who manage their land to protect water quality (and even create a sanctuary for loons). The program is free, non-regulatory and voluntary. The LakeSmart program is administered by Maine Lakes, a non profit charitable membership organization, whose primary goal is to be the clear voice for protection of Maine’s most precious freshwater resources and wildlife habitat. Continued on Page 14

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