9069-R4_ML&P_LSLA_2024_SummerNewsletter_Web

Watershed Thoughts Layne J. Albert

properties with no grass. Getting rid of the grass accomplishes two goals – allowing runoff to infiltrate before entering the lake and naturally combatting the Canadian Geese. Consider arranging a LakeSmart evaluation on your property. During the evaluation, a significant amount of time is spent looking at the buffer zone and the shoreline to suggest improvements from a lake quality perspective. Kevin Ronan is our Little Sebago LakeSmart coordinator and can be reached at kronan388@gmail.com to arrange for an evaluation and recommendations to make your home more LakeSmart friendly. Consider joining Kevin, BJ Warner and myself in becoming a LakeSmart evaluator and helping to evaluate homes on our lake. A momentum is being built and the positive impact from implementing LakeSmart recommendations will be noticeable in our lake quality. Increase your shoreline stability by planting along the shoreline and using riprap (permit required). Note that the Maine DEP continues to develop policies to encourage living shoreline approaches to bank stabilization rather than riprap. A DEP permit-by-rule process is available to reduce the cost and hassle of obtaining a permit to use riprap in most cases. Tackling Shoreline Erosion. Shoreline erosion comes mostly from the waves we are generating on the lake that are beating up the shoreline. Next time you are out on the lake, look at the shorelines. Most have undercut erosion. Watch behind you as you make your way around the shorelines to see the waves you are creating that beat the shoreline and accelerate shoreline erosion. How many times have we been out on the lake and seen motorized boats blasting through the islands or just close to the shorelines in general? Too many is the answer. The lake is big enough to allow for skiing, cruising, fast boating and other motorized water activities. But close to the shoreline is not the place for speed. Keeping a slow speed around the shorelines and in coves is not only a suggestion to help tackle erosion and protect wildlife, but it’s the law. Wave action resulting from wind is uncontrollable, but the threat from boat wakes can be minimized with safe boating practices. Maine’s Laws Addressing Undercut Erosion. Maine laws require headway speed (the minimal speed necessary to maintain steering ability) within 200 feet of any shoreline, including islands. First, make sure you really appreciate the 200-foot distance – it’s closer than you think. Second, just slow down by the shorelines. New laws went into effect on August 9, 2024, prohibiting operation of a motorboat engaged in wake surfing activity in depth of water less than 15 feet or within 300 feet of the shoreline. The law was enacted to

address the environmental impacts of wake surfing. More information can be found at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife website by going to www.maine.gov/ifw . The choice is ours - green or clear lake. Every small step we take to prevent runoff and stabilize the shoreline will result in better water quality. Even with our highly developed watershed, we can have excellent quality water. It just takes a few positive steps by homeowners on the shorelines and boaters on our lake. Together we can keep our lake beautiful and full of wildlife and our families and friends. Thank you in advance for everything you do to make our water clean.

L to R in picture, Layne Albert, BJ Warner, Award winning property owners Kim & Jim McBride with Piper, and Kevin Ronan, LakeSmart program coordinator.

Kim & Jim McBride with LakeSmart Award

McBride’s property view from the water

Spring 2025 | LittleSebagoLake.com 29