Three Mile Pond pilot project aims to replicate successes of China LakeSmart

LakeSmart crews at work!

by Jennifer Brockway

China Region Lakes Alliance (CRLA) is pleased to announce a new program focused on water quality at Three Mile Pond.

Lakefront property owners know the impact of water quality on their summer experience. Not all landowners know, however, the positive impact they can have on water quality. The choices made by lakefront landowners can make a difference for the people, fish and wildlife that call Three Mile Pond home. By making landscaping choices that keep stormwater out of Three Mile Pond, landowners can help combat the number one water pollutant – eroded soil, also called “non-point source pollution.” Phosphorus in soil promotes plant growth – in the lake that means algal blooms!

LakeSmart is an education and reward program coordinated by the Maine Lakes Society that helps lakefront homeowners make land use choices that keep pollutants out of our lakes. It is free, non-regulatory and entirely voluntary. Properties that meet LakeSmart standards receive a distinctive blue and white LakeSmart Award sign in celebration of good lake stewardship.

China Lake Association has operated a highly successful China LakeSmart program for many years. This summer, the CRLA has partnered with China LakeSmart to pilot the program at Three Mile Pond. Through the program, a free LakeSmart evaluation is available to lakefront property owners in China and Windsor this July or August. A trained evaluator will visit the property and recommend steps to take to capture and filter stormwater in order to keep pollutants out of the lake. Participating landowners will receive a follow-up report with suggested actions to support lake water quality, such as maintaining or enhancing vegetated buffers, installing water bars or relocating pathways and installing “infiltration steps” down to the lake.

For a limited number of sites in 2019, the CRLA will provide a technical design developed by a qualified professional, and the free labor of the CRLA Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program will install the best management practices identified in the free evaluation. The CRLA is able to offer this program at no cost to Three Mile Pond landowners thanks in part to pilot project funding awarded by the Davis Conservation Foundation and New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

The CRLA will gratefully accept contributions to help offset the costs of the program and stretch pilot program funds across a greater number of sites. These gifts may be directed to CRLA, P.O. Box 6339, China Village, ME 04926.

For more information or to request a free LakeSmart evaluation, please contact Jennifer at (207) 679-7306 or jennifer@riseandshine.consulting.

See also:

Beef up your buffers