LakeSmart—Property Stewardship for Lake Protection

The LakeSmart program is an incentive and education program to held lakeshore property owners implement lake-friendly landscaping techniques. DLWA began to implement the LakeSmart program on Damariscotta Lake in the summer of 2009.

LakeSmart is a free program for property owners who are concerned about the lake-friendliness of their homes. This program rates properties based on four categories:

• Road, driveway and parking area;
• Structures and septic system;
• Lawn, recreation areas and footpaths;
• Shorefront and beach areas.

Property owners who participate in the program can receive an award for good practices in several or all of the categories. All property owners receive coupons for local businesses and advice (if they so desire).

The three-year goal of the LakeSmart program is to have a 15 percent award rate in a defined focus area. For Damariscotta Lake, DLWA has chosen 3 different geographic locations for our focus area: Great Bay, the Narrows, and the South Arm. Each area consists of 36 member properties, for an overall focus area of 108 properties. LakeSmart is not limited to these focus areas, however.

If you are interested in having your property evaluated or volunteering as a property screener, please contact DLWA at 549-3836 or Julia@dlwa.org.

DLWA is participating in this program in collaboration with the Pemaquid Watershed Association. Funding for this program for three years comes from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, who provides free training to LakeSmart screeners; pamphlets and evaluation forms; and LakeSmart property visits by paid evaluators. More information about LakeSmart can be found online at the DEP’s website.

The first property evaluated by the LakeSmart team to meet all the criteria for a LakeSmart award is owned by Marty and Betty Welt of Nobleboro.

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