WHAT IS LAKESMART?

LakeSmart is an education and reward program for lakefront property owners who maintain their homes in ways that protect lake water quality and property values. LakeSmart is the flagship program of Maine Lakes, partnered with your local Lake Association.

WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH STORM WATER?

Storm water runoff ruins lakes! Erosion and sedimentation from shoreline development and camp roads are the major cause of smelly, cloudy water, algal blooms, fish kills, and water you wouldn’t want to swim in.

WHAT DOES IT COST A HOMEOWNER?

The visit is free, non-regulatory and completely voluntary. LakeSmart is the most cost-effective strategy that homeowners can use to protect their lake, their property’s value and their recreational activities. Many home/property Improvements can be “Do it yourself” or with your local Youth Conservation Corp assistance.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

The LakeSmart visit takes less than an hour. A trained volunteer will assess four areas of your property, starting at the driveway and working toward the shorefront. You will be informed right away of the observations and you’ll receive information about lake-friendly land practices and relevant web links. Your evaluation is then sent along to the Maine Lakes for final review.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE LAKESMART EVALUATION PROCESS?

After final Maine Lakes review of the submitted evaluation; if your home scores well in all 4 categories and all criteria met, you will get the prestigious ‘LakeSmart Award’ and two handsome blue and white signs for posting at the roadside and lakefront. If you pass in 1 to 3 LakeSmart categories but not all criteria met, you will receive a ‘Certificate of Commendation’, helpful suggestions, and our thanks for caring about the lake. Whatever the outcome, you’ll learn how to become more lake-friendly, and that is just as important.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Fill out our Lake Smart Sign up Form here & a trained volunteer will come for a visit & assess your property. He or she will come to your home, evaluate its ability to prevent run-off and inputs of pollution, and report back to you. During the evaluation you will be able to walk the property with the volunteer and you’ll be given information on how to capture and infiltrate stormwater. LakeSmart is entirely voluntary, so you are free to take some of the recommended actions or not–it’s completely up to you.

How can I get involved and help with this effort?

FOLW needs more volunteers to be trained as evaluators & visit landowners who have signed up for LakeSmart visits. Training is easy & convenient from the comfort of your home & office by watching these training video’s

For more information watch: LAKESMART SUCCESS AND THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

THE LAKESMART EVALUATION TRAINING

After the two Zoom trainings above, new LakeSmart team members should plan to schedule an in-person, on-site group meeting with Andrea. Plan to meet her at a property where you can walk through the evaluation process. She’ll run through the evaluation with you, and help you gain confidence with the LakeSmart evaluation process. She’ll also walk through the format of reporting for homeowners. She may have time to cover some of the Survey123 application that is used for entering LakeSmart evaluation data (but see the Survey123 training below).

USING SURVEY123 FOR LAKESMART EVALUATIONS

WHAT IS THE PAYOFF?

Research has shown that LakeSmart properties are as protective of water quality as undeveloped land. The benefits of managing the LakeSmart way are many:

• Clean, clear, healthy water

• Outstanding recreational opportunities

• High property values

• Abundant wildlife on land and in the water

• Successful local businesses