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July 2023 e-News
The Calendar Says Summer is Here
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Mooselookmeguntic Lake by Sarah Stebbins | |
Rain on Sunset by Susan Gallo | |
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Hello Maine Lakes,
As I look out on another rainy June day, I am longing for summer to start in earnest. I want to be swimming in my favorite Maine lakes, sipping summery drinks on the dock with friends in the sunshine, watching loon parents feed their chicks, and listening to the sound of the water lapping the sides of my aluminum canoe. But so far, no luck. The rain and fog and chill have kept many of us away from our favorite lake activities. So far (before the month is even over!), June 2023 is the ninth wettest June on record for the city of Portland. The National Weather Service in Gray measured 4.72” of rain in the city as of June 27th, compared to an average for the month of 3.53”. The situation is similar up north for the city of Bangor. This volume of rain poses some major risks to lake health and water quality.
Both the size and the frequency of recent rain events have created major erosion issues across the state, bringing untold pounds of sediment (and associated excess phosphorus) into our lakes. We are thankful for the many LakeSmart volunteers who help homeowners identify areas of erosion and find the right management practices to slow and infiltrate rain, better protecting the health of their lake. The events of this month reinforce both how important finding and managing sources of runoff are to the future health of our lakes, and also how critically important it is that LakeSmart standards are set to ensure future scenarios of more frequent and intense rain events.
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LakeSmart Staff, right to left, Carolyn Murray, Andrea Stevens and Sarah Fagg | |
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Alongside our many dedicated LakeSmart volunteers, our LakeSmart staff of three are working long hours to do site visits with new volunteers, support established volunteers and coordinators, and collaborate with our regional partners. The weather has not stopped this amazing LakeSmart team of staff and volunteers from working together to make 2023 look like it will be one of the biggest and best LakeSmart years ever. If you cross paths with a LakeSmart volunteer or staff member, please give them a word of encouragement as they continue to do this work that is critical to lake health. And if you are a LakeSmart volunteer yourself, thank you from the staff, board and members of Maine Lakes for all you do! LakeSmart could not succeed without you.
Finally, as I continue to ponder the falling rain, I’ll close by sharing this photograph that is near and dear to my heart. My two daughters are laughing in the rain as we boat out across one of our favorite Maine lakes (Midday Pond) at the end of a rain-filled weekend that had no kayaking, no swimming, no beloved time on the water. I am now resolved to don my raincoat and bring my canoe to the lake this weekend, no matter the weather.
I hope you are able to enjoy time on a lake in the rain soon, and many thanks for your support of Maine Lakes.
Susan Gallo
Executive Director
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Laughing in the Rain by Susan Gallo | |
- Become a Maine Lakes Member Today
- Healthy Beaches Survey
- July is Lakes Appreciation Month
- Lake Appreciation Bingo
- “Show Your Lakes Appreciation” Challenge
- Three Easy Actions that Help Loons
- Conference Follow Up
- Final Legislative Wrap Up
- Share your Lake Association News
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Become a Maine Lakes Member Today | |
Rainy Midday Pond by Jennifer Miller | |
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If you enjoy the monthly e-news, and the work that we do to share information and actions with Mainers who love lakes, please consider supporting us by becoming a member with a gift of financial support.
Your support is critical to keeping Maine’s lakes healthy.
Maine Lakes could not be successful without the incredibly generous donations of both dollars and time from our members and volunteers. You are on the front lines of such important lake conservation work, and you are making a difference. By supporting Maine Lakes as s member, you are ensuring that our programming to reduce lake pollution, expand freshwater education opportunities, grow the LakeSmart program, develop and deliver effective and timely outreach pieces and programming, and ensure public safety in and around lakes can continue.
Click here to read our Spring Appeal letter, with programming news and updates.
Thank you to all our generous members and friends who have already responded to our recent appeal for financial support. Your financial help is very much appreciated!
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Margo Kenyon at the 2023 Lake Conference | |
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HELP US WITH THIS FRESHWATER BEACHES PROJECT
BY TAKING A SHORT SURVEY!
Margo Kenyon, a junior majoring in Environmental Policy at Colby College, is working with Maine Lakes this summer to research the feasibility of creating a bacteria monitoring program for public freshwater swim locations. Her project aims to determine the need for such a program, how it might operate and be funded, and if it could be modeled after and operate like the DEP’s Maine Healthy Beaches program for coastal, saltwater beaches. She is working with staff at Maine Lakes, Lake Stewards of Maine, and the Department of Environmental Protection, and talking to municipalities, agencies, individuals, and lake association leaders to find where our public beaches are and how they are currently managed.
Why are we concerned about bacteria at freshwater swim areas? Over the past 20 years, Maine has experienced summers with more days with above-average temperatures compared to the previous 100 years. Freshwater temperatures track closely with air temperatures, and thus have also warmed considerably. People seek out local freshwater swimming areas to escape the heat, and more people crowding into freshwater swim locations can increase the presence of disease-causing pathogens in the water.
Warmer water temperatures allow those pathogens to grow and persist in the environment compared to colder water. Sheltered, slow-moving swimming areas may have stagnant water during high-use periods, as water flushing and dilution in lakes and slow-moving rivers is often insufficient at dispersing bacteria during periods of hot, calm weather, which is often when recreation pressure is the greatest.
Testing for the fecal indicator bacteria E. coli, which is harmful to human health but also an indicator of fecal waste and possible disease-causing pathogens from warm blooded organisms, including humans, is a means of protecting public health and adapting to Maine’s changing climate.
As part of the project’s initial research, an electronic survey has been created to gather information about public freshwater swimming locations, current monitoring activities, and local contacts. Participation in the survey is greatly encouraged and very much appreciated. Any additional questions/comments/suggestions may be left at the end of the survey or sent to Margo.
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July is Lake Appreciation Month | |
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You work and play on them. You drink from them. You enjoy them all year. But do you really appreciate them? Growing population, development, and invasive species stress your local lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. All life needs water; let’s not take it for granted!
The North American Lake Management Society, which has a mission to forge partnerships among citizens, scientists, and professionals in order to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs for today and tomorrow, started Lakes Appreciation Month to focus attention on the value of lakes and the threats they face. Governor Janet Mills has written a letter of support for Lakes Appreciation Month because she has recognized the value of clean, healthy lakes to all Mainers. Read her letter here.
Our lakes and reservoirs are used for a variety of purposes: water supply for municipal, industrial and agricultural use; recreation; flood control; and aesthetic enjoyment. While we all know they are at risk, subject to climate change and human impacts, July is a great time to share your love of lakes and to celebrate and help your favorite lake stay clean and healthy. July is a great time to reach visitors who are enjoying all that Vactionaland’s lakes have to offer. Below are 10 ideas for Lake Appreciation Month activities for you, your family, or your lake association that help you show your appreciation for your favorite lake!
- Organize a shoreline clean-up
- Invite community members to join you for a boat tour of your lake, highlighting what you do to protect lake health.
- Reach out to a local restaurant or brewery about hosting a “Lakes Appreciation Night” with a percentage of the proceeds donated to your local lake association.
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Become a LakeSmart volunteer and help homeowners around lakes identify (and stop) sources of erosion that feed algae blooms. Click here to learn more or email us.
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Help monitor the water quality of your favorite lake by contacting Lake Stewards of Maine or click here.
- If you already monitor a lake, invite community members to join you so you can share your knowledge. Bring sampling gear, ID keys and other materials for everyone to join in.
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Become an Invasive Plant Patroller and learn how to search for new infestations of aquatic plants before they get established. Contact Lake Stewards of Maine or click here to learn more.
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Purchase extra copies of The Lake Book to share with your neighbors or new residents around the lake.
- Have your septic system inspected and pumped to ensure your system is not short-circuiting into the lake.
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Tap into your artistic side and draw or paint a lake scene or capture some photos for your home or office. Be sure to send a copy to us!
Thanks for all you do for lake health, and for appreciating
your favorite lake every day of the year!
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In honor of Lakes Appreciation Month, our friends at Earth Science Laboratories have created fun BINGO card, great for all ages, that helps raise awareness of lakes and the issues they face, and is designed to stir creativity, curiosity and action. So, dive right in and share with your friends.
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"Show your Lakes Appreciation" Challenge | |
Rainy Midday Pond by Jennifer Miller | |
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In the month of July, the North American Lake Management Society invites you to participate in the social media Show Your Lakes Appreciation Challenge! The goal of the challenge is to promote lake health and to highlight the importance of lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and all freshwater resources and the risks they face. The challenge runs from July 1st-31st.
Here’s how you can join the fun:
- Take a selfie or a photo of your friends, family, colleagues, kids or pets enjoying or working on a lake, rain or shine!
- Log onto Facebook (or Twitter or Instagram) and upload your picture.
- Add an informative, funny, or witty caption along with the name of the lake, the town.
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Mention Maine Lakes (@formainelakes) and NALMS (@NALMS1980) in your caption.
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Add hashtag #LakesAppreciation.
- Hit “post” and check the entries by searching for the hashtag.
Why should you join in?
Prizes: There will be prizes of NALMS merchandise for three randomly drawn winners at the end of Lakes Appreciation Month. They will be announced via social media on Friday, August 4th.
Recognition: With your permission, NALMS may include your photo on their Lakes Appreciation Month webpages or other media, and will consider your photo for the Photo of the Month in their quarterly e-newsletter, NALMS Notes & Lake News.
Because it's fun to show your appreciation for Maine Lakes!
Thank you in advance for joining the “Show Your Lakes Appreciation Challenge”and for appreciating your lakes! All life needs water; let’s not take it for granted!
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Three Easy Actions that Help Loons | |
Loon and Chick by Steve Yenco | |
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Maine has seen an unprecedented increase in visitors to its lakes and ponds over the last few years and it is no wonder – clean, clear waters, wildlife and opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing are a powerful attraction. The challenge is that this increase in lake visitors is accompanied by an increase in risks for Common Loons which rely on these same waters to raise their young each summer.
The good news is that there are three things that each of us can do to help loons and increase their chances of successfully raising chicks on Maine’s lakes and ponds.
Consistently following the simple steps outlined below will improve the likelihood a young, vulnerable chick makes it to young adulthood and beyond.
Maintain a safe distance to avoid disturbing nesting loons or their chicks:
- Keep a 100-foot buffer between you and loons.
- Stay away from known nesting sites and be cautious in areas that are likely to be used for nesting (shallow, quiet coves and marshy areas). Watch from afar!
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Read this pamphlet from Maine Audubon (How Close is Too Close) to learn how to recognize the signs when a loon is stressed.
Observe Maine’s “no wake” laws and slow down when loons are present.
- Boats within 200 feet of shore must travel at “no wake” (or headway) speeds to reduce lakeshore damage from large wakes, including over-washing of lake-side loon nests.
- Boat strikes have recently become the leading cause of death for adult loons. Keep a careful watch and slow down in the presence of loon parents and their chicks.
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Check out Living in Loon Territory to learn more.
Fish Lead Free
- Maine has passed laws banning the use of lead sinkers and all lead-headed jigs 2.5 inches or less in length or 1 ounce or less in weight in order to reduce the risk of lead poisoning (and subsequent death) of Maine’s loons.
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Click here to learn more about the Fish Lead Free Program.
If you would like to learn more about the Maine Loon Restoration Project or would like to be trained as a Look Out for Loons volunteer click here. You can also attend an upcoming webinar titled Look Out for Loons hosted by the Mahoosuc Land Trust July 19th at 6:00 P.M. Click here to register
Enjoy your summer on Maine lakes and ponds and thank you for doing your part to protect loons and their chicks this nesting season.
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Keeping Lakes Healthy: Installing a Vegetative Buffer | |
After a four-year hiatus, the Maine Lakes Conference returned on June 17th to the China Lake Conference Center in China, Maine. The conference was co-hosted with Lake Stewards of Maine and brought together more than 200 enthusiastic lake advocates who came together to share, learn, and network with each other. Recordings will be posted later this summer on our website. Thanks to our speakers, sponsors, and attendees for making this conference a huge success! | |
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Last month we left you with a few loose legislative ends, but with the session officially over, here’s a final wrap up.
LD 92: Clean, Drain and Dry: Signed into law on 16 June. Requires trailered boats to be drained before entering and after leaving lakes. Thanks to sponsor Walter Riseman for persisting with this much-needed bill. Read the bill text here
WAITING FOR UPDATE FROM CHES LD 164: Funding Lake Restoration: Sponsored by Bill Bridgeo of Augusta, this bill was unanimously supported by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee with an amendment to reduce the amount of funding to $2.5 million over two years. The bill is waiting for approval from the Appropriations Committee. We may need grassroots support to get additional support in Appropriations, stay tuned via our Grassroots Alerts and check here for bill updates.
LD 379: Wakeboat Stakeholder Group: Signed into law on 12 June. Creates a stakeholder group, that includes Maine Lakes, to be managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, that will review existing studies of wakeboat impacts and report back to the legislature in February of 2024 with findings and recommendations for policies and actions. Read bill text here.
GREEN CHECK LD 958: Closing the Lead Jig Loophole: Signed into law on 20 June. Closes the “painted jig loophole” by banning all lead jigs 2.5” or less from being sold or used in the state of Maine in order to protect loons from accidental lead poisoning. Read bill text here.
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If you’re with an association, what has your group been up to these days? How are you engaging with members of your community? Are you developing new programming or hosting events? Do you have tips for new lake residents, or advice for reaching new audiences? We’d love to hear from you and share your ideas with other member associations and friends. Send a message or articles or newsletters to us and we’ll share them in upcoming newsletters. | |
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Look for our next newsletter in August!
Click here if you need to renew your membership or would like to donate to Maine Lakes
Thank you for your support!
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