Frequently Asked Questions:
Should I request an evaluation if I don’t think I will receive the award?
Absolutely! The real purpose of the program is to improve properties not yet meeting the standards - the LakeSmart award is something to work toward, and any improvement only helps the lake.
How much involvement is required?
An evaluation takes about an hour - someone can accompany the evaluators, or they can work on their own. When implementing suggested improvements, many best management practices are quite simple and are well within the DIY realm, or the homeowner may opt to bring in a contractor.
How much does it cost?
The evaluation is 100% free. Many LakeSmart improvements—like spreading erosion control mulch or planting native shrubs—cost very little and can easily be tackled as weekend DIY projects
Will this trigger a visit from code enforcement?
NO. The LakeSmart program is 100% voluntary and completely independent of municipal or state code enforcement. Our volunteers are your neighbors, and your results stay between us and Maine Lakes.
Can I keep my lawn and still be LakeSmart?
Yes! You don’t have to get rid of your grass. The key is ensuring that any runoff leaving your lawn passes through a healthy, deep vegetated buffer zone before it reaches the lake.
Do you have more information?
Click here for Maine Lakes’ website
Click here to see the LakeSmart Brochure
Click here to learn more about the impact of runoff on Cobbossee.
What is LakeSmart?
LakeSmart is a free, voluntary, and non-regulatory program managed by Maine Lakes and delivered locally by our association volunteers. It is an education and outreach program that helps shoreland property owners manage their land to protect water quality. Lake-friendly properties that protect lake health receive a LakeSmart award consisting of two distinctive signs that can be posted at the waterfront and driveway.
How does LakeSmart work?
Property owners request an evaluation and supply some basic information, and trained volunteers from CLA take it from there. They visit the property and evaluate driveways and parking areas, the perimeter of structures, the yard and pathways, and the shoreline area. The goal is to reduce or eliminate erosion and stormwater runoff because it carries pollutants, including phosphorus, a primary driver of algae growth. Following the evaluation, homeowners receive customized feedback and ideas for ways to slow down, spread out, and soak up stormwater before it ever reaches the lake. Importantly, the process is collaborative and judgement-free.
Ready for a LakeSmart evaluation?
BE LakeSmart AND HELP PROTECT COBBOSSEE
Video courtesy of Maine Lakes