Maine’s Lakes at Risk: A Community’s Effort to Fight Erosion

Photo byMike HouseronUnsplash

A Modest Project with Major Benefits

On a path leading to Great Pond in Belgrade, Maine, a small but significant construction project is underway. Workers from the Youth Conservation Corps are digging a shallow trench to be lined with gravel and mulch, designed to filter water and prevent pollutants from reaching the lake.

Max Comis, a University of Maine junior, explained, "The mulch and rocks will filter the water and stop the bad things from going into the lake."

Climate Change Threatens Maine's Waters

Maine's lakes and ponds are under threat from climate change. As temperatures rise, these bodies of water are warming, altering their ecosystems. A 2020 Maine Climate Council assessment warns of fiercer storms, which increase nutrient pollution and erosion.

Tristan Taber, water quality program director at Lake Stewards of Maine, noted that some lakes are now 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than in the 1980s, making them more vulnerable to pollution. "Warmer water accelerates lake productivity, increasing the likelihood of harmful algae blooms," he said.

The Need for Upstream Solutions

Environmental advocates like Taber stress the importance of addressing erosion far upstream from shorelines. "Lake watersheds can extend miles upstream, so addressing erosion at the source is crucial," he said.

Susan Gallo, executive director of Maine Lakes, pointed out the unfair burden on private landowners to protect public lakes. "It's like telling homeowners they're responsible for a state park's health—it's an odd system," Gallo remarked.

Local Efforts to Preserve Lakes

Cary Phoenix, a camp owner on Thompson Lake, has taken significant steps to manage runoff and erosion on her property. Despite not passing the Lake Smart certification on her first try, Phoenix is committed to preserving the lake. "We have a place on the lake, and we need to work hard to protect it," she said.

Gallo emphasized the importance of even small erosion control efforts. "Maine’s lakes could die from 1,000 little cuts around their shorelines," she warned, urging everyone to take action to give the lakes a fighting chance.

Attribution source: Capeandisland.org