LakeSmart

Why Be LakeSmart?

Many of us grew up with suburban landscaping and are accustomed to its tidy lawns and open space. But suburban lawns, with big driveways and wide paths, are deadly for our lakes. LakeSmart landscaping provides a healthy alternative that mimics nature’s rich mosaic of plants, shrubs, winding paths, and shady trees – so LakeSmart looks great, enhances privacy, and works hard to protect property values, wildlife habitat, water quality, recreational opportunities and the vitality of local economies.

LakeSmart looks great, enhances privacy, and works hard to protect property values, wildlife habitat, water quality, recreational opportunities and the vitality of local economies.

Cold Stream Pond is recognized as one of the cleanest and clearest lake in Maine. It’s hard to believe one person’s expansive lawn or eroding camp road could be a threat to something as large and enduring as our lake. But when added to a shoreline full of similar sites, it can.

Maintaining a buffer of natural vegetation is one of the best ways to be LakeSmart.

All stormwater that gets into Cold Stream Pond carries nutrients. Over time, the cumulative impact can be thousands of pounds of pollutants. The result could someday be algae blooms, fish kills, and the loss of water clarity and spawning habitat. One tiny rivulet from one rainstorm may not seem like much, but when multiplied across a lake watershed and added up over decades, eroded soil can turn a lake into a smelly, pea green mess.