Letter from the LMA President

As I cruise along the shore of Meddybemps Lake, exploring the countless little coves, each with its own fingerprint; marveling at the great bays where winds and whitecaps can make even the hardiest of sailors white knuckled at noon then filled with spiritual reflection as the bay turns to glass at dusk, ablaze with the fiery colors of sunset; then circling the many islands protected by rocky underwater ramparts set there by nature to ward off intruders from these havens of solitude, it is impossible not to be drawn in by Meddybemps Lake.

And though it seems that little has changed over the years, a slow, steady development of the lake is taking place. Small seasonal cottages are being rebuilt as full-time homes; new lots are being developed along the shoreline; old foundations, having sat ignored for years, are now supporting new homes right near the shore. And though, some would put a hold on any development and expansion, this is an unstoppable, natural occurrence. The question is how to deal with the inevitable and preserve what draws us all to the lake.

We all have a stake in the Lake Meddybemps and we all must take responsibility for its preservation if we are to succeed in leaving it the way we found it for our great-great-grandchildren and beyond. It is an asset for us all, be it our homes and land value, fishing, swimming and boating, or the protection of wildlife and the preservation of its natural beauty and solitude. And what is the one major factor supporting all of this? Clean water. However, an undeveloped lake is clean only because trees, shrubs and grasses on shoreline lands filter the rain and snowmelt before they reach the lake.

To maintain a clean lake, cottages need to be rebuilt with no more than 30% expansion, antiquated septic systems need to be updated and brought into code, lots with clear cutting need to be replanted, erosion of driveways and roads within the shoreland zone need to be addressed, fertilizing of lawns needs to be done with non-phosphorous material, buffer zones which have been removed need to be replaced, and new boat launch cuts put in after the 1990 Shoreline Zoning Law came into effect need to be examined with the new shoreline regulations in mind. These are but a few of the numerous issues facing our lake.

There are those who see the shoreland zoning laws as invading their personal rights. In fact, I have been told by some that property owners should be able to do as they wish on their own land. Point taken, but can’t all sides be served? In fact, most of the development and improvements that residents want to make can be done ecologically and legally. First, before starting any work on a shoreline project, a resident needs to contact the DEP and someone will come out and work with them on their plan. The DEP will approve the project or suggest ways to adjust the plan to accommodate all involved- developer and ecologist. However, it is important to contact the local code enforcement officer, as local codes can vary by being more restrictive than state codes. Then they need to obtain local permits. Finally, follow-up visits by the CEO are a must to insure that development has not gone beyond the original plan.

Is a single violation of any one of these items a watershed? Of course not, but it is not the single act, rather the cumulative effect over time of all in concert which triggers a seemingly unstoppable result of murky, smelly water, algae blooms, lower property value and a lot less enjoyment. Lakes are fragile eco systems and this can happen in Meddybemps.

What can we do as individuals? According to COLA, at home we can:

Stop runoff- prevent erosion from roads, parking areas, shoreline lawns and garden

Maintain a wooded buffer

Limit lawn size and mow less often

Stop raking and leave the duff

Avoid phosphorus fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides

Cover bare soil and mulch paths

Preserve habitat for wildlife on land and underwater

Always check our boats and trailers for invasive plants

Is there anything that we can do as a community to protect Lake Meddybemps from development that does not work within the system and is harmful to the lake? I believe that there is. I believe that it is quite possible to find some middle ground between the “Ecologically Minded” and the Personal Property Rights” groups. And I further believe that it is our job as a lake association to aid in bringing all parties together to find a solution that serves both personal rights and the quality of the lake.

Shoreland Zoning Laws are in place and municipalities have established zoning controls in areas within 250 feet of the normal high water line of great ponds which govern such things as: roads and driveways, building size, setbacks, and tree cutting and clearing of vegetation in the buffer zone. Further, each municipality has appointed a Code Enforcement Officer whose duty it is to enforce shoreland zoning ordinances, conduct on-site inspections to ensure compliance, and keep a record of all shoreland related transactions and submit a summary of this record to the DEP biennially. All necessary standards and codes are in place, and we, not as individuals, but as an association, need to work with all the local municipalities on the lake, the Code Enforcement Officers and the DEP to ensure that the Shoreline Zoning Laws and the National Resource Protection Act are enforced to help preserve the legacy of Lake Meddybemps for future generations.

Love to all,

Lance

E. Teele

2008-04-05T09:49:38