BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 31, 2023
For years, protecting Maine’s lakes has been left mostly to lake property owners considered as the ones to benefit. In the 1990s, the state built public boat launches on many of Maine’s lakes to provide access to boaters, which seemed like a good thing at the time. The problem today is that boat use has increased significantly. Most lakes don’t have lake associations or volunteer capacity to implement these programs, and those that do must also seek additional funding for programs to be effective. Invasive species are spreading to other parts of Maine now. Protection and restoration needs far exceed what volunteers can manage. I hope our legislators will support LD 164 to fund lake restoration and protection.. ~ Lucy Leaf, vice president, Toddy Pond Association, Surry