Dear Members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee,
We, the undersigned, urge you to pass LD 2141 and support funding for lakes, which are a public resource belonging to the people of Maine.
As volunteers, lake association members, and passionate lake protectors, we work hard to keep our lakes healthy– raising millions of dollars every year in private funds to protect our public lakes. In the face of growing risks to lake health, including extreme precipitation events, warmer temperatures, the spread of invasive aquatic species, and increasing development, the current level of fundraising from the private sector falls critically short of what is needed.
Sustained funding provided through LD 2141 is vital to the future of Maine’s lakes.
Across Maine, lake associations, volunteers, and community partners are committed to keeping our lakes clean. Signatories to this letter educate and engage with neighbors, survey lakes for invasive aquatic species, serve as certified water quality monitors, conduct volunteer LakeSmart evaluations to promote best management practices, and take on many other stewardship activities. We contribute significant volunteer time and local dollars, providing matching funds for state and federal grants to protect and restore lakes. We do this work because we believe protecting Maine’s lakes is critical to the health of our communities, local economies, and natural heritage.
State funding is currently inadequate to meet the needs of lakes across Maine. LD 2141 will provide recurring funding for the DEP’s Lake Water Quality Protection and Restoration Fund, which could be used to support:
In-lake phosphorus reduction treatments for impaired lakes
Watershed surveys to identify water quality threats
Technical assistance and education
Stormwater infrastructure and culvert replacement
Implementation of best management practices
Research on emerging threats
Passing LD 2141 will strengthen community–state partnerships by enabling local organizations to better collaborate with and support DEP efforts to monitor, protect, and restore our valuable lake resources for the benefit of all Maine people.
Thank you for supporting funding for clean lakes.
Sincerely,
[The Undersigned]
