The volume of land use and the very nature of our activities are compromising the well-being of our lake regions. The health of our lakes, the enjoyment we derive from them, and the welfare of our lake communities are inextricably intertwined. Native vegetation is choked out, depleting food sources for fish and wildlife inhabiting the area. It's a matter of time before the same thing happens in Maine lakes. Water quality has a direct impact on the value of lakefront property values.
Water quality affects the quality of education for Maine children.
If waterfront property becomes less valuable as a result of diminished water quality, a municipality can be faced with either cutting services OR shifting the tax burden onto non-waterfront property owners. In either case there are no winners. These natural resources provide employment for over 50,000 Maine people. A Case Study of Selected Maine Lakes. Holly J. Michael, Kevin J. Boyle, Roy Bouchard, University of Maine, Maine Agricultural and Forest Experimentation Station, Miscellaneous report 398, February 1996.