As is common in this day and age, with a growing demand for outdoor recreation and an attraction to beautiful places, our lake regions are facing the plight of being “loved to death.” The health of our lakes, the enjoyment we derive from them, and the welfare of our lake communities are inextricably intertwined.

Maine’s vast interior is supported by resource dependent economies such as forest products and recreation. These economies are linked to coastal economies by our lakes and rivers; waters which are, in effect, lifelines for both coastal and inland regions. Our interior freshwater bodies feed over 250 billion gallons of freshwater every year into the Gulf of Maine and sustain the ocean fisheries. What is good for Maine’s lakes is good for the Gulf of Maine!

The heart and soul of Maine’s interior communities, as well as those lake communities along the coast, are inextricably intertwined with our lakes, or as Thoreau called them, “…the landscape’s most expressive feature.” Keeping this “feature” healthy, then, must be the basis upon which we work to keep our economy healthy as well.