We all want clean lakes. Unfortunately, some lakes in Maine have been turning green and phosphorus is the culprit. You can help prevent your lake turning green by replacing your regular lawn fertilizer with a phosphorus-free fertilizer.

Phosphorus is in living things and soil, but when too much enters the lake, it disrupts the balance of life. In a clean lake there is very little phosphorus, just enough to support a healthy balance of plants, both rooted and floating microscopic(algae).

Phosphorus is like "junk food" for algae. When too much get washed into lake, the algae grow out of control (algal bloom). The lake turns green, scummy, foul-smelling and bad tasting. Sometimes it can result in fish kills and the loss of cold-water fishery. All these factors reduce property values in lakeside communities and diminish Maine’s appeal to visitors.

50% of Maine drains to our lakes. This means when it rains, storm water runs over lawn, woods and roads into streams and ditches carrying pollutants, including phosphorus. Therefore, half of the State contributes to turning our lakes green. The area that drains to a lake is called a watershed. As watersheds are converted from their natural forested condition to residential, commercial and agricultural uses, the amount of phosphorus runoff into a lake increases by a magnitude of 5-10 times. Once there is an overabundance of phosphorus, there is no feasible way to remove it from a lake. The only solution is to control the runoff into lakes.

Phosphorus-free fertilizer is an excellent substitute for regular fertilizer. It enhances turf and minimizes the amount of pollutants entering the lake. The DEP has found five manufacturers who will market this in Maine. Several of these fertilizers include lime, which makes more phosphorus in the soil available to the plants. A total of 98 retail stores statewide, consisting of 61 independent retailers and 37 chain stores (Agway, Aubuchon, Home Depot, HQ and Paris Farmers Union) are stocking it. Some brand names are ECO-CYCLE (Lake Saver 10-0-5 w/lime), IRONITE(soil supplement,1-0-0 and trace elements) UMF(10-0-4 "No Phos" w/lime) LESCO (Professional Turf Fert. 24-0-011 polyplus coated).

Remember: CLEAN WATER STARTS WITH YOU. USE PHOSPHORUS-FREE FERTILIZER!

(Reprinted from Winter 1999 COLA Newsletter by Christine Smith, Lakes Education Director, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection. (207) 287-7734)

Howdy Neighbor!

Gerri Tinkham, who lives on Jordan Shore Drive, had suggested a Lake Map listing all the owners of property around the lake so we’d get to know our neighbors. Eight members of the Board are currently updating lists and should have the correct names by the time this goes to press. They are: Marchian Crane—Klondike Rd. area, Ed Perreault—Cove, Dick Harris, Ed Hinkley and Charlie Rodway—Jordan Shore Drive, Marion LaFlamme—Fernald Rd. area, Linda Laskey---Meqguire Rd. area and Babs Shapiro—Garland Swamp Rd.

Gerri and helpers will put the map together. A great idea and something that should have been done long ago. Our deepest thanks to all who’ve made this a reality !