Maine Lakes & Ponds
Maine’s 6,000 lakes and ponds are an identifying feature of our state. They provide habitat for wildlife, support local businesses in nearby communities, and create lifetime memories for generations of Mainers and visitors. We work to protect these unique waterbodies so everyone can enjoy them for years to come.
The crystal-clear waters of Maine’s lakes and ponds are where memories are made and wildlife thrives. These waters are hubs for outdoor recreation, support local economies in rural towns, and create lasting memories for generations of families with a camp on their shores.
According to Maine Lakes, a recent study by researchers at the University of Maine estimates the value of Maine’s lakes to be $14.1 billion, with an additional $3 billion in related spending each year.
Pollution, development, and climate change are threatening these waters. Algal blooms are becoming more common, and the pressures on Maine’s lakes are growing.
NRCM works with partners across the state to protect the clean water and recreational value of our lakes and ponds through land conservation, pollution reduction, and other strategies that work best for local communities.
Protecting Waterbodies Statewide
Due to the key role that waterbodies serve in our state, in 1971 Maine became a national leader in protecting water quality by establishing the Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (MSZA), which requires municipalities to adopt shoreland zoning ordinances that meet minimum state guidelines. This act, in addition to other state laws like the Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA), set the foundation for how our waterbodies are protected on the state level.
Remote Lakes and Ponds in Maine’s Unorganized Territories
Unique in the eastern US, the Unorganized Territories are home to remote lakes and ponds that lack any development along their shorelines. The pristine water quality found in these waterbodies supports one of the last remaining strongholds of wild, self-reproducing eastern brook trout in the country.
Of the lakes and ponds with “outstanding” natural resources, 52 are currently undeveloped within a 0.25-mile buffer from their shorelines. The majority of these 52 lakes and ponds are not completely surrounded by conservation land and are therefore vulnerable to development. We believe these undeveloped, high-value lakes and ponds, which are increasingly rare, should be protected.