LAKE WISE: This program is one of the most important of SLA’s efforts to engage shoreland owners to protect the lake. Working with DEC, lakeshore property owners can have their property assessed for its ability to safeguard water quality. Adoption of Best Management may be suggested. They can then follow simple steps to be in compliance and earn a beautiful award sign as can be seen below:

Lake Wise was developed to inform and assist lake shore owners in managing their properties to best care for a lake’s water quality. It awards “model” lake shore properties with a sign to post so that others can learn the many ways a property can be managed to protect high water quality. The sign signifies that the property is maintained to care for the lake.

Program Goal

 The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal; a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award represents a “model” shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, to care for the lake.

Some Lake Wise Best Management Practices found on Seymour Lake’s Shores:

Infiltration Steps: These steps are designed to allow runoff to filter through natural vegetation before it reached the lake. Here is an example:

This lake shore property had a parking area that allowed erosion and runoff into the lake as shown in the photo on the left.

After the owners had a Lake Wise evaluation, they qualified for a grant to pay for the labor to install infiltration steps and restore natural vegetation around them. The owners paid for the materials which were lumber for the steps and plants. The photo on the right shows the installed plants and steps. By the following summer the plants has filled in with strong roots and making a beautiful garden which still soaks up the runoff, preventing it from flowing into the lake.

No Mow Zones and Wildflower Meadows: Taller plants than grass have deeper roots which slow rainfall and soak up more water. Either just stop mowing or plant a wildflower seed mix. This is easy, inexpensive and beautiful.

Why Lake Wise?

Recent Vermont lake science from the EPA National Lake Assessment study, shows that Vermont ranked lowest in the north east ecoregion and in the nation for degraded shallow water habitat. Vermont’s degraded conditions for aquatic habitat is directly related to harmful impacts from lakeshore development. The Lake Wise Program aims to inform, teach, and change the current lakeshore development practices from clearing shores and building sea walls to practices that are more lake friendly and known to effectively protect the lake. Through Lake Wise, participants receive technical assistance for fixing erosion, dirty runoff problems, and diminished shoreland vegetation which will protect lake quality and wildlife habitat.

Lake Wise is based on social science research that shows people are most influenced by their neighbors – monkey see, monkey do. So by using the beautiful Lake Wise Award sign to showcase lake friendly properties, others along the shore will be inspired to make improvements and changes so they too can earn the Award and help protect their lake. Lake Wise is modeled after Maine’s successful social marketing program called Lake Smart, which has inspired many lakeshore owners in the Belgrade and Rangely Lake Districts as well as throughout the state (Maine has over 6000 lakes) to use lakeshore best management practices for shoreland development. Similar to the results of Maine’s Lake Smart Program, Vermont lakeshore owners earning the Lake Wise Award will help create a movement towards more lake friendly living around Vermont lakes, thereby greatly improving protection for wildlife habitat and lake water quality. SOURCE: VTDEC

Technical Assistance

The Lake Wise Program offers technical assistance to shoreland property owners who want to learn more about making their property as lake friendly as possible. Take advantage of free technical assistance through the Lake Wise Program and have your shoreland property assessed for controlling runoff and preventing erosion. The Lake Wise Program offers solutions – Best Management Practices – for managing shoreland property and making it lake-friendly for all.

HOW BUFFERS WORK

Water Quality Protection by Forested Buffer Width:

Source: VTDEC

Illustration by Charlie Holn, Source VTDEC

HOW LAKE SHORE OWNERS PROTECTED THE WATER QUALITY OF SEYMOUR LAKE

32 properties have been awarded certificates indicating that they meet or exceed Lake Wise standards in at least 2 of the 4 categories.

55 properties have earned the Lake Wise award, meaning that the property meets or exceeds Lake Wise standards in all for categories.

In 2017, just weeks after Echo Lake earned Vermont’s first Lake Wise Gold Award; Seymour Lake earned the second Lake Wise Gold Award by reaching the standard of 15% of lake shore properties earning the lake Wise Award.

LAKE WISE BEST MANAGEMENT STANDARDS:

To Earn the Lake Wise Award a property is evaluated in four categories: Shoreland; Recreation Area; Driveway; Septic and Structure. If a property has excellent storm water runoff practices, but no native shoreland vegetation, then it may earn a Lake Wise Certificate, but not the full Award sign. Passing two of the four categories earns a Certificate, but to post an Award sign that show cases a property as a model for lake friendly living, the property must pass all four categories. A property must have a functioning septic system to pass as well as this would be a “show stopper” from receiving the Award sign.

Lake Associations or lake groups with 15 percent Awarded participation in the Lake Wise Program will receive the Gold Lake Wise Award. Marketing research shows that once 15 percent of a set population partakes in a similar action, a trend is set, and others will be attracted to follow the same actions. The Gold Lake Wise Award is an impressive accomplishment for a lake community, and lake residents living on such a lake should take tremendous pride in their actions to keep their lake clean and healthy now and forever.

Lake Wise Evaluators

  • Lake Wise Evaluators have a background in natural resources management, including managing storm water runoff and protecting wildlife habitat.
  • All Evaluators use the same methods and impartiality for each assessment.
  • Evaluators spend up to one and half hours assessing and providing technical advice on each property. Properties are evaluated according to the Lake Wise criteria for shore; recreation area; driveway; and structure and septic. If all the appropriate shoreland Best Management Practices are in place, then the property earns the Lake Wise Award, otherwise, the Evaluator gives the landowner a copy of recommendations for how to become Lake Wise certified in the future. Landowners have up to three years to make the improvements and to be assessed a second time for earning the Lake Wise Award, after which time, a new evaluation would need to be done.