MeInMaine Blog

Category: Uncategorized

  • Camp Roads Around Maine Lakes Can Be 80% Of Erosion Problems.

    Maine Lakes..Started Out Clean, But Need Us To Keep Them That Way.
    Maine Lakes..Started Out Clean, But Need Us To Keep Them That Way.

    Erosion, sentiment, contaminants in a Maine lake are bad business.

    Not just because erosion hurts the value of your Maine real estate. The bigger reason is it kills the resource. The natural balance of a Maine lake with oxygen levels affected if the temperature goes up, if the vegetation springs in to high gear due to phosphorous, silt distubring the natural mix. Or the dreaded milfoil invasive plant infestation that had hit Southern Maine lakes.

    Camp roads if not crowned properly, if you designed with thought of the tilt and the watershed that dumps in to that lake is a bad thing. Usually the Maine lake association has too few precious funds. Not everyone around that Maine lake digs deep in to their pocket to help fund new culverts, add gravel or conservation measures desperately needing to be implemented. And after a Maine soil and water district helps secure funding for lake erosion control measures, the work done with rocked in ditches in steep run off areas need to be maintained. To work as they were designed by the Maine DEP engineers. Or they stop working and the Maine lake slides back to a loosing war against man made roads that are not adequate, actually hurting the lake.

    Education about what an improperly installed culvert does to a Maine lake is key. And watching a lake perimeter around camp and home owners properties when it is raining can open your eyes wide in Maine. Sometimes, recycled pavement can be used on step hills or places where run off containment is the hardest because it compacts. Stays in place well and does not deterioate easily.

    The gravel used on Maine lake camp roads matters too. If over two inches in size, then the ride of the campers is affected. But if not enough “fines”, then wash out, mud can form so any work done does its job but has a shorter life. Needs replacement again quicker and taps in to never enough funds from the Maine lake association in most cases. Maine lake water erosion, quality is paramount when you live in a state like Maine, Vacationland.

    Protecting a Maine lake. Passing it along to your kids in better shape than you got it. Being a good ME lake steward.

    That is something true Mainers work hard to make sure their lakes are kept healthy, happy. But still balancing man being on board to share the resource with the wildlife, fish, nature. The pressures of McMansions and desire to clear vegetation and trees to open up the lot, increase the view is a strong one with Maine real estate waterfront buyers. When planting more trees, the right vegetation along the shoreline is key to make sure only water ends up in the lake from run off, erosion.

    Battling erosion, sediment, too much weed and feed, run off on step roadways around Maine lakes with plunge pools to slow the water are all part of the education we continually have at Drews Lake. I am president of the Drews Lake Owners Assocation and like to think our workshops, annual meetings all have the common theme of keep the junk out of the lake. To think like a fish and how would you like swimming, living, drinking water less than clean or on the decline. You would not.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • Maine, An Entirely Different Backdrop, Canvas Behind You Here.

    Maine Living, You Listen To Loons, Not 18 Wheelers, Freeway Sounds.
    Maine Living, You Listen To Loons, Not 18 Wheelers, Freeway Sounds.

    Maine people, all people are all different.

    I know a Maine soil tester that designs septic systems named Bill Hersey from Caribou Maine who’s business card says “Like People, Soils Are Different”. And those differences are what make each day special or not so much fun depending on who you bump in to, rub shoulders with living in Maine.

    But when the population is lower, like 11 people per square mile, suddenly whether a person is a happy camper or a habitual whiner matters less. Because we have space, elbow room. Is it that way where you live now?

    And with no people wall to wall, or traffic, or man made noise, living in Maine becomes scenery, wildlife, unspoiled lake and woodland, farms for neighbors. No freeways, no carrying a taser and worrying about your personal safety living in Maine.

    Heck, we don’t need to lock our Maine doors and the front entry is secured by a standard kitchen butter knife wedged sideways to protect from the wind blowing it open, not to keep burglars, intruders out.

    In Maine, we are blessed with clean lakes, ponds, rivers and have many of them to enjoy water outings on. Swimming, fishing, relaxing in a boat, paddling a kayak. Or roaming the woods trails, hiking up Baxter State Park and Mt Katahdin. Or taking in a sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, treking down the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Man has not messed up Maine. And Mainers protect their resources knowing we are lucky, very fortunate to live here.

    Maine, less people, lots of land to go with your lower priced house, home on the lake, hobby or working farm. Living here is fun, four season, the way life should be. Maine, always your best case scenario.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com.

  • Maine Lakes Conference (ME COLA) In Waterville ME Meeting Coming Up.

    Drews Lake Water Freezes in Sculture, Wave Formation During Windy Winter Weather.
    Drews Lake Water Freezes in Sculture, Wave Formation During Windy Winter Weather.

    The Maine Congress Of Lake Associations annual meeting happens at Colby College this year in the Pine Tree State.

    June 26th in the Diamond Building of Colby College is the meeting place for such topics as Exploring the History of the Belgrade Lakes Region, Maine Lake Dynamics: Long Trm Studies, Climate Change and Lake Basin Characteristics and Loons, Other Birds as Indicators of Environmental Health. These topics and more coverered at the Maine COLA meeting at Colby later this month.

    Earlier in the MeInMaine blog we covered the do’s and don’ts in the Maine Shoreland Zoning around lakes, ponds, rivers, ocean front real estate. And when people think Maine, clean water is part of that image of Vacationland along with lighthouses, lobsters, potatoes, blueberries and Mt Katahdin. But if the health of Maine’s waterfront is not protected thru education of what hurts it, what the pressures are before this resource is gone, then Maine’s pristine crystal clean waterways won’t be held in such high esteem.

    Being a good steward of a Maine lake property, something on a pond, stream, river or ocean is something locals realize. Giving the property to your family in better shape than you got it is easier said than done now though. Outside forces like clear cutting a strip of woodland on an incline where the water from rain, snow run off can suddenly race to the lake, dump in to that river, stream or pond is dangerous and not an easy fix. Especially if other watershed over cutting, improperly built roadways are being inserted on the local landscape without proper supervision.

    Meanwhile, I get asked lots of questions from Maine waterfront real estate buyers like if I buy a “seasonal” camp, want to convert it to a permanent, year round home..what is the process in the ME shoreland zone. You can if you can obtain a seasonal conversion permit from the local Maine Plumbing Inspector if it can not be shown the place was used year round from a set schedules of dates, times in the past.

    No one wants to hurt the lake and to make sure the existing septic system of that lakefront property can handle, is adequate for the extra pressure of year round subsurface wastewater disposal.

    . Because you want it to work, and you may need to improve an antiquated, outdated under designed septic system too primitive for your year round use and lake resource protection.

    Another question on empty vacant Maine shoreland lots, or land on a lake, river, pond, stream or ocean front comes up often too when no structure is on the that waterfront land concerning clearing vegatation, cutting trees.

    I tell waterfront real estate buyers there is a 100 foot buffer zone with specific clearing rules like no more than 40% of the total volume of trees over 4 inches in diameter may be harvested in any 10 year period.

    Vegetation less than 3 feet in height, including ground cover, cannot be removed. And pruning the lower 1/3 of tree branches within the buffer is permitted. Some water bodies have a buffer zone of 75 feet, clearing is limited to 40% of volume in a 10 year period, no cleared openings, no opening within the forest canopy can exceed 250 square feet.

    It is best to put in a winding foot path to that lake frontage, not a straight down a hill slice of vegetation where erosion can race, dump in to that water frontage you are toying with purchasing too. That meandering path is allowed, its width depending on the body of water. Selective cutting, clearing beyond the buffer zones and timber harvesting is also regulated so always a good idea to make your Maine waterfront land purchase contingent upon local approval. And don’t just rely on the state regulations from the DEP, LURC either. Local Maine towns, cities may haver beefed up, beyond the state standards and strong lake associations like Maine COLA to add more protections, further restrictions for the privledge to be on a Maine lake, pond, river, oceanfront.

    I’m Maine Real Estate Broker, ME REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • VisitMaine.com Is A Neat, Helpful, Beautiful Inviting ME Tourism Site

    Casting, Enjoying Maine Fishing..Just One Recreational Option.
    Casting, Enjoying Maine Fishing..Just One Recreational Option.

    Maine license plates have “vacationland” stamped on every one and when you live here, our backyard is hundreds of acres of woodland, or rolling fields, or waterways to explore.

    Or our neighbor is a Maine lake, complete with jumping fish, singing loons, laughing kids in a small boat exploring that clean water resource. Unspoiled, four seasons, fewer but way way friendlier people..that is Maine. I am one of the biggest fans and that is why I live, work, raise a family here.

    So every Maine real estate broker, small business owner has to wear a hat with pride to show the outside world thru say this MeInMaine blog portal what Maine is like. To showcase the state to folks that have never been lucky enough to even visit “Vacationland”. So we post over 1200 photos on a Maine Flickr site. Shoot, edit, upload Maine community videos of local ME canoe races, skiing at Sugarloaf, Big Rock ski areas and blog about anything, everything Maine. This years Maine Soap Box Derby Race is in Houlton Maine. Got that covered with sites we host, videos we post, blogs we write in, feed.

    But the partnership with the Maine Tourism Association we are a member of is critical to stream line this information broadcast. To get the quality of Maine out to folks looking for a seasonal event to taste, sample or consider relocation, retirement to Maine. Here are some images courtesy of the VisitMaine.com site. We also make sure to get the events like the Maine Soap Box Derby racing event listed, updated too.

    There’s a song about if you are happy and you know it, clap your hands.

    The guy who wrote that happy camper song must have lived in Maine, been here when it was created, felt, put on paper.

    And with 90 percent of folks going on line for a product, service, to find events in an area as big as Maine, there are many new avenues to spread the word in the global village. Check out the .

    Consider Maine to vacation in, to provide a hidden retirement spot. A nesting spot, neat state to relocate to for all ages. I’m a big personal fan. Ask me lots of questions about why I live here. Get the Maine facts, the FAQ straight answers here.

    I’m Maine Realtor Andrew Mooers, ME Real Estate Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • Maine Shoreland Zoning, Do’s, Don’ts Around ME Lakes, Rivers, Ocean, Ponds.

    Fish So Big In Maine You Get A Hernia Landing Them In A Boat.
    Fish So Big In Maine You Get A Hernia Landing Them In A Boat.

    Waterfront real estate in Maine, and what are the rules on what you can and can not do without a fine, severe penalties.

    Before 1972, help yourself with a bulldozer wading out in to the water of a Maine lake, pushing rocks to the side. Or removing them all together was not uncommon. Neither was a establishing a rolling lawn. One crew cutted of trees, removing all shade, anything vegetation like to hold the soil in place to prevent erosion in to the water.

    Oh sure, many folks kept the land looking like the woods, pristine. Resisted the urge to have a lush green, country club perfect lawn to the water’s edge. But common sense was not enough to protect the resource so Maine’s shoreland zoning ordinance was crafted, beefed up over the years. Shoreland zoning in Maine pertains, regulates the 250 foot strip around our waterbodies of lakes, rivers, ponds, ocean frontage.

    Why the need for rules, fines, regulations for the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) and LURC (Land Use Regulation Commission) to administer, police and protect maine water bodies, water sheds?

    Because remember a lake that gets so much erosion from silt run off, wood cutting operations in that water shed “drain” from miles away, poorly designed roadways, driveways will die if over burdened, not cared for.

    Improperly built Maine water frontage driveways, primary roadways are 50% of the problem. Add to it man’s love of weed and feed to have the best, greenest lawn. Then pile on his removing vegatation along the shoreline, and penchant for building bigger and bigger vacation homes (McMansions) that are no longer camps, cottages. It adds to the water resources stress, pressure on that lake, river, pond, ocean frontage.

    On the subject of camp roads, Nickerson Lake, that is south of the Houlton Maine Community Golf Course in New Limerick is the site of a ME camp road workshop on June 23rd. Bill LaFlamme of the Maine DEP will be educating on why maintenance of that gravel camp road around your lake, pond, river is so important. The damage caused if nothing is done to protect your waterfront real estate. Also, another worthwhile session on effective road repair practices with David Rocque of the Maine Department Of Agriculture happens the same day.

    Interested in protecting your Maine lake, pond, river, ocean front property and want to learn how, more? Register by emailing
    angela.wotton@nacdnet.net or calling 207.532.2087, ext 3 at the United States Department Of Agriculture (USDA).

    Think like a Maine fish…you are worried about milfoil, evasive plant vegetation that puts a strangle hold on a ME lake, pond.

    And then consider how hard it is to breath thru your gills with all this debris, silt coming in to the Maine lake.

    Gushing in by gallons, tons and hurting water purity, visibility.

    The Maine soil and water districts around Vacationland need your help to protect these fish, aquatic plant life that is the good kind keeping erosion to a minimum. Run off chokes a lake and fish lake rolling lawns, where all the ground cover has been removed and water “races” to the water body carrying all kinds of contaminants along the way. Any lake association representative is invited to this Maine camp road workshop in New Limerick Maine, Aroostook County.

    Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • Maine Newspapers, Radio, Television And Media Blog, Video Options.

    Taking Pictures Holds Up The Climb In Maine.
    Taking Pictures Holds Up The Climb In Maine.

    Maine, the state up here in the right hand corner of the country is well served with newspapers, radio, television and other media blog, video, image options.

    Here’s a list of the Maine print resources comercial, college newspapers and magainzes serving Vacationland. More from the Maine Press Association website. For Maine broadcasting options, the list of ME radio stations, and the list of ME television station channels.

    Media comes in many styles, but billboards that were banned in Maine is not one of them. Maine webcams are one novel way to “study” vacationland from out of state, if you are in a different time zone, out of the country. So are Maine blogs like this one, and this ME blog list.

    Videos are a whole other way to see Maine..especially the ME community event / Maine lifestyle and recreation videos. Getting your news, learning about Maine has never been easier with an online connection. Maine, it’s not a secret any more. Everything left out of the Maine tourism brochures you can find one line, in helpful ME blog posts like this one.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com.