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Get Your Cottage Ready for Summer
by William Laflamme
After a long northern New England winter it’s that time of year again when
the earth starts to warm and the lakes shed their icy coats. Soon it will be time
to have fun in the sun; swimming, boating and fishing at your summer retreat.
But first there is much work to be done: the cottage needs to be prepared for
the season; the waterline needs to be hooked up; the dock needs to be
installed; and boats need to be launched.
When going through this yearly ritual, it is important to consider possible
harm to streams and lakes and the surrounding environment from these
activities. After all, one of the main reasons you go to the cottage is to enjoy
the area’s unspoiled beauty.
With regard to repair and maintenance to your retreat’s buildings and
grounds, take care when using cleaning agents, paints and stains. Use natural
products like baking soda and lemon juice when cleaning. More information
on cleaning products from less harmful materials can be found at the Maine
Department of Environmental Protection’s pollution prevention web site.
When using paints and stains, consider using earth tone colors so that
buildings and other structures will blend better with the natural shoreline.
Paint or stain docks away from the lake and allow at least 14 days of drying
time before putting them in the water. Make sure to clean brushes, etc. away
from the water to prevent materials from washing into the lake.
This may be a surprise to you, but when cleaning up winter debris on the
property, DO NOT rake up the duff layer of leaves and pine needles that
build up under the trees! These leaves act like a sponge and filter and help
prevent pollutants from getting into the lake. As a cottage owner it is one of
the best things you can do to protect lake water quality.
Check the shoreline and other areas of the property for soil erosion. Stabilize
these areas with vegetation or rock riprap. If more than minor maintenance
and repair is required, or if structural measures are necessary, contact your
local code enforcement officer and the DEP to determine if permits will be
needed before doing the work.
With regard to your septic system, check the leach field for any breakouts
and consider having the tank pumped if it has not been pumped in the last 3
years. A properly functioning septic system prevents harmful pollutants
from getting into the lake.
When preparing your boat for another season, make sure to dispose of
drained lubricating oils at a recycling facility or bring the oil to your local
dealer for disposal. Wash the boat away from the water or at a commercial
car wash. Check to make sure that the boat, trailer and other equipment are
free of any hitchhiking plants. And tune-up that motor.
Following these simple rules when opening up your cottage will go far in
protecting the natural resources you so enjoy as a cottage owner. We all must
work together to ensure that our natural resources remain in good condition
for future generations.
About the author:
William Laflamme is the Coordinator of the Maine Nonpoint Source Training
and Resource Center with the Maine DEP's Bureau of Land and Water
Quality.
by William Laflamme
After a long northern New England winter it’s that time of year again when
the earth starts to warm and the lakes shed their icy coats. Soon it will be time
to have fun in the sun; swimming, boating and fishing at your summer retreat.
But first there is much work to be done: the cottage needs to be prepared for
the season; the waterline needs to be hooked up; the dock needs to be
installed; and boats need to be launched.
When going through this yearly ritual, it is important to consider possible
harm to streams and lakes and the surrounding environment from these
activities. After all, one of the main reasons you go to the cottage is to enjoy
the area’s unspoiled beauty.
With regard to repair and maintenance to your retreat’s buildings and
grounds, take care when using cleaning agents, paints and stains. Use natural
products like baking soda and lemon juice when cleaning. More information
on cleaning products from less harmful materials can be found at the Maine
Department of Environmental Protection’s pollution prevention web site.
When using paints and stains, consider using earth tone colors so that
buildings and other structures will blend better with the natural shoreline.
Paint or stain docks away from the lake and allow at least 14 days of drying
time before putting them in the water. Make sure to clean brushes, etc. away
from the water to prevent materials from washing into the lake.
This may be a surprise to you, but when cleaning up winter debris on the
property, DO NOT rake up the duff layer of leaves and pine needles that
build up under the trees! These leaves act like a sponge and filter and help
prevent pollutants from getting into the lake. As a cottage owner it is one of
the best things you can do to protect lake water quality.
Check the shoreline and other areas of the property for soil erosion. Stabilize
these areas with vegetation or rock riprap. If more than minor maintenance
and repair is required, or if structural measures are necessary, contact your
local code enforcement officer and the DEP to determine if permits will be
needed before doing the work.
With regard to your septic system, check the leach field for any breakouts
and consider having the tank pumped if it has not been pumped in the last 3
years. A properly functioning septic system prevents harmful pollutants
from getting into the lake.
When preparing your boat for another season, make sure to dispose of
drained lubricating oils at a recycling facility or bring the oil to your local
dealer for disposal. Wash the boat away from the water or at a commercial
car wash. Check to make sure that the boat, trailer and other equipment are
free of any hitchhiking plants. And tune-up that motor.
Following these simple rules when opening up your cottage will go far in
protecting the natural resources you so enjoy as a cottage owner. We all must
work together to ensure that our natural resources remain in good condition
for future generations.
About the author:
William Laflamme is the Coordinator of the Maine Nonpoint Source Training
and Resource Center with the Maine DEP's Bureau of Land and Water
Quality.
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