Hello LSC property owners,
We'd like to let you know that the LSCA, LSCCF, and the PMNRCD will be holding an informational Zoom meeting on the Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program on Thursday, May 20th at 7 PM.
Lake Wise is a program developed by Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds Program to recognize outstanding efforts by homeowners who live along a lakeshore to protect the water quality and habitat along the shoreline and within the near-shore area of the lake. Four categories are assessed: The driveway and parking area, the structure (which includes roof, drainage, and septic), the recreation area (the lawn/footprint of non-natural, high-use yard areas), and the shoreline buffer area.
The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:
"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 will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."
In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and property owners around the lake, the Lake Wise program was a huge success in 2020! 11 properties earned the award last year, bringing the total on LSC to 12.
A Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) grant helped to fund both property assessments, native plantings, and stormwater runoff projects on individual property owner’s shorelines.
In late 2020, the LSCA again applied for a LCBP grant to expand the Lake Wise Program into Little Lake. We received the good news that we had earned this grant, and a joint committee between the LSCA and the LSCCF was created to get this program started in Little Lake in 2021. While our 2021 program is focused on the Little Lake, this program is open to ALL Lake St. Catherine property owners.
Our goal is to earn another 10 awards in 2021, and get our first for a Little Lake property owner.
You can read more about Lake Wise and why it is so important for LSC on our website by clicking here.
To date, we've heard from 18 property owners that are interested in Lake Wise this year, and the Lake Wise team will be reaching out soon to these folks to set up an appointment at their property.
If you'd like to learn more about the Lake Wise program - and how you can help improve the health and water quality of Lake St. Catherine, we like to invite you to our presentation.
Lake Wise Informational Zoom Meeting:
Thursday, May 20th at 7 PM
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88550183782?pwd=YUpSZ2tQOEJxeUZDY2cvSTg2ZG1Zdz09
This meeting will also be recorded and posted on YouTube, so if you are unable to attend that evening, you'll still be able to view the presentation soon after.
We hope you can join us!
If you have any questions, or if you would like to sign up for Lake Wise, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.
