BRIDGTON — The Lakes Environmental Association is the recipient of the 2013 Community eco-Excellence Award for Bridgton and Harrison.

“The organization was chosen primarily for their work on Long Lake, which affects both Bridgton and Harrison,” ecomaine spokeswoman Shelley Dunn said.

The Bridgton-based association was honored at a luncheon in Portland, along with other winners from 22 municipalities who worked to improve the quality of the environment in Maine. The award criteria are effectiveness, greater awareness, community impact and replicability in other locations, Dunn said.

She said Lakes Environmental Association was nominated by Harrison resident Mathew Frank. Long Lake covers Harrison and Bridgton, therefore both towns benefit from the association’s work.

Ecomaine is a nonprofit municipally-owned, single-sort recycling and waste-to-energy operation.

Lakes Environmental Association’s mission is “to preserve and, when necessary, restore the high water quality and traditional character of Maine’s lakes, watershed and related natural resources.”

The work of the 43-year-old association began in the 1970s to protect municipal discharge and development along Long Lake. The association did a study that prompted Bridgton and Naples to ban phosphate detergents, one of the first towns in Maine to do so. A statewide ban went into effect the following year, according to information from the association.

Since that time, the organization has instituted a number of programs in the area, including boat inspections to prevent the spread of non-native plants and onsite visits to individual properties to analyze erosion problems associated with runoff. Other programs cover design issues and providing educational programs at Harrison Elementary School and the schools in SAD 61, which includes the towns of Bridgton, Casco, Naples and Sebago.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link