The Lake Wise Program is an Agency of Natural Resources initiative that awards lake-friendly shoreland property, including state parks, town beaches, private homes and businesses.

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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 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.

 

Why Lake Wise?

Recent Vermont lake science from the National Lake Assessment study shows that Vermont ranked lowest in the northeast 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, dirt runoff problems, and diminished shoreland vegetation, which will protect lake quality and wildlife habitat.

 

What does the program offer?

 

At your request a Lake wise representative will visit your property, free of charge, to evaluate your property for an award or to provide you with suggestions on improving your shoreline health.  You are not obligated to enact any of the suggestions and there will be no follow up to the visit unless you request it. 

 

For certain projects, Lake Wise can provide volunteers to complete the projects.  You would only pay for material costs. Periodically there are free native plants, such as blueberries, offered.   The LEA typically invites a Lake Wise representative out to the lake each year that visits properties at the owner’s request.

 

Join those lake property owners around Lake Eden that have received the Lake Wise Award” and those that are making changes to their properties to improve our Lakes Health.   If just 15% of properties receive this award, the Lake as a whole will receive the Gold Lake Wise Award.  It’s easier than you think to make changes that can have a significant effect on our Lake.  Choose to help improve the water quality of the lake vs. adding to its decline.

 

Learn More:

Contact for Lake Wise Program - link

Lake Wise program - link

Best Management Practices - link

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