New threat to Sebec Lake … floating camps
By Rudy Davis, Sebec Lake Association president
We need to bring to your attention a topic that has received a significant amount of press lately — that being “Floating Camps”.
It has recently been observed that floating camps”, essentially a shack on an old pontoon boat base, are being found more frequently on Maine lakes — (https://observer-me.com/2024/08/19/news/floating-camps-are-popping-up-all-over-maine-and-the-state-cant-stop-them/).
This article talks about the current state — that there are no regulations which apply to these structures and thus, right now, Maine can’t control them. These structures are unregulated, have no registration requirement, no legal sanitation facilities, and anchor pretty much anywhere on any lake they choose. For example, they could anchor for the entire summer 25-five feet off your shore.
The Sebec Lake Association Board of Directors believes these structures need to be made illegal on all Maine lakes, as they represent a very real threat to lake health, water quality, fisheries, local economies, and property values.
The Association is developing an action plan and asks for your involvement. We intend to convince our local legislators in the 132nd Maine Legislature, which convenes in January, to enact legislation banning floating camps on all Maine lakes. We will be posting the plan on our website, along with template letters for you to send to your state legislators (including the governor), with their mail and email addresses. Even if you don’t vote in Maine, we encourage you to let your voice be heard. Let’s encourage the Legislature to help change that headline to “Maine did do something to stop the floating camps”!
Please check back to the Sebec Lake Association website shortly after the November election to find these tools and to take the next step of advocating for the preservation and protection of our lake.
We appreciate all those who have remained active members of the Sebec Lake Association. Our mission has always been “To Protect and Preserve” Sebec Lake. Never have we seen as many threats to the lake as we see now in 2024. Please take a look at all of our information, education, and advocacy efforts at our website: www.sebeclakeassoc.org. If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2024, are not yet a member, or have neighbors who are not association members, direct them to the web site and encourage them to join. If you are not sure if you have paid your 2024 dues you can do that online; if you have already paid we’ll credit this fall payment to your 2025 dues!