Refer a
Contractor

Little Sebago Lake residents are always interested in who does the best work for a fair price. Because special care must be taken when working within the shoreland zone, not all contractors are certified to do work in this space. For more information on certified contractors, click here.

If you've had work done and want to recommend that contractor, then please fill out our referral form located at the link below. Simply download it, fill it out, and mail it or email it back to us. For a copy of the referral form, click here.

Protecting the Lake

Erosion, Sediment, and Water Quality
Understanding the connection, ongoing projects, and how you can help.

Starting back in 2002 LSLA, Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD), and Maine DEP began a long term collaborative effort to protect water quality in Little Sebago. To date these agencies, using grant funds available through the federal clean air and water act in combination with work and funding by private individuals, road associations, the towns of Gray and Windham, and a host of others have accomplished over $500,000 worth of work reduce the introduction of sediment into Little Sebago. Conversantly calculating the reduction of sediment entering the water body based on the results of known Best Management Practices we have kept well over 600 tons of sediment out of Little Sebago in the last decade.

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Lake Conservation Practices

The following are some before and after photos of lake conservation practices supplied by the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District. For more information, please visit their website at www.cumberlandswcd.org
In these pictures, the roof dripline trench before and after demonstrating simple practice to infiltrate stormwater coming off roof. Approximately 600 gallons of water will flow off a 25-foot by 40-foot roof during a 1-inch rainstorm!
Before and after of a shoreline planting at a residential property on Long Lake. CCSWCD has a sheet of common shorefront native plants and we can assist any lake landowner in obtaining native plant discounts from local nurseries. Trees and shrubs are recommended for long term shorefront stabilization. There are many low growing shrub options and ways to landscape with native plants while maintaining lake views.
Shorefront stabilized with defined pathways, native plants, and erosion control mulch. This photo was from a site addressed on Forest Lake but it shows the importance of defining walkways to stabilize shorefronts and prevent sediment from washing into the lake.
Another walking path example: this one is of the Skilling's property on Little Sebago Lake. Washed crushed stone can be used to create walking path yet it is not always desirable for bare feet users. Many people will install use Erosion Control Mulch and/or install garden stepping stones. Bringing material (mulch, loam, crushed stone,...) into the shorefront zone does require a permit-by-rule to be submitted to the State of Maine as well as a Shoreland Protection application with the town. CCSWCD can assist with permit applications for shorefront water quality protection efforts.
Eroded pathway to shorefront on Mount Hunger Shore Road stabilized with crushed stone infiltration steps.

Gravel Road Maintenance

  • When grading the road, make sure the road is crowned. A crown of about 6" higher than the road's edge is a good rule of thumb.
  • Make sure that when crowning you do not leave an edge berm. This is a small pile of road debris left on the road's shoulders, prematurely washing out your gravel road.
  • Choose the type of gravel carefully. Ideally, the road surface should have about 10 to 15% clay/silt sized particles, known as fines, and the road bed should have 0-5% fines. This will help to minimize frost damage.
  • The best time to grade is right after a heavy rain. The water helps loosen the gravel and fines and makes the road easier to reshape.
  • Wherever possible, put in ditch turnouts into the woods to help disperse water and prevent erosion.
  • To avoid water running down gravel driveways or roads into the lake, install rubber razors to divert the water off to the side. Instructions for making razors can be found by clicking here.
Visit the Maine website for more info, or a copy of the "Camp road Maintenance Manual: A Guide for Landowners", https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/watershed/camp/road/gravel_road_manual.pdf.

Lawn Fertilizer & Our Lake's Health

It is important to avoid phosphate in our lawn fertilizer and to use only sustained release nitrogen so as to avoid increasing water vegetation to the extent possible. The following list of lawn service companies have responded and confirmed they do follow these guidelines. All the listed companies service the Little Sebago area.
  • Atlantic Turf Care: 207-781-5212
  • Cutters Edge: 207-893-0299
  • Egbert’s Lawn Care: 207-839-5502
  • Lawn Dog: 888-925-3294
  • Maine Pest and Turf Corp.: 207-683-5131
  • Natural lawn of America: 888-401-1241
For more information on protecting our lake with fertilizers, click here.
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