To preserve, enhance and protect the health and beauty of the lakes of Norway
Our work involves: monitoring water quality; monitoring for invasive species; voluntary boat inspections to prevent invasive plants;; reducing harmful runoff; and outreach to engage our community in protecting our lakes.
These efforts are funded through contributions from individuals, local businesses and the Town of Norway. We have various levels of participation and welcome all donations. All contributions are tax deductible.
Members are concerned citizens, like you, who value the quality of life on and around the lakes of Norway and want to encourage responsible recreational activities as well as the balance of aquatic life so that we can all enjoy our leisure time and the wonder of our natural resources. Members are your neighbors who enjoy swimming, boating, fishing and water sports during the summer on the lakes as well as using them for snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating and cross country skiing all winter.
Members are caring local businesses who value a balanced environment and economic growth. Invest in the future. Consider membership in LAON to support Norway’s four beautiful bodies of water: Sand Pond, Hobbs Pond (Little Penn,) North Pond and Lake Pennesseewassee (Norway Lake.) Our purpose is to keep you informed about what is happening with our lakes and in our area. More information about environmental issues and permitting may be found on the Maine DEP and Maine Forest Service links.
Our efforts to accomplish our Mission
- Water quality sampling (taking water samples to determine water chemistry in order to monitor lake health). You would be trained on how to properly collect and analyze samples, and then go sampling with Steve Zeeman.
- Courtesy Boat Inspections (CBI). This program is designed to help prevent invasive species (ex, milfoil) from entering our lakes. We have hired inspectors, but volunteer coordination and supervision is needed.
- Watershed surveys (examining portions of the land that drains into our lakes for areas where pollution damage is suspected). This effort needs some dedicated leadership to start the program, recruit volunteers, conduct outreach to landowners, etc.
- Invasive Plant Patrols (Learn how to incorporate a quick and easy examination for invasive plants into your canoe or Kayak rides). We encourage shorefront property owners and others paddling the lakes to adopt a section of shore that they regularly visit and inspect for potential invasive species. Contact us for training dates on invasive plants.