The Portland Water District, Maine Department of Conservation and the town of Standish should be praised for teaming together to bring another boat launch to Sebago Lake.

After decades of conflict between the town of Standish and the water district, it is heartening to see this renewed attempt to bring boating access to the eastern shore of Sebago Lake. In the past, the debate regarding the Standish Boat Launch has always been an all-or-nothing, do-or-die proposition. In 2002, we witnessed Standish twice reject attempts by the water district to close the current launch in return for a newer, fancier launch. Now, we have the district proposing to again add a second boat launch, on land it owns on the eastern shore, to hopefully divert boaters away from the existing boat launch in Sebago Lake Village. But the difference this time is that the district is not proposing to close the existing launch. Instead, the proposal, brokered by the state Department of Conservation, is to build a second access point in hopes of reducing use at the existing launch.

The Portland Water District should be praised for considering this alternative. As the guys in the Guinness commercials would say, “Brilliant!” It really is a masterstroke on the part of the district and the Department of Conservation. Their efforts at finding a workable compromise to the decades-long battle between the town of Standish and the district should be heavily praised.

It’s an excellent solution for several reasons:

1. It may just solve the feud between Standish and the district. Well, that may be a little too hopeful. However, if this compromise doesn’t solve it altogether, it will take a lot of the angst out of the relationship. Standish wants to keep its Northeast Road Extension access to the lake. And the water district has said it wants to close the entire Lower Bay to ensure water quality. These two competing interests are irreconcilable. But opening a new boat launch would take pressure off the current one, and accomplishes what both the town and the water district want: continued access and better water quality.

2. This proposal brings more access points to Sebago Lake. Sebago Lake is a huge lake. It’s 11 miles long and seven miles wide. It can handle many summertime boaters, many more than currently use the lake. Right now, there are three main public access points: Raymond Beach, Standish Boat Launch and Nason’s Beach in East Sebago. Increasing access to Sebago Lake would help the local economy, help boat marinas (gas fill-ups, anyone?), and would expand recreational opportunities for residents. More of that in our area, and in Vacationland in general, is essential. And this is the main reason the Department of Conservation is working with the district on this project. It wants to ensure that one of the best lakes in Maine remains accessible to the public.

3. The new launch could handle casual bodily access better than the current one, since it would be “downstream” of the intake pipes. Water in Sebago Lake circulates down the western side of the lake to the Lower Bay and back up the eastern side on its way to the Presumpscot River near North Windham. Therefore, any bacteria that gets in the water at the current boat launch will probably work its way into the intake pipes, which are located deep in the middle of the Lower Bay. Another boat launch located farther up the eastern shore would improve water quality since pollution would flow away from the Lower Bay toward the Presumpscot.

We applaud the efforts of the state and the water district in bringing a second boat launch to the people of Standish and our region. A second access point would help shift some of the pollution downstream of the intakes, thereby improving water quality even more. And, maybe more importantly, it will go a long way in reversing the negative feelings some Standish residents have toward the district. All parties should be congratulated in working toward this laudable solution.