About Us
The Belgrades Are Beautiful...
The words of regular visitor E.B. White recall the joys of summer on Great Pond half a century ago, but speak just as truly of life on the Belgrade Lakes today. Now, as then, visitors find renewal in the tranquil lake at dawn, delight in children’s laughter from the swimming dock, excitement in land and water sports, and wonder in the midnight calls of loons across the water.
Here, the summer days still run in sync with the sun and end for us as they did so long ago for White: "Sleep would come easily and in the morning the red squirrel would be on the roof tapping out his gay routine."
...But at Risk
Glaciers carved these sparkling ponds into Maine’s rugged granite 10,000 years ago. Through many ages, they were clear and beautiful, attracting wildlife and sustaining it beside their shores and in their limpid depths.
A moment back, geologically speaking, mankind settled on the lake — but only now are we beginning to learn just how fragile these seemingly eternal lakes can be. A sparkling, transparent lake can turn to muddy green in a surprisingly short time, or it can become choked with weeds that make swimming and boating unpleasant, or even impossible.
We used to assume these lakes would always be here for us, but we now know we can no longer take them for granted.
The Belgrade Lakes Association
It’s a good thing these lakes have been shielded by the visionary commitment of the sportsmen who founded the Belgrade Lakes Association (BLA) a century ago. Their pledge “to protect and improve the waters, fisheries and navigation of the Belgrade chain of ponds” lives on in the activities of the Association’s members.
The constant mission of the Belgrade Lakes Association — “To Protect and Preserve the health and beauty of Great and Long Ponds” — is evident in the programs we support.
“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is the earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”
– Henry David Thoreau
View BLA Bylaws (PDF)
Our Programs & Initiatives
Land Preservation
The Belgrade Lakes Association purchased The Mountain (225 acres) and works with the 7 Lakes Alliance to secure other parcels of land — including an additional 50 acres on The Mountain — and the 7,000-acre Kennebec Highlands.
Clean Water
BLA funds support a Youth Conservation Corps that works throughout the Belgrade chain each summer to eliminate erosion sites that would otherwise pollute the lakes.
Education
The Association promotes ongoing environmental education through publications, workshops, and outreach.
Invasive Plant Prevention
The BLA has been a regional leader in efforts to prevent invasive plant and animal species from entering our waters.
Watershed Protection
The BLA works closely with the Watershed Coordinator to address environmental concerns across the Belgrade watershed.