Maine’s great ponds are an important element of the State’s economy and traditional way of life. Their abundance and relatively high water quality are precious resources in light of the growing inadequacy of water supplies and the deterioration of natural settings and habitat in many other states. The use of great ponds as a source for drinking water, recreation and power production is vital to the State. [PL 1991, c. 838, §26 (NEW).]

To protect the public trust, the State’s great ponds must be protected from degradation. They must be managed according to watershed boundaries, while a diversity of lake setting types within each region of the State is maintained. Potable water from the State’s great ponds should require minimal treatment. [PL 1991, c. 838, §26 (NEW).]

A primary goal of the protection of the State’s great ponds is to ensure that consistent land use management policies and regulations are applied throughout the direct watershed of each great pond. [PL 1991, c. 838, §26 (NEW).]

The State’s goals in managing the surface uses of great ponds are to avoid or minimize conflicts among recreational users, energy producers, shoreland owners and other users; maintain traditional water-dependent businesses; and ensure that the intensity of use allowed on a great pond is in keeping with its capacity to accommodate that use. [PL 1991, c. 838, §26 (NEW).]