Lake Regulations
The borough’s nine lakes are for the use and enjoyment of all Mountain Lakes residents, and all residents are collectively responsible for protecting the quality of water entering the lakes, whether by streams or by runoff. Borough regulations are designed to maintain water quality, reduce algae growth, and prevent eutrophication (filling in of the lakes).
Lake Waters
Introduction of the following into lake waters is prohibited:
• Chemicals
• Fish
• Polluted water
• Organic materials (leaves and grass)
• Refuse
Encroachments
Lake front property owners have the responsibility to maintain our lakes by not creating any encroachments on the lakes, and not altering the shorelines or diminishing the views of the lakes for others.
Both docks and rafts require a permit and must be 25 feet from the side property line extended into the lake. Each lake front owner is allowed one dock and one raft.
Docks:
• May be no larger than 20 feet long by 6 feet wide by 3 feet high.
• May have nothing affixed to the top.
• Must be readily removable.
Rafts:
• May be no larger than 50 square feet in size; must be flat and no more than 3 feet high.
• May not extend into the lake more than 50 feet from the owner’s property.
• Must be permanently marked with the owner’s name.
• Must be free floating.
Ropes:
• May not be strung from the shore to a raft.
• May not be used to enclose any part of a lake surface.
Riparian Buffers and Wetlands
• Properties with a river, stream, pond, or wetlands are subject to regulations of the State Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.
• Waterway (lake, river, or stream) riparian buffer zone regulations limit the area of vegetation that can be disturbed, and may affect where and whether a property owner can build or develop within that zone.
• Property owners should familiarize themselves with these state and federal regulations before planning any development in a riparian buffer zone.
• Lake front and stream front property owners are encouraged to plant riparian buffers to leach nutrients and sediment from runoff water before it reaches the lakes.
