First Article: EDITED and quotes added.

Portland Water District Makes Another Attempt to Close Sebago Lake Boat LaunchThis marks another chapter in the ongoing dispute between the Portland Water District and the Town of Standish. For years, the Portland Water District has been trying to relocate a boat launch in Sebago Lake that has been a popular place for tourists and town locals. However, due to the fact that the town owns that property and is entitled to a boat launch, the Portland Water District cannot do anything about the launch unless the town agrees. The Portland Water districts primary concern is the popularity of the boat launch and the high exposure of contamination to the water it presents.The most recent attempt by the Portland water district to bar off town locals took place when they decided to place large boulders in front of the common parking lot used at the launch site. In response to this, the Portland Water district stated that the town had every right to a 90 ft. Right of way to the water, but that the parking lot was technically their property. The town was not surprised by the act and neither were the town locals. In fact, local boat owner Stanley Sanborn claims, “They've been trying to get us out of there for years now. We're not even allowed to touch the water, they have workers at the launch who inspect your boat and fine you if you so much as touch your foot in the water. It just makes it more difficult for us old guys to get our boats in the water and it’s just an unnecessary inconvenience…..” The town retaliated by passing a $105,000 proposal to expand they’re parking lot and compensate for the Portland Water District’s actions. “It's really quite a beautiful view coming down the hill. More importantly though, it shows the water district we are not backing down from this issue and that we deserve a right of way to this water front.” Stanley added.The boat launch has been a source of conflict between Standish and the water district for more than a decade. This includes multiple court cases, in which residents have twice rejected referendum proposals to move the launch. The main source of the districts’ concerns regards the drinking water that they draw from the southern end of the lake for nearly 200,000 people in Greater Portland. “They're just looking for any reason to limit the crowd down here.” Stanley included. Being the only public boating access on the southern end of Maine's second-largest lake, and most of the people who use it come from other communities in southern Maine, it has become quite the controversy in the past decade. The only other state-owned boat launches on the lake are on the northern end, at Sebago Lake State Park and at a small public ramp in Raymond.The town of Standish has worker’s at the boat launch on busy days, issuing passes and supervising parking. However, the launch is open t the public every day.The district hopes Standish's new parking area is just a temporary solution and that the town and water district will be able to revive discussions about an alternative launch site.Town officials and water district have claimed that relations between each other have improved recently but this is mostly because they haven’t discussed anything relating to the boat launch recently. "It's very unfortunate that things couldn't have been worked out to everyone's benefit," said Lunt, the water district trustee. "We've decided now to leave the boat launch issue up to the state and Standish."So for now, the town has reached a temporary solution to a seemingly persistent and relentless Portland Water district. However, I don’t believe we’ve seen the end of this one, and it would not surprise me if both sides agreed.