Maine enacted the Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act in 1971 to protect the delicate ecosystems of lakes, rivers, and wetlands.  It is the responsibility of the municipal governments to develop and enforce ordinances to regulate the land within 25 feet of the high water mark.
	The 1988 Augusta Growth Management Plan designated the land around Togus Pond as a Rural Ponds District.  All new development must follow shoreland-specific ordinances to control erosion and minimize phosphorus loading.
	Some of the ordinances enacted by the City of Augusta include:
	-A minimum setback of 100 ft for all structures and septic systems
	-A minimum shore frontage of 200 ft for individual lots
	-A minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet or .92 acres
	-And, Impervious surfaces may not make up more than 20% of the lot
	Other ordinances address driveways, septic systems, and buffer strips and can be found in the Augusta Land Use Ordinance available in the town offices.
	Shoreland zoning also addresses the issue of Non-conformance which is a major concern in the Togus Pond watershed.  A  non-conforming structure doesn�t meet one or more of the shoreland regulations.  This is usually due to the fact that these structures were built before the rules were enacted, and are considered �grandfathered.�  Current guidelines only require non-conformance to be addressed during expansion of a property.