Monitoring Program
Back Home Up Next

 

Up

MAINE LAKE VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM HAS NEW HOME

The Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (MVLMP) as well as the Maine Center of Invasive Aquatic Plants (MCIAP) has moved into a new home on Lake Auburn.  It was the home of former City Manager Woodbury Brackett and was bequested to the City of Auburn upon the death of Brackett’s wife, Barbara, to honor her late husband. 

Scott Williams on front lawn of new home of MVLMP and MCIAP

The intent of the gift was to preserve the quality and aesthetics of Lake Auburn, which is a few hundred feet from the house.  The only restrictions were that the house not be used as a residence and must be used for conservation, protection of the water quality of the lake and environmental education.  MVLMP’s request to occupy the house fit into the donor’s concept perfectly, and the move was made from its former quarters in Turner to Auburn in early 2004.

 

The program, run by executive director Scott Williams, was founded by the state DEP in 1971.  Currently, there are more than 500 volunteer lake monitors hailing from all Maine counties.  The DEP administered the program for twenty years, after which Legislative cuts in 1981 reduced funding.   Unable to fund the growth of the program, it could no longer administer it.  As a result, Williams and the Directors of the Maine Congress of Lake Associations (COLA) met and established the nonprofit MVLMP which has maintained a connection with the DEP but is no longer affiliated.

 A recent accomplishment of the MVLMP is the formation of the Maine Center of Invasive Aquatic Plants, headed by Aquatic Biologist Roberta Hill.  Hill is conducting free training programs throughout the summer for volunteers who are interested in learning to identify both native and non-native species of plants and advanced training for existing plant patrollers. TLIA has sent several volunteers in the past two years to become more knowledgeable in this area and to identify invasives before they become a real threat to the lake.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or for more information, contact the Center  at 207- 783-7733 or online at MCLAP@MaineVLMP.org.  Click on www.mainevolunteerlakemonitors.org/mciap/ipp/workshops for the 2004 Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop Schedule.

John Laskey, Volunteer Lake Monitor for Tripp Lake

Invasive species are a problem throughout the world and Maine must become vigilant in its fight to maintain invasive-free lakes.   In Hawaii, a lake in Oahu was so filled with the invasive weed Salvinia molesta, that it choked fish, clogged outboard motors and left anglers no open water into which to cast their lines.  The State has started a massive program to free the lake of the noxious weed by pumping $1 million into this lake alone.  Salvinia molesta entered the State as an aquarium plant, but grew so fast that its sale has been banned in many States.  This is the same problem and end result of the invasive Milfoils which clog lakes on the mainland…and which Maine is now fighting. 

The team of Williams and Hill (married to each other) is a formidable one and we’re fortunate to have had both of them working with us.  Scott has monitored the lake for over 20 years for water quality, working in tandem with our own Volunteer Lake Monitor, John Laskey.   Roberta has helped with grants over the past few years and is currently heading the Lake/Watershed Management Plan, soon to be published and released to all in the Watershed.

 In an aside, John Laskey was recently honored by the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Group for his more than twenty years as a VLM.  We are truly proud and honored to have John as a dedicated member of Tripp Lake Improvement Association.  John has worked over the years with Lewis Murray and Bill Henderson and now tests the lake bi-monthly (six months a year) with his trusty new partner, George Kelley, who became certified in 2003 as a VLM.  Many thanks to you, George, as well!

  Now let’s get a few more volunteers for the Invasive Plant Program!