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MAINE LAKE VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM HAS NEW HOME
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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.
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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.
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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! |
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