MAINE’S MILFOIL SUMMIT

 Speakers included Peter Lowell of the Lakes Environmental Association, a leader in the fight to legislate initiatives regarding the danger of invasives to Maine lakes.  Based in Bridgeton, his Association encompasses over 20 Maine lakes, conducts year-round environmental workshops and is dedicated to protecting and preserving our natural resources.

 John McPhedran, representing the Department of Environmental Protection, discussed the Boat Inspection Program, the sale of Invasive Stickers to fund the program, the vulnerability of Maine lakes and DEP’s plans for enforcing laws in the coming seasons.

Roberta Hill, speaking on behalf of the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program and the Maine Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants, discussed programs and workshops offered to train volunteers.  The programs enable volunteers to identify invasive and native plants.  The Center recently moved to Auburn from its former location in Turner.  She and Scott Williams have been instrumental over the years in training,  testing and helping formulate programs to protect Tripp and many lakes throughout Maine.

 The keynote speaker, Paul Jacques, Deputy Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, provided an overview of the Department’s goals and programs, the role of game wardens and the negative impact of invasive species in our lakes.

 Mary Jane Dillingham, representing the Auburn Water District and Maggie Shannon of the Congress of Lakes Associations (COLA) discussed policy and current legislation. ( A bill is currently before the Maine Legislature which would re-introduce the concept of  harbormasters to Maine lakes).

 The boat inspection program , started about two years ago by the State, was introduced on Lake Auburn last summer to slow the spread of variable leaf milfoil and other invasive aquatic plants. Particles of plants can be transported on the hulls of boats and on trailers from one lake to another, and sometimes into states where the species were not previously found.

  Boats entering Maine waters are required to have stickers from the MDEP;  the funding from the stickers helps pay for lake monitoring and inspection programs.  Last year, compliance of the sticker requirement by boaters was estimated at 75 percent of watercraft registered in Maine and 25 percent of boats registered in other states and Canada.  Laws will be enforced more strictly this year.  Non-compliance will result in a $100 fine;  three or more violations will be considered a Class E crime.  It was noted that most boats passed inspection;  invasive plants were found on less than 3 percent of boats.   

The seriousness of the milfoil problem was summed up by Roberta Hill who stated, “The threat will not go away anytime in the conceivable future.  The role of volunteers is tremendous in the efforts to fend off this threat.” 

Variable leaf milfoil and other non-native species of milfoil are found in about a third of Maine’s lakes. Some invasive varieties, such as Hydrilla and Curly Leaf Weed, have been present in Maine for several years.