Maine's Lakes are under serious threat, menaced by invasive water plants like Variable Leaf and Eurasian Watermilfoil, and Hydrilla. These vegetative villains are so vigorous and propagate so fast that they crowd out native plants, affect fish populations, and make swimming and boating difficult – if not impossible. They can take over a lake in surprisingly little time. When this happens, lake users have to fund costly control measures just to swim, fish, or boat.

Because most new infestations occur in shallow waters near public boat launch facilities, it's obvious that invasive plants move from lake to lake on the boats and equipment of unsuspecting humans. Accordingly, the state has developed a program to educate boaters so they won't spread plants unintentionally. It's the Courtesy Boat Inspection Program, and it's our lakes' first line of defense.It is the law in the State of Maine that transporting any aquatic plant on the outside of a vehicle, boat, trailer, or equipment is illegal, and violators will be ticketed by the Maine Warden Service.

This fragment of Eurasian Milfoil was removed from a boat entering Great Pond by Lea Ramirez, a volunteer CBI.

BULLETIN!

6/19/09

We just received confirmation from VLMP that one of our CBIs, Lila Zanuccoli, removed several fragments of curly leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus-one of Maine's Most Unwanted)  from a boat getting ready to launch into Long Pond last weekend (June 14).  The boat was coming from Lake Greenwood in New Jersey and the plant was quite fresh.

Peter L. Kallin, Ph.D., PWSExecutive Director, Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance 

Courtesy Boat Inspections

The BLA supports the BRCA administered Milfoil/Courtesy Boat Inspector (CBI) Program for the Belgrade Lakes Watershed.  Last years' results of this all important program are as follows:

2009 Totals
			Paid Inspections						Confirmed
						Fragments found			"Saves"
	Lake	Hours	Entering	Leaving	Total	Entering	Leaving
	Great Pond	807.75	1580	861	2441	3	8
	Long Pond	768	1124	645	1769	3	1		1
	North Pond	507	462	308	770	1	6
	East Pond	825.75	536	311	847	1	2		1
	Salmon Lake	827	478	376	854	2	1
	Messalonskee/Oakland	680	1019	776	1795	3	5
	Messalonskee/Sidney	458	633	612	1245	1	1
	Whisperwood	0	0	0	0	0	0		2
	Totals	4,873.5	5,832	3,889	9,721	14	24		4
			Volunteer Inspections
						Fragments found
	Lake	Hours	Entering	Leaving	Total	Entering	Leaving
	Great Pond	14	25	15	40	0	0
	Long Pond	15.5	15	7	22	0	1
	North Pond	26.25	16	21	37	0	4
	East Pond	62.75	44	48	92	0	1
	Salmon Lake	30.25	27	17	44	0	0
	Messalonskee/Oakland	4	9	11	20	0	0
	Messalonskee/Sidney	32	30	17	47	0	0
	Whisperwood	1668	156	151	307	3	12
	Totals	1852.75	322	287	609	3	18
	Combined	6,726.25	6,154	4,176	10,330	17	42

Here are four important things you can do to protect Maine Lakes:

1. CHECK and REMOVE all plants and plant parts from boats, motors, trailers, and fishing equipment before launch and after take-out.

2. DISPOSE of plants in a trash receptacle or away from the water on high, dry land.

3. AVOID boating, paddling or swimming through any plants.

4. Become TRAINED to recognize invasive plants through the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program.

Please remember that ALL motorized watercraft on inland waters must display a Lake and River Protection Sticker and a new sticker must be purchased every year.  PLEASE JOIN THE BELGRADE LAKES ASSOCIATION'S COURTESY BOAT INSPECTOR PROGRAM. BOTH PAID AND VOLUNTEER INSPECTORS ARE NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SEASON.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN BECOME A COURTESY BOAT INSPECTOR, PLEASE CONTACT THE BELGRADE LAKES ASSOCIATION AT 207-512-5150 or click here.