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.
Lila Zanuccoli, one of our CBIs, just recently 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. The boat was coming from Lake Greenwood in New Jersey and the plant was quite fresh - another invaluble SAVE thanks to Lila!
Courtesy Boat Inspections
The Belgrade Lakes Association supports the 7 Lakes Alliance administered Milfoil/Courtesy Boat Inspector (CBI) Program for the Belgrade Lakes Watershed. Last years' results of this all important program are as follows:
| 2012 CBI Season |
Paid Hours |
Volunteer Hours |
Number of Inspections |
Fragments |
Confirmed "saves" |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| East Pond |
817.00 |
210.75 |
1,111 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| North Pond |
925.50 |
6.00 |
1,316 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| McGrath Pond/Salmon Lake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Public Launch |
739.00 |
5.25 |
805 |
0 |
|
| Whisperwood Lodge |
0.00 |
2086.00 |
620 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Great Pond |
792.50 |
17.25 |
2,834 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Long Pond |
838.00 |
0.00 |
2,225 |
0 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Messalonskee Lake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sidney |
470.00 |
4.00 |
1,451 |
4 |
| Oakland |
582.70 |
0.00 |
1,633 |
8 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| TOTALS: |
5164.70 |
2329.25 |
11,995 |
29 |
| 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:
-
CHECK and REMOVE all plants and plant parts from boats, motors, trailers, and fishing equipment before launch and after take-out.
-
DISPOSE of plants in a trash receptacle or away from the water on high, dry land.
-
AVOID boating, paddling or swimming through any plants.
-
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 2013 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 email: info@blamaine.org.
The Great Pond Hermit on duty, rain or shine!!!
Courtesy Boat Inspector Cassidy Plaud
Click Here to be a Great and/or Long Pond Courtesy Boat Inspector/Volunteer!
The "Mystery Boater" evaluations help us provide the best possible management of this all-important Courtesy Boat program. Your assistance with this evaluation is greatly appreciated! Courtesy Boaters "Mystery Boater" Evaluation Form