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Thursday, July 4, 2002
Boaters find milfoil stickers are hard to get
Copyright © 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||
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Game wardens will be out in force on Maine's lakes and ponds this holiday weekend enforcing a new law that requires boaters to display stickers against Eurasian milfoil. Mark Latti, spokesman for the Maine Warden Service, said wardens plan to monitor more than 50 boat landings and water-access points throughout central and southern Maine to make sure boaters are displaying the sticker. The sticker, which costs $10 for residents and $20 for out-of-state boaters, raises money for the warden service to fight the spread of milfoil. The virulent weed chokes sections of lakes that have soft bottom soil. Last year the Legislature approved measures aimed at halting its spread. "Money provided by the sale of these stickers has allowed the increase of patrols around the state and has allowed us to increase our printing of educational materials," Latti said Wednesday. The trick for boaters - particularly those from out of state - may be finding a sticker over the holiday weekend. Jim Ahearn of Shapleigh was expecting another boat to sit at the beach in front of his Square Pond camp this weekend. But his friends, visiting from Massachusetts, were dissuaded from hauling it to Maine after he was unable to find a sticker. "I've been two places nearby, but they didn't have any stickers," Ahearn said. Boats without stickers face fines of up to $150. Owners of boats with Eurasian milfoil face fines up to $5,000. Boonie's Country Store in Shapleigh carries milfoil stickers. But by Wednesday they had run out of all but two resident stickers. Ahearn crossed into Acton, but the Acton Trading Post was all out, too. The Shapleigh Town Hall was open until 3 p.m. Wednesday and had 30 to 35 stickers left, but is closed today and won't reopen until 9 a.m. Tuesday. "Quite a few people from out of state have come in this week," said Town Clerk Jennifer Roux. "Some people just get them with the registration and others ask for them specifically." Latti said boaters should be able to find stickers at local Wal-Marts and Rite-Aid stores. But even the Wal-Mart in Sanford was out of non-resident stickers as of Wednesday afternoon. Claire Morrison, clerk at the Sanford town office, said they had only two stickers left for residents, and no more for non-residents, though she expects more to arrive by Friday. "We called for some yesterday, because we're starting to get low," she said.
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