Survey confirms presence of milfoil in Shagg Pond
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — The state has confirmed the presence of variable-leaf watermilfoil in Shagg Pond in Woodstock, bringing bad news to those fighting to stop the spread of the invasive weed and other species like it.
The exotic variety of milfoil was discovered during a July survey of the pond that determined most of the plants are confined to a cove on the west shore.
It is the first new infestation verified in 2003. Variable-leaf watermilfoil has been identified in 14 other ponds and streams in Maine since the 1970s.
The discovery has been posted on the Web site of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
"It's hard to say exactly when this stuff got in there," John McPhedran, coordinator of DEP's invasive species efforts, said Sunday. "It's not just starting out, it's clearly been there for probably a few years."
Jim Chandler, a resident of Woodstock, is credited with the discovery. Chandler said he located the milfoil this summer after hearing previous, unconfirmed reports about the plants.
Shagg Pond is only about 64 acres in extent, and it has plenty of shallow areas where the milfoil can thrive, Chandler said.
"I think the deepest spot is about 42 feet or so," Chandler said. "It's got a lot of habitat for milfoil, that's why it's real important that we work on it."
McPhedran said the discovery is too recent for the state to have formulated a strategy for how to deal with the infestation, but there are plans to improve barriers at the outlet stream of the pond, which dumps into the west branch of the Nezinscot River.
"Because of the extent of it, I think what we need to do is develop a plan for what we're going to do there," McPhedran said. "It's not the kind of thing where you could just go in there in a couple of days and get it out of there."
Last year, the DEP verified the presence of variable watermilfoil in Bryant Pond in Woodstock. The infestation was smaller than that in Shagg Pond, and efforts to hand-pull the plants appear to be thinning their numbers.
The state has launched an extensive anti-invasive plant campaign in recent years, bankrolled largely by the sale of so-called "milfoil stickers" required on motorized inland water craft.
Messalonskee Lake in central Maine is home to one of the state's largest populations of variable-leaf watermilfoil. Other lakes hosting the plant include Sebago and Lake Auburn.
Last fall an even more aggressive invasive plant, hydrilla, was found for the first time in Maine in Pickerel Pond in Limerick.
Jonathan Humphrey — 861-9252
jhumphrey@centralmaine.com