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Monday, March 7, 2005
Milfoil containment effort expanding
Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||
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Boat inspections are at the front line of the program. Last year saw 30,000 inspections, up from 10,000 in 2003, according to a recent presentation by John McPhedran, director of the department's invasive aquatic species program. Revenue from milfoil sticker sales also rose 18 percent last year, bolstering the department's coffers for the program. The inspections, which are 10 times more numerous than they were when introduced five years ago, are meant to prevent boats from carrying plant fragments as they enter or exit inland waters. They are run mostly by volunteers, organized by a network of lake associations. "The most outstanding part of the (program) was the sheer growth of courtesy boat inspections," said Paul Gregory, an environmental specialist with the department. "Not only is it an increase, but such a substantial increase from 2003." The department's campaign to contain variable-leaf watermilfoil, which spreads swiftly and chokes water ecology, has been beleaguered at times by funding and opposition from some sporting groups. But a combination of rapid response, site management, monitoring and education efforts, in collaboration with a phalanx of disciplined conservation groups, appears to have paid off. Variable-leaf watermilfoil already has invaded local waters, including Messalonskee Lake and Cobbosseecontee Stream. But last year, a Waterville volunteer boat inspector stopped a Rhode Island boat carrying the plant's hardier cousin, Eurasian milfoil, before it could enter Great Pond. Maine is the last of the contiguous 48 states to avoid Eurasian milfoil infestation. The department's program is funded by 60 percent of the proceeds from milfoil stickers, which motorized boats must have to use Maine's inland waters. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife get the other 40 percent. Last year's sticker sales will provide $810,000 for the Department of Environmental Protection's program this year, up from $685,000 last year. All money from sticker sales go toward the anti-milfoil program, Gregory said. "The priority is site management and rapid response," he said. "That's where we look at (data from) previous years, triage the trouble spots and apply our resources." Sticker receipts were up across the board last year, including those for watercraft that don't legally need to affix stickers, such as canoes and kayaks. Boat registration was up 4 percent points for Mainers, but down 9 points from out-of-staters. The department's education efforts also appear to have brought returns. According to the department's surveys, 91 percent of boaters last year thought that the milfoil sticker is a reasonable policy, up from 83 percent in 2003. The fraction of boats found with plant fragments have has decreased a nudge, from 2.6 percent in 2003 to 2.4 percent last year. With just four staff members in its invasives program, the Department of Environmental Protection relies to a great extent on a network of nonprofit agencies, including the Maine Congress of Lake Associations, the Lakes Environmental Association, and the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program. "It's the vigilance of the general public that has identified nearly all invasives (before they get into Maine waters)," Gregory said. "We are dependent on a vigilant and trained public." The Lakes Environmental Association and the congress have led the charge in training inspectors, expanding into northern and eastern Maine last year, according to McPhedran's presentation. More than 200 inspectors manned the program last year, putting in more than 2,000 hours of work. "The geographic reach and extent of training of the (statewide) Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program are remarkable," said Maggie Shannon, the congress's executive director. "Thirty thousand inspections are a very encouraging figure." Chuin-Wei Yap -- 861-9253 cyap@centralmaine.com |
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