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Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Boat-wash idea is floated
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The station would be built at the Norcross Point boat launch and funded by a grant from L.L. Bean. Robert Moore, executive director of the friends group, on Monday sought initial approval for the station from the Winthrop Town Council, which unanimously agreed that the group should proceed with its plans. Moore said there are hundreds of boat-wash stations nationally, but they are rare in Maine, where invasive aquatic plants are a relatively recent problem. Moore said he hopes the Maranacook Lake station could be a model for others across the state, and chose the Norcross Point site partly because of its high visibility. Milfoil is an invasive weed that can choke a lake's ecosystem. The plant already is in central Maine, particularly in Messalonskee Lake, but has not been found in the waterways of the Cobbossee Lake watershed. Winthrop officials would like to keep it that way. "This council has talked about milfoil as one of the greatest threats to our community," said Councilor Patrice Putman. "It would just be devastating." If the boat wash is installed, its use would not be mandatory. But Moore said its presence would be a constant reminder to boaters of the need for their vigilance in removing plants before entering water. "You're trying to change behavior and this is just a tool to do that," Moore said. The Norcross Point boat launch is busy on summer days. Space there is at a premium, leading Councilor David Rheaume to question the proposal's practicality. "I don't know where you're going to put it," he said. "We're going to have to take away parking spaces there, which isn't going to be popular at all." The approval for the station given during Monday night's council meeting is preliminary. Friends of the Cobbossee Lake Watershed will return to the Town Council once design and engineering work is completed. Chris Churchill -- 623-3811, Ext. 431 cchurchill@centralmaine.com |
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