The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Grant to help inspections for milfoil

April 27, 2007 - The China Region Lakes Alliance has a $2000 grant to help with this summer's courtesy boat inspections.

The organization is one of many groups coordinating volunteers who inspect boats before they enter Maine lakes, hoping to prevent the introduction of milfoil and other unwelcome aquatic plants.

To support local efforts, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has an invasive aquatic plants cost share grant program.

This year, 52 lake related groups received grants. The China organization received the maximum amount for lakes that are not known to have invasive plants present.

Organization President David Landry said the grant money will help cover costs of weekend inspections at boat landings on China Lake, Webber Pond and Three Mile Pond

Landry expects the alliance will spend more than $5,000 on boat inspections, education and other invasive plant prevention work between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

An early summer workshop on invasive plants is planned and will be open to the public.

Landry credits Peter Wilkens of China for obtaining the grant. Wilkens, and Erskine Academy graduate and environmental studies major at Clark University, will head the lakes alliance's conservation corps this summer.

The conservation corps is a group of high school students who do run off control projects in local watersheds and help with the boat inspections.

The lakes alliance board of directors meets at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Kennebec Water District treatment plant in East Vassalboro.

The board meetings are open to the public.

This article appeared in its original form in the Kennebec Journal April 27, 2007

Lakes: China Lake, Three Mile Pond, Webber Pond
Regions: Belgrade


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