The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

New Sidney Boat Launch Opens Early

July 17, 2007 - Sidney -- Before George Powell backed his boat into the still water of Messalonskee Lake at the newly christened Lombard Landing Monday morning, Maggie Shannon took a long, hard look at its hull.

Shannon, the executive director of the Maine Congress of Lake Associations, made sure the boat and its trailer were free of milfoil. After all, it was an older growth of the pesky plant that prompted state officials to close the old launch site on Route 27 in favor of the new one, which cost $590,000.

"The primary area where we get new infestations is at boat ramps, because the plants can hitchhiked on our equipment," Shannon said.

She said that in addition to disrupting lake ecology, milfoil and other invasive species interfere with recreational activities such as swimming, boating and fishing, and can degrade water quality.

Invasive plants may also reduce lakefront property values, Shannon said, although that has not been formally studied.

Sure enough, this spiffy new launch dock off Route 23 is decorated with bright yellow signs reminding boaters to inspect their watercraft thoroughly before and after using the lake.

Milfoil can remain viable out of water for several days, Shannon said, and just an inch long strand of the plant can lead to an infestation.

According to Major General Bill Libby, president of the Messalonskee Lake Association, over 50% of the boats coming off the old launch site on Route 27 had milfoil clinging to the hulls.

Libby, who owns a camp four houses away from the new Lombard Landing, said that though he and some neighbors have some concerns about traffic, he believes creating public access points is important, as is combating the milfoil problem.

While milfoil has plagued bodies of water nationwide, Maine has done a relatively good job containing it: the plant has only been detected in 29 locations in a state with thousands of lakes and ponds in tens of thousands of miles of rivers, said Maine Department of Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan.

"But we must remain vigilant," he said.

Shannon attributed the state's success in suppressing milfoil to strict regulations.

All motor boats that enter Maine fresh water bodies are required to have a Lake and River Protection Sticker - $10 for boats registered instate and $20 for nonresident watercraft. Operators caught without the sticker can be fined $250.

The money raised by sticker purchases and fines flows into a fund to finance efforts to combat the spread of invasive aquatic species. The fund has helped train over 1000 lake stewards and boat inspectors, Shannon said.

Lombard Landing, named for the family that used to own the property, opened July 3.

The cost of the land - for which the state paid $440,000 about $30,000 below market value - was divided between Land for Maine's Future and the Boating Facilities Fund. The Boating fFcilities Fund picked up the tab for the remaining $150,000 in construction and legal costs.

This article appeared in its original form in the Kennebec Journal, July 10, 2007.


Lakes: Messalonskee Lake
Regions: Belgrade


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