The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Solving the Invasive Species Challenge a Paramount Issue

April 01, 2008 - For more than l00 years, Maine lakes have been recognized as pristine glories of nature. But invasive species have threatened the very character of the resource.

New federal, state and private money may be directed at more intensive studies of Maine milfoil. New Hampshire focused a study program the past couple of years that provided some scientific insights into the virulent invasive plant, to determine why it flourishes in the Northeast and what remedies may be sought to eradicate the plant from the 28 lakes and water bodies that it currently infests in Maine, and keep it from infesting new ones.

New Hampshire has 62 infested lakes. New Hampshire funded six studies with one million dollars; if we're lucky, Maine may get three times as much money, for research, should the proposed funding come through.

The local Lakes Environmental Association, the Portland Water District, Little Sebago Lake Association, Congress of Lakes Association and the DEP and others have all pushed for the money. The announcement of the funds' pursuit gave an upbeat air to the recent Milfoil Summit, which was hosted by the LEA's Peter Lowell.

News released earlier this week that the eggs of Maine birds of all types contain over 100 industrial and household contaminants attests strongly to the virtue of careful research. Milfoil and its invasive cousins pose such a clear and present danger to the quality and value of Maine's precious lakes, there is a temptation to promote a focused campaign of chemical warfare against the numerous pests and nasty plants that threaten Maine's inland waters. But the New Hampshire research raised hopes for solutions that are gentler on the environment than chemicals - behold, the nematode! - and hopefully Maine research will generate even more eco-friendly milfoil-fighting ideas.

The local folks at the LEA, the Thompson Lake Association, and Pleasant Lake Association and the new Save Sebago Cove group, among others, are all stepping up to contribute professional services and volunteer hours in the fight against the milfoil threat in this area. If these citizen scientists can spur legitimate research to win the battle against invasive species, without polluting the environment in other ways while we're at it, area people and visitors should be able to enjoy pristine Maine lakes for the next 100 years, too.

SOURCE: BRIDGTON NEWS

DATE: 03-13-2008


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


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