The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

More Milfoil Testing Within Belgrade Lakes

August 20, 2008 - BELGRADE LAKES REGION -- After cleaning out a lake where a bloom of Eurasian Watermilfoil was confirmed, officials say they will need to do an addition survey to make sure the plant is gone.

Last week, divers with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection removed all of the Eurasian milfoil they found in a cove on Salmon Lake, also known as Ellis Lake, and installed screen netting to keep milfoil from entering adjoining Great Pond.

But DEP officials said Wednesday they'd discovered enough evidence that the plants had gone beyond the original infestation site to merit another survey. The department has not set a date for the next dive.

Milfoil is an invasive aquatic plant species that grows rapidly. Most of the roughly two dozen lakes and ponds in Maine infested with milfoil have the type known as variable water milfoil. Eurasian Watermilfoil, also known as Eurasian milfoil (seen in the photo), is even more aggressive.

The Associated Press Contributed to this report


Lakes: Salmon (Ellis) Pond
Regions: Belgrade


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