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Songo Lock To Remain Open

August 12, 2010 - NAPLES -- Songo Lock will remain open to boat traffic despite a serious milfoil problem along the lower river.


Two weeks ago, Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) urged state officials to close the Lock to prevent milfoil passage into Upper Songo River, and ultimately to Brandy Pond and Long Lake.


State officials visited the infested Lower Songo River area, and decided to take a different approach. This week, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Maine Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) unveiled their plan to slow the upstream migration of milfoil in the Songo River, while allowing boaters to continue to recreate on the popular waterway.


Beginning this week, all boaters that travel upstream from Lower Songo River through the Lock will be inspected for plant fragments. Any fragments found will be removed and disposed of properly. The boat-by-boat inspections at the Lock could pose minor delays for boaters navigating the Lock.


The Lock is owned and managed by DOC, which feels the milfoil problem can be addressed without closing the Lock, that would limit access to boaters. The Songo River in Naples connects Sebago Lake to Brandy Pond and Long Lake.


In an effort to stop the spread of invasive plants, the LEA will have both volunteer and paid boat inspectors, funded by the DEP, closely examining motors and hulls of boats that travel upstream from the Lower Songo River through the Songo Lock.


"We believe that by increasing boat inspections, we will decrease the chances of milfoil making its way upstream and threatening other water bodies," said John McPhedran of the DEP. "We will continue to work with LEA and DOC to monitor and evaluate the milfoil situation on the Songo River throughout the summer."


Peter Lowell, executive director of LEA, reported that inspectors continue to be busy at the Lock removing the invasive plant from boats.


"A LEA inspector on Friday pulled an armload of invasive and native plants off the propeller of a rental pontoon boat. The boat's operator had just driven outside the marked channel and through a dense patch of milfoil as the inspector watched from afar," Lowell said. "Had the inspector not been vigilant, that load of plants would have been on its way to Brandy Pond and maybe Long Lake. This is the type of nightmare scenario LEA was trying to prevent in calling for the Lock to close."


Lowell said a key element to stop the problem is boater education.


"When the inspector asked him to raise the prop, an armload of plants was wound around the motor. The driver was unaware of the problem and was headed for Brandy Pond," Lowell said. "Although increasing the inspections has clearly paid off, a lot of education is still needed, especially with renters."


While increased inspections will help, Lowell does not feel inspectors can provide full protection for the upstream water bodies.


"LEA is still calling for boaters to voluntarily stay out of the Lower Songo. That portion of the river is so loaded with plants that it is nearly impossible to navigate it without sending plant fragments into Sebago Lake or transporting them northward. We feel the risk is too great, even with better inspections," he said. "Boaters from Brandy Pond and Long Lake are putting their lakes at great risk by making the trip through the Lock. They have the option to visit the upper river and the Lock and to explore Brandy Pond and Long Lake. There are plenty of clean waters available for boaters thanks to the hard work of LEA's Milfoil Crew on the SS Libra suction harvester."


Lowell noted that officials will continue to look into a long-range plan to address the problem, including the possibility of dredging--an idea some marina owners floated in past years.


"Can you imagine if our great State of Maine would have spent a little money years ago on dredging when many of us in the marine business were begging them to. Now, it's too late," said Dan Allen of Causeway Marina. "The Songo River still needs to be dredged, but now we have to bare the expense of a major clean-up. I can't imagine running my business like the State of Maine runs our state. Shame on them."


by Wayne Rivet, The Bridgton News, August 12, 2010

Lakes: Brandy Pond
Regions: Sebago


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