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A Publication Featuring The Information
Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume VII, Issue 4 | April 2004 |
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By Paul Gregory
Habitat disruption, degraded native plant and animal
communities, loss of property values, reduced fishing and water recreation
opportunities and large public/private expenditures have accompanied invasive
plant introductions in all of the lower 48 states except Maine. However two
invasive plants, Variable-leaf Milfoil and Hydrilla, have been spotted here. For
more information, including photos of invasive plants and “how to report”
instructions visit
http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/topic/invasives/index.htm.
Scientists are hardly high tech when it comes to the detection, prevention and
control of invasive plants. Detection involves a pair of trained eyes and tools
to enhance their ability to see underwater. Prevention calls for any eyes
willing to inspect boats and trailers leaving boat ramps and then remove all
hitchhiking plant debris. Control ranges from the simple hand removal of
undesired aquatic plants from lake beds to the application of relatively
selective herbicides.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has used only one herbicide in
2003, applying an active ingredient called fluridone that systemically prevents
the ability of vascular plants - like Hydrilla- to photosynthesize food.
Herbicide use has been traditionally frowned upon by the DEP because herbicide
risks to lake ecosystems usually outweigh their benefits. That is until Hydrilla
came along; left untreated, this most aggressive plant could rapidly devastate
neighboring waters.
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Invasive plant detection, prevention and control come with costs. That’s why the Lake and River Protection Sticker ("Preserve Maine Waters") fund is so important. All motorized watercraft (including personal watercraft) on inland waters must display this sticker available from the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Online Store http://www.informe.org/ifw/merc/. The fee for a non-resident sticker (required for boats registered outside Maine): $20. For a sticker for boats registered in Maine: $10. The value of helping protect Maine lakes from invasive plants: priceless. |
Questions? Contact the author by e-mailing
paul.gregory@maine.gov.
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Wednesday, April 21, 2004, 8am - 4pm, Augusta Civic Center http://www.umaine.edu/waterresearch/mwc/agenda_04.htm Early registration ($35) is suggested and is limited to 300 attendees. Both former Senator George Mitchell and Governor Baldacci are confirmed to speak at the morning plenary session. Governor Baldacci will discuss Maine’s environmental legacies and future. Senator Mitchell will provide his perspectives as a staffer working for Senator Edmund Muskie on the Clean Water Act, and as an author of the Clean Air Act. |
