4138-R1_ML&P_LSLA_Web_SummerNewsletter

Milfoil Militia Report 2016 - Success each year! Pam Wilkinson

Milfoil was first identified in 1999, analyzed and verified it was variable milfoil in 2003, hand pulled until we developed the first suction dredge (HIPPO-short for hydraulic invasive plant processing operation) in 2004 and second in 2006. The HIPPO’s need constant attention and upgrades due to it being a work boat. The suction harvest program has continued and will continue so that managing the beds we will keep the cycle of the lake balanced and usable for all species. Our major accomplishment last year was that we halted operations at the end of August because we could not justify the expense of our operation versus the amount of milfoil being extracted. We hope to continue to beat down the milfoil beds so our operation can convert all areas from weekly, to semi- weekly, to monthly re-grooming. We need to always be on guard, keep assessing existing beds and look for other areas that the milfoil may have taken hold. Our efforts this year will be to survey, prioritize, extract and improve our mapping system to better quantify our efforts. Our last challenge was in the lower basin where it had taken more time to reduce the dense beds. Last year the operation in this area too had to halt because of low quantities extracted. We would like this area to become a biweekly extraction similar to the upper basin and narrows. If we can find the crews to place benthic barriers in the shallow coves we have targeted three areas in the upper basin that this will be a secondary method after hand pull. It

is important not to stop scouting and extracting in order to keep the milfoil conditions from going back to dense bed conditions. The boat ramp activity has increased day tripper usage and there are several fishing tournaments on the lake. It will always be a challenge when boats from infested lakes visit and it is important to make sure the variable milfoil from our lake is not transferred. It is important to have the Courtesy Boat Inspection program to educate those who want to use the lake, of the impacts of milfoil. It is important to become familiar with your shoreline and report any suspicious plant. We respond to requests to come and identify if the plant in your area is native or invasive. You can email pwilkinson@ littlesebagolake.com or call 207.809.4706 to report suspicious plants. There are classes that you can take to know the difference and the importance of keeping native vegetation to discourage the invasive from taking over your area. Visit vlmpme.org for more information. It is also important to know what is fueling the growth of invasive and native vegetation. Good vegetative buffering, eliminating fertilizers around the lake, discouraging sand that contains phosphorous from being used on the beaches and erosion control measures are ways each of us can lessen the impact and growth of variable milfoil. Please review the following chart to measure our accomplishments which has maintained property values and keep our lake usable:

U pper B asin G ray

T win B rooks G ray

B eaver C ove G ray

M umford C ove G ray

L ower B asin W indham

B ean I sland

B ag T otals

A mount S pent

V olunteer T ime

YEAR 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 TOTALS

TOTAL 76,551.36 64,911.90 65,366.26 84,312.02 60,816.50 59,554.50 65,417.68 52,785.24 41,511.23 $533,856.55

91 63

133

710

- - - - -

1,260 67,296.36 9,255.00 1,769 55,651.90 9,260.00 1,778 51,580.26 13,786.00 1,889 67,265.60 17,046.42 735 48,350.18 12,466.32 1,180 46,253.82 13,300.68 1,202 51,507.84 13,909.84 740 45,326.10 7,459.14 366 31,762.73 9,748.50

271 215 390 187 178 86.5 314.5 180.25 63 1,885.25

55 62 58 54 17 50

97

1,332

9 2 7

296

967

47 16

1,491

500 954

16 49 15 50

20.5 33.5

3 3

25.75

760.75

54.5

28 71

353

- -

11

164.5

387.25

293

742 7,232.75

6 10,545.75 $464,994.79 $106,230.90

Each bag equals approx. 20 pounds dry weight. 2014 less than one ton removed. 2015 less than ½ ton removed. To date approx. 105.5 tons removed over a 9 year period.

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