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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.comor 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.orgfor
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:
Milfoil Militia Report 2016 - Success each year!
Pam Wilkinson
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.
YEAR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
TOTALS
55
91
133
710
-
1,260 67,296.36 9,255.00
62
63
97
1,332
-
1,769 55,651.90 9,260.00
58
9
296
967
-
1,778 51,580.26 13,786.00
54
2
47
1,491
-
1,889 67,265.60 17,046.42
17
7
16
500
-
735 48,350.18 12,466.32
50
16
20.5
954
3
1,180 46,253.82 13,300.68
25.75
49
33.5
760.75
3
1,202 51,507.84 13,909.84
54.5
15
28
353
-
740 45,326.10 7,459.14
11
50
71
164.5
-
366 31,762.73 9,748.50
387.25
293
742 7,232.75
6 10,545.75 $464,994.79 $106,230.90
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
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
271
215
390
187
178
86.5
314.5
180.25
63
1,885.25