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Our program has been successful in reducing the
dense beds in the lake. But it is guarded success.
The variable milfoil is still lurking on the bottom of
the lake waiting for the summer sun to allow it to lift
from the bottom or developing root structures on the
bottom for further growth. That is why it is important
to get all the root when extracting. While we have
mostly eliminated the threat of boats running
through the tall milfoil creating fragmentation for
regrowth, the smaller ones are harder to find and
takes as much time to hand pull and feed into the
suction dredge called HIPPO (Hydraulic Invasive
Plant Processing Operation). The Milfoil Militia will
become scouts in late June surveying, documenting
and planning our approach. If you see green
noodles floating in a certain area, that means we
have marked plants and will come back to extract.
The good news is that this year we had to stop
the operation at the end of August due to the fact
we were not getting enough plants to justify the
use of the HIPPO’s. The invasive plants are there,
they are scattered and if left alone will once again
become the dense bed we once had. This is why we
need to continue with a different plan of attack and
be vigilant. The breakdown of the amount of milfoil
extracted is below. One has only to think about
what would happen to our lake and property values
if this operation had not begun almost 15 years
ago. Lastly, I need to thank all the volunteers who
made this operation happen. Countless hours of
strategizing; use of land for boat docking; allowing
the crew to invade their spot early mornings and
afternoons; maintaining, putting the fleet to bed and
getting them out for use, and surveying reported
sighting are just a few of the things that volunteers
have given to protect our lake. If you think you
have milfoil in your area please contact me using
our phone or email addresses and we will check it
out for you.
In the perfect world we would have
a coordinator become familiar with VLMP’s
Plant Patrol recommendations, quadrant the
lake with identified patrollers and patrol areas
periodically.
Remember to keep the native plants
so the invasive will not grow in your area.
Summer of 2015 Milfoil Militia Program
Pam Wilkinson
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
2014
LOCATION
UPPER BASIN-GRAY
TWIN BROOKS-GRAY
BEAVER COVE-GRAY
MUMFORD COVE-GRAY
LOWER BASIN WINDHAM
BEAN ISLAND
BAG TOTALS
AMOUNT SPENT
VOLUNTEER TIME
TOTAL
271
215
390
187
178
86.5
314.5
180.25
55
62
58
54
17
50
25.75
54.5
91
63
9
2
7
16
49
15
133
97
296
47
16
20.5
33.5
28
710
1,332
967
1,491
500
954
760.75
353
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
1,260
1,769
1,778
1,889
735
1,180 1,201.75
740.5
67,296.36 55,651.90 51,580.26 67,265.60 48,350.18 46,253.82 51,507.84 43,,292.63
9,255.00 9,260.00 13,786.00 17,046.42 12,466.32 13,300.68 13,909.84 13,000.00
76,551.36 64,911.90 65,366.26 84,312.02 60,816.50 59,554.50 65,417.68 56,926.33
TOTAL
1,468
376.25
252
671
7,067.75
6
10,553
431,832.29
102,024.26
533,856.55
Little Sebago Lake yearly comparison of milfoil bags removed-associated costs. Each bag equals approx. 20 pounds dry
weight. 2014 less than one ton removed; to date approx. 98 tons removed from 2007 to 2014.
Plant Give Away at the Annual Meeting
Once again – with the help of O’Donal’s Nursery we will be providing 100 large 10 inch potted native
plants for you to improve your buffer with. First come – first served to any dues paying member.