CBI Newsletter                  July 2019
If you do not want to receive information for CBI coordinators and project managers please contact Mary Jewett ( mary@mainelakes.org) to unsubscribe from this list. If you click unsubscribe, you will no longer receive any information about milfoil and other invasive aquatic species in Maine, this includes grant announcements.
In This Issue
Training Documents and Links
Archive
July 2015 
May 2015 
I hope everyone is having a great season so far. I have included information about an Excel workaround for folks doing data entry. Feel free to respond to this email if you have any questions.  
 
Sincerely,
Mary Jewett - Milfoil Coordinator
Eurasian Milfoil "save" on Sebago Lake
On Sunday, July 21 an inspector from the Lakes Environmental Association was working at Sebago Lake State Park. Ella was about halfway through her 8 hour shift when a jet ski came to the ramp, traveling from the Mystic River in Massachusetts, but they were Maine residents just returning home. The jet ski looked clean until Ella crouched down to look at the intake area on the bottom, where she discovered a large clump of plants hanging down. She removed as much as possible and bagged it up. The boater seemed to be unaware of how serious it was to transport plants on watercraft and wasn't concerned. After removing as much as possible the boater launched their jet ski into Sebago Lake. When they returned two hours later the owner appeared to be more concious and apologized for their lack of attentiveness. Sebago Lake has several infestations of variable milfoil throughout the lake and the boater may have seen several areas marked with yellow buoys.

Milfoil vs. Hornwort 
Ella brought the fragments to the LEA office where most of it was immediately identified as Eurasian Milfoil. Lake Stewards and Maine and the Maine DEP quickly confirmed the ID. There was also a large amount of hornwort mixed in, which looks similar from a distance. The Mystic River Watershed Association is currently working on eradicating water chestnut but there is almost no mention of control measures for what is obviously a healthy population of Eurasian milfoil. 

In hindsight it would have been prudent for the inspector to ask them to clean their jet ski at the wash station nearby. However, as we know, it is the boaters responsibility to not transport aquatic plants. While this is a good learning opportunity for inspectors it is another reminder that many boaters are not taking this responsibility seriously. Clearly more education about, and enforcement of, the laws in Maine is needed. Several people have asked if the inspector should have called the game warden. First, the inspector did not know for sure that the plants were invasive. Second, the owner of the jet ski was cooperative and allowed inspection. If we start calling the wardens on willing participants in the program, they will quickly become unwilling to allow inspections. 
Inspecting Jet Skis
With the recent discovery of Eurasian Milfoil at Sebago Lake, we should all be aware of the threats that jet skis pose to our waterbodies. Due to their internal propulsion system it is impossible to see all the places where plants can get stuck. Je t skis are propelled by water being sucked up through a hole in the bottom of the watercraft and shooting through a impeller. The water is then expelled from the back of the jet ski. For more information about how a jet ski works click here.

Example of plants stuck in jet ski
The plants at Sebago Lake were found on the bottom of the craft, but there were probably more inside the machine where no one could get them out. The operator can turn the jet ski on and expel any excess water which would also take care of any remained plants. Spraying a hose inside during this process would be even better.

We must always act as educators on top of our inspector duties. The odds that this jet ski may have decided to launch at a time when there was no inspector there are too high to ignore. We cover as much time as we can but there isn't always going to be a CBI there to catch these things. Educating the boater and asking them to inspect their own watercraft is a critical part of this program, and reminding them of the legal consequences doesn't hurt.
What happens if we give up?
Many boats come from out of state to use Maine's clean lakes and ponds, but sometimes Mainers go to other states to recreate and fish. The Eurasian save on Sebago lake last week was an example of this. But what are they facing at the launch sites there? Recently someone shared their experience of launching their boat (and taking it out of) the St. Lawrence River in New York. The boater reported that, due to the high density of invasive plants at the launch, they had to clear a path before taking the boat out. To do this they would quickly plunge the trailer into the water and take it out really fast, that clears a hole in the weeds so that they can back in more slowly to retrieve their boat. During the initial launch that isn't an option so the trailer comes out covered in weeds, like the Eurasian Milfoil in the photo. 

Fortunately the owner of this trailer is meticulous about cleaning their equipment before coming home to Maine. Stories like this one are why we will continue the effort of preventing the spread and spending time and money cleaning up current infestations. 
Interim reports
Karen Hahnel recently sent a message to all the CBI coordinators regarding grant interim reports. If you did not receive that message here it is again!:

Hello everyone - I hope the CBI season is going well for all of you. I am happy to announce that the CBI Interim Report is not required this year.  Instead, the inspection data submitted by your group will be accepted as proof of work.  I encourage you to send in your data ASAP.  Once I haveyour group's inspection data through July 7 I will approve payment of the interim funds (1/4 of the grant award).  Mike is working on compiling your data into a spreadsheet which I will send as soon as this is complete.
 
Please let me know if you have any questions.
 
Karen
 
Karen A. Hahnel
Invasive Aquatic Species Program, Water Bureau
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
17 State House Station
Augusta, Maine  04333-0017
 
Tel: 207-215-9270
New requirement for BASS Clubs
Steve Wilson - Eagle Bassmasters
Starting in 2020 two members of each BASS club participating in tournaments must attend a training with a state approved trainer. Three times throughout the spring and summer of this year Mary Jewett (LEA) and Karen Hahnel (DEP) have conducted trainings similar to the one attended by CBI coordinators after the Milfoil Summit. At the training fishermen (and fisherwomen) learned about why it is important to check their boats, not just at tournaments, and about the Clean, Drain, Dry message. The majority of attendees were attentive and grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the threats of invasive species, including Steve Wilson (pictured here with the new winch sticker). Steve was instrumental in gathering over 50 club and association members at the Buxton & Hollis Rod and Gun Club for a training earlier this month. 
Wardens visiting Courtesy Boat Inspectors

In June Warden Brock Kluckey visits inspector John Percival on Silver Lake (a.k.a. Roxbury Pond). The Silver Lake Camp Owners Association (SLCOA) has been conducting courtesy boat inspections for 11 years and will continue to protect their pond. Thank you to Matt Towle from SLCOA for submitting the photo. 

Lakes Environmental Association | 207-647-8580 | mary@mainelakes.org | http://mainelakes.org
230 Main Street
Bridgton, ME 04009