Lake Arrowhead Conservation Council
The mission of the Lake Arrowhead Conservation Council through fundraising, government grants and member donations is to protect and conserve the natural resources of Lake Arrowhead, specifically targeting the prevention and control of invasive aquatic plants and animals in our waterbody.
Download – “Maine’s Most Unwanted” educational poster!
JULY 2024
Hello LACC Members,
I have some information to share with you regarding 2024’s Herbicidal treatments, fund raising and a reminder regarding the need for timely membership.
As I have shared previously, your membership dues are a key component in our ability to fund our milfoil treatment with herbicides under the aegis of the Maine DEP. To date, we are down approximately 7k from last year’s membership dues. I hope folks are NOT GETTING COMPLACENT because we had a treatment last year or because you’re NOT raking up so many weeds on your beach. The effort is just getting started folks, it’s still a long-term battle in front of us. My ask is that you please do your part and send in your membership dues if you have not done so.
The second component to funding our milfoil treatments is through our fund raisers. The GOLF Tournament is coming up July 19th. Hope you’ve signed up! The second is the Annual 50/50 which has been our largest fund raiser. To date this year, ticket sales are lagging so please reach out to Tracie Doyle or the LAC Office and purchase some tickets. The drawing will be at the annual meeting. We are only three weeks away.
The big news I wanted to get out to everyone is the first date has been given to us by the DEP for an herbicidal treatment of Naiad. Our PALZ Survey Team has been diligently monitoring our treated areas and has had some follow up areas identified, especially in areas where VLM had been blocking the view of existing Naiad plants or identified after last year’s initial treatment.
JULY 23rd! – Has been agreed upon with the DEP and their licensed applicator. Like last year, an airboat will be used to apply Aqua Strike to the areas on the attached map. The DEP will be sending out letters to shoreline owners in the areas to be treated. Approximately 144 acres are to be treated in this year’s Naiad treatment.
We are also planning a second VLM treatment to be paid for by LACC. LACC and PALZ have identified the area adjacent to the Little Ossipee Lake feed. This a longshallow area of approximately 56 acres of a dense milfoil area. Every fall, our neighbors open their dam gates to lower their lake by 2-3 feet. When that water suddenly starts pouring through that area, it fragments the VLM and pushes it further into our lake around the Ridgeway Beach area. This is an area we hope to eliminate as a major spreading zone. The DEP concurs and is scheduling an August treatment for VLM. The date will be announced when made available.
Thanks for all your support, it’s been a long time getting here. We can’t stop now that we have access to new treatments for the lake so PLEASE get your membership in and definitely get some 50/50 Raffle tickets
Thank you,
Mike Fitzpatrick
LACC-President
LAC-VP
mefishwildlife.com
Surface Use Restrictions to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
An aquatic invasive plant species, variable-leaved water-milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), was confirmed growing in four waters in central Maine. To help reduce fragmentation of the invasive aquatic plants before remediation occurs and to limit further spread of this plant within the waters and downstream areas, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Department of Environmental Protection have issued surface use restrictions for portions of:
- Androscoggin Lake, Wayne(pdf)
- Annabessacook Lake, Monmouth(pdf)
- Cobbosseecontee Lake, Manchester(pdf)
- Great Meadow Stream and northern portion of North Bay in Great Pond, Belgrade, Smithfield, and Rome(pdf) (paddle craft are allowed in Great Meadows Stream)
At this time, no watercrafts may enter the closed areas unless for emergency situations or survey and removal efforts by MDIFW and DEP. Plans for remediation are underway. Please click the links above to view maps of the closed areas. Closed areas are marked with buoys.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping protect Maine’s waters.
Protect Our Waters from Aquatic Invasive Species
Maine has some of the country’s most pristine and healthy waters, which support high-quality habitat for fish and wildlife as well as endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Unfortunately, Maine waters, as well as the fish, wildlife, and recreation they support, are threatened each year by introductions of fish, plants, diseases, and other aquatic invasive species that compete with and displace native natural communities.
Effective June 16, 2023, prior to entering a water body and when preparing to leave launch sites, boaters are required to remove or open any devices designed for routine removal/opening (for example, hull drain plugs, bailers, live wells, ballast tanks) to encourage draining of areas containing water (excluding live bait containers). This must be done in a way that does not allow drained water to enter any inland water of the state.
It is up to everyone who enjoys Maine’s waters – boaters, paddlers, and anglers – to protect our waters.
New boater safety and education requirement effective January 1, 2024
This January, Maine will join 44 other states in requiring some level of boater education for those operating a boat on Maine’s waters. The boater education law was recently passed by the legislature, and goes into effect in 2024.
Beginning January 1, 2024, a person born on or after January 1, 1999, may not operate a motorboat of twenty-five (25) horsepower or greater for recreational boating purposes on inland waters of this State or territorial waters, unless that person is 12 years of age or older and has completed a boater safety and education course. There are a few exemptions, such as for registered Maine guides (hunting, fishing, and recreational guides only), the commercial fishing industry, daily boat renters, and merchant mariners.
The course teaches participants how to safely operate and maintain a boat, Maine boating laws, how to prepare for boating emergencies, environmental concerns including how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, and more. The course may be taken in-person or online.
New law impacting boaters, paddlers, anglers, and any other watercraft users:
To reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species in Maine, a law was passed by Maine Legislature that requires boaters to take specific actions to encourage water to drain from their watercraft prior to entering a water body or leaving a launch site (PUBLIC LAW 2023 CHAPTER 190). Aquatic invasive species are any fish, wildlife, or plant species that spreads to a water body where they do not naturally occur. These species are often transferred to new locations on watercraft, watercraft trailers, and other equipment associated with water recreation, and they impact the health of our waters, fish, and wildlife.
Effective June 16, 2023, boaters are now required to do the following:
- Prior to entering a water body and when preparing to leave launch sites, boaters are required to remove or open any devices designed for routine removal/opening (for example, hull drain plugs, bailers, live wells, ballast tanks) to encourage draining of areas containing water (excluding live bait containers). This must be done in a way that does not allow drained water to enter any inland water of the state.
This puts into law what the Clean, Drain, Dry educational and outreach campaign has already been encouraging boaters to do. By ensuring that all boaters are draining water when it is from a different source than the inland water body they are about to enter, the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species including some that are not always visible by eye, to new areas is drastically reduced. Similar laws are already in effect in more than 20 other states, including neighboring New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. This law will limit the spread of aquatic invasive species we already have in Maine while proactively limiting potential for the introduction of aquatic invasive species that would be new to the state such as quagga mussels and the spiny water flea.
Emerging threat! Zebra Mussel infestations in nearby New Brunswick and Quebec are a threat to our Maine waterways!Invasive Zebra mussels have been found within the Saint John River drainage in both Quebec and New Brunswick, with the nearest visual confirmations less than 30 miles away from the Maine/Canada border and even closer potential infestations in the Madawaska River. This places the Saint John River at high risk for infestation and as a potential source for transport on watercraft of zebra mussels into other Maine water bodies. Zebra mussels have not yet been confirmed in any water of the state of Maine but represent a high threat level to the health of our waters, fish, and wildlife. Zebra mussel infestations result in irreversible negative impacts on native species and water body systems and are nearly impossible to eradicate once introduced. Zebra mussels filter and hold a substantial amount of important food and nutrients that native organisms require, negatively impacting all native fish and wildlife in the water body. In addition to significantly impacting our wildlife, and unlike our native mussels, zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces in the water, including watercraft, pipes (which can clog intake/outflow), rocks, docks, and even native mussels. Zebra mussel larvae are microscopic, making it imperative all outdoor enthusiasts use extreme caution to limit the spread. Help limit the spread of zebra mussels! Always practice standard clean, drain, dry recommendations and laws for watercraft. Allowing watercraft and all gear to dry thoroughly between water bodies is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of these microscopic zebra mussel larvae. This drying should occur for multiple days (2-5 days) when possible. |
Learn more about Naiad, Milfoil, CBI, Fundraising Events, Swollen Bladderwort and News & Updates by clicking on a selection.