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McGrath Pond/Salmon Lake Association Responds to Milfoil Threat
"We've got to be as aggressive as we can," was the introductory message from President Don Borman at the McGrath Pond/Salmon Lake Association Meeting on Thursday, August 7, 2008. He was speaking about the recent discovery of Eurasian Milfoil in Salmon Lake. Thanks to summer vacationer, Kurt Lakin, this vastly unwanted invasive was found in the outlet cove near the public boat landing on Spaulding Point in North Belgrade. Lakin, a fisheries biologist with the Tennessee Valley Authority wasn't a voice to be taken lightly. As Department of Environmental Protection contact Paul Gregory would later explain, with Lakin's credentials everyone knew he knew what he was talking about. The main presenter of the milfoil strategy at the meeting was Roy Bouchard of the DEP. A resident of Belgrade, Bouchard has a particular connection to the Belgrade Region. He has served as president of the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance and spends part of each summer on Great Pond at a family camp.
"We will try to eradicate," Bouchard stated, proceeding to outline a highly proactive plan for achieving an optimum end goal with "the best people available." Surveys, dive teams, hand removal, 7 am to 7 pm boat landing inspectors, a net above the dam, and surface use restriction for 45 days in the designated cove were all on Bouchard's outline. The ramp will be posted with more visible signs and a survey of the rest of the lake will begin. "If anybody wants to help, we cannot survey the entire lake or McGrath Pond," Bouchard said of his agency. Volunteers were urged to call Bouchard and get set up to identify the invasive. Part of the survey will be to look for private launching ramps. Boat ramps are the primary entry point for unwanted "hitch-hiker" plants. When asked why not close the Spaulding Point ramp altogether, Bouchard explained that "as a public agency we have to be pretty balanced in what we do. That includes public access, lake property owners, fisherman, and wildlife habitat." Subsequent to the meeting and the August 8 "removal" dive, which revealed some additional growth near the edges of the cove leading to the dam, volunteers were still being solicited to survey shorelines (initially their own) around the lake.
"What we're hoping is that people who live on the lakes (Salmon and McGrath) will call Roy Bouchard," stated association president Borman. "They should not be pulling out plants themselves," he emphasized. Although, Borman admitted, "The master plan changes every few days," he described the overall process as positive. "What we are trying to do is sort of make sure this becomes as educational as possible," he said, speaking for the lake association. "We're aware, we're responding and we're grateful," says Dick Enright of the McGraw Pond/Salmon Lake Association. Enright was in the right place at the right time when Kurt Lakin's father paddled by his dock and announced that his son had identified Eurasion Milfoil in the lake. From that contact on the evolution of events was very swift. Samples were taken to the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance and positively identified by Maggie Shannon, Executive Director of the Congress of Lake Associations; then to the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program where they were positively identified by Roberta Hill; then to the Department of Environmental Protection. A speedy and perhaps unprecedented collaboration between that department and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife resulted in implementing a Rapid Response Plan outlined above. Currently a sample has been sent for DNA testing to determine where the plant came from. Beginning August 11, DEP was to coordinate in-depth surveys of Salmon Lake, the outlet stream that flows to Great Pond, and the cove into which it flows to determine whether the aggressive plant has become established elsewhere. Meanwhile, state officials will deploy buoys identifying plant sites, improve signage at the nearby boat ramp, communicate with lake shore residents on appropriate boat usage, and increase the hours of Courtesy Boat Inspections at the boat ramp. "The region is becoming a global community," Enright commented. "We're on a strong educational curve. We've gone from reactive to proactive." Guidelines for Identifying Eurasian Milfoil
"It's really hard to ID," states Dick Enright. A member of the McGrath Pond/Salmon Lake Association's Water Quality Committee, Enright was speaking of Eurasian Milfoil, a highly aggressive invasive plant recently discovered near the North Belgrade boat launch on Salmon lake. "The most distinguishing characteristic of this type of milfoil are the four fronds," he added. There should be between 12-24 little sprouts coming out. The top is almost emerald green." Here are some additional guidelines:
It should be noted that at this time of year the milfoil plant is at the end of its growing season and will soon die back to its roots. The plant will not be visible but the roots will not die. Therefore, next spring will be another critical time to inspect for further potential growth and spread. Any questions? Call Dick and Betsy Enright at | ||||
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