Water Quality Milfoil Conservation Corps Water Quality Technical Info

Milfoil (Invasive Aquatic Plants) Program

The BRCA Milfoil Committee was formed in 2002 in order to coordinate invasive plant prevention efforts throughout the Belgrade Lakes. This collaboration between the five lake associations (East Pond Association, North Pond Association, Snow Pond-Messalonskee Lake Association, McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Association, and the Belgrade Lakes Association [Great and Long Ponds]) has placed Courtesy Boat Inspectors (CBIs) at all the Public Boat Launches in the region.

Photo: Volunteer CBI and BRCA Board member, Jack Schultz.

The Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance is incorporating a variety of techniques to fight against the spread of milfoil within the Belgrade Lakes watershed. In addition to employing and stationing about 22 Certified Boat Inspectors (CBI’s) at our public boat launches every year the BRCA has created a new “SWAMP” team in 2011 that will be identifying, marking, and removing milfoil. Surveys in 2011 have been done in the North Bay area of Great Pond as well as in Great Meadow Stream. The SWAMP team worked hard to manually pull the milfoil as well as create and place benthic barriers over larger sized patches.
What are we going to do with all this milfoil? We are excited to announce a new program in conjunction with Black Gold Vermiculture and Research which will compost the harvested milfoil. The new soil will be offered to residents as a way to help fund upcoming milfoil removal projects.
Other strategies we are using in the fight against milfoil include holding Invasive Plant Patrols (IPP’s) as well as hosting educational events.

Courtesy Boat Inspection Program (CBI Program)

Some of the Courtesy Boat Inspectors are paid employees -- covering critical times at the ramps; others are dedicated volunteers who fill in those times that cannot be covered by paid staff (due to a lack of resources). In 2011, the BRCA Milfoil Committee's Courtesy Boat Inspectors conducted over 11,000 inspections. They have prevented both Variable-leaf Milfoil and Eurasian Milfoil from entering our uninfested lakes. Click here to get a job application to be a Courtesy Boat Inspector.

Courtesy Boat Inspectors: Click here for ramp coverage and scheduling information.

Invasive Plant Surveys

The Milfoil Committee also coordinates plant surveys at the ramps. Using kayakers and scuba-divers, these areas are thoroughly searched for any sign of invasive plants. The intent being to head off an infestation before it can begin. There is training availble at no cost for volunteers. For more information please contact the BRCA office at (207) 495-6039.

PHOTO: IPP volunteer looking for invasive plants.