Donate and Join LEA Today!

Invasives

For more than 15 years LEA has been on the leading edge in preventing the spread of invasive aquatic plants as well as controlling active infestations. In our service area we are lucky to only have a few active infestation sites of variable leaf milfoil (VLM). While there are 5 other invasive aquatic plants in Maine, VLM is the most widespread. Check out this map showing the locations of infested waterbodies in Maine. To learn more about the other invasive aquatic plants threatening Maine, visit the Maine DEP’s invasive species page here.

Although there are relatively few lakes and ponds with infestations in Maine at present, new infestations are found each year around the state and control work requires dedicated efforts. LEA, the Department of Environmental Protection and dozens of smaller lake associations around the state are working hard to clean out the plants and prevent the spread to other places. Maine has an extensive network of Courtesy Boat Inspectors who help boaters keep their watercrafts clean as they travel from lake to lake. In addition to the CBI program several organizations, including LEA, employ plant control teams in the summer to clean up infested lakes and rivers.

milfoil team and DASH

LEA’s Milfoil Control Team in a patch of milfoil

CBI Kelly Baldwin with a fragment of Variable Lead Mifloil

CBI Kelly Baldwin with a fragment of milfoil

[mc4wp_form id="2536"]