A fisherman prepares to launch his boat at Cobbossee Lake in Monmouth in April. Lake affiliation officers have reported elevating greater than $1.5 million to proceed to guard the lake from invasive vegetation for as much as three years. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal file
Greater than $1.5 million has been raised to proceed the combat towards invasive vegetation at Cobbossee Lake, and lake affiliation officers say the cash might assist shield certainly one of central Maine’s largest our bodies of water for as much as three years.
The information comes after a robust 12 months for the lake that that noticed few new findings of problematic vegetation, officers stated.
Cobbossee Lake, also referred to as Lake Cobbosseecontee, touches Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, West Gardiner and Winthrop. It measures 8.7 sq. miles and has a mixed shoreline property worth of greater than $700 million.
Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive plant with the potential to devastate lakes and convey down surrounding property values, was found at Cobbossee Lake in 2018. Only one fragment of it might probably unfold rapidly and spoil a lake, in accordance with specialists.
The lake underwent an herbicide therapy in 2019. Since then, new fragments of the plant have been found sometimes on the lake, however officers with the Cobbosseecontee Lake Affiliation and Mates of the Cobbossee Watershed are working to cease invasive vegetation from stepping into the lake.
The Cobbosseecontee Lake Affiliation, previously the CYC Lake Affiliation, is a nonprofit devoted to fundraising and preserving the lake, whereas Mates of the Cobbossee Watershed, additionally a nonprofit, focuses on going onto the lake to seek for and take away invasive vegetation and educating the group.
The $1.5 million was raised via Cobbosseecontee Lake Affiliation’s three-year “Love the Lake” fundraising marketing campaign, which held a kickoff in June.
“We had about 300 attendees,” John Stanek, the group’s vice chairman, stated. “The $1.5 million was raised as a result of the broader Cobbossee group acknowledged a necessity, understood the issue and responded with nice generosity to guard and protect Lake Cobbosseecontee and probably all different Maine lakes.”
Toni Pied, director of conservation for Mates of the Cobbossee Watershed, stated the funding can be anticipated to assist his group focus its efforts on stopping extra invasive vegetation from getting into the lake and detecting and managing what are already there.
After Cobbossee Lake acquired an herbicide therapy, Eurasian watermilfoil was once more found in 2020 within the northeast quadrant of the lake. The Mates of the Cobbossee Watershed survey group additionally reported discovering a fraction in late 2021 at Farr’s Cove, about midway down the lake.
Since then, Pied stated the group discovered new vegetation subsequent to a present infestation on the north finish of the lake. She additionally stated the survey group has pulled a plant close to the Hodgdon Island Protect on Cobbossee Lake.
Pied stated the bigger infestation areas have been handled with an herbicide that ought to cut back the general menace.
Stanek stated Mates of the Cobbossee Watershed stored the realm on excessive alert all through a lot of 2022, with surveyors and dive groups working to curb plant regrowth and guarantee no new vegetation emerged.
Stanek stated final 12 months’s season ended with out vital new infestations or regrowths, and all particular person vegetation that have been discovered have been eliminated, together with variable-leaf watermilfoil vegetation from outdoors the mouth of Jug Stream. This kind of milfoil can type dense mats close to the floor of the water, in accordance with the Maine Division of Environmental Safety.
“General, I feel we’re gaining on the infestation,” Pied stated.
Funding additionally helps Mates of the Cobbossee Watershed conduct courtesy boat inspections. Communities surrounding the lake, together with the state DEP, present a few of the funding for boat inspections, and Stanek stated one of many group’s objectives is to cowl 100% of the prices this 12 months.
To proceed minimizing the chance of spreading invasive plant species, Pied encourages all boaters:
• Clear their boat and equipment earlier than bringing it to the lake.
• Drain any standing water inside their boat or trailer.
• Make sure that they dry their boat and equipment within the solar for so long as potential earlier than taking them to a different physique of water.
Boaters must also think about completely utilizing public boat launches versus non-public put-ins, which may harbor invasive vegetation, in accordance with Elizabeth Pollock, who heads the Cobbosseecontee Lake Affiliation’s invasive species process drive.
The Maine Legislature just lately took up a invoice that might require boaters to empty aquatic vessels after leaving any inland physique of water. Emergency response vessels could be exempt.
General, Stanek and Pied stated they’re optimistic for the long run.
“The funds from (the Cobbosseecontee Lake Affiliation) have already enabled us to construct our capability to satisfy the wants of Cobbossee Lake,” Pied stated. “We now have a full-time group of individuals devoted to Cobbossee through the summer time. This allows us to reply to any new infestations as quickly as they’re discovered, and to repeatedly have eyes on the water detecting new infestations.
“Moreover, by partnering with the lake affiliation, we’re capable of have higher communication with residents of the lake. The lake residents, and guests, are going to play a giant function in reaching our long-term objectives.”
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