Lake Arrowhead Residents Make Difference in Battle Against Milfoil

March 7th, 2010 categories: Sanford Lakes Region

Enjoying a Day On the Water, Lake Arrowhead

In 2000 Variable-Leaf Milfoil (VLM) was discovered in Lake Arrowhead, located in Waterboro and Limerick. Lake Arrowhead covers approximately 1,100 acres in southern Maine and has an average depth of 6 feet–creating a perfect breeding ground for VLM.

The Lake Arrowhead Conservation Council (LACC) raised funds and spearheaded an attack to combat the VLM. Their approach has been three-pronged as they’ve used a diver-assisted suction harvester, Benthic barrier program and vigorous courtesy boat inspector program in the fight against this invasive species.

Dave Sanfason is the lead boat captain on the S.S. Arrowhead, the suction harvester. In the Milfoil Update dated August 2009, Dave reported “that just halfway into its operating season, the S.S. Arrowhead and its crew is making a difference.”

Search for lakefront properties on Lake Arrowhead

The VLM in many of Lake Arrowhead’s numerous coves and inlets is coming under control. In 6 of the 14 infested coves, the harvester has completed its job. Though some milfoil may still be present in those coves, volunteers can now use a milfoil rack they invented to assist hand-harvesting in shallow areas.Benthic triangles have been placed in a few locations around the lake. These are barrier tarps placed in the water to prevent plants from getting sunlight, thus killing them.A vigorous courtesy boat inspector (CBI) program ensures that boats entering the lake don’t bring in milfoil and those leaving take the time to wash their boats off, therefore eliminating the threat of spreading VLM to other lakes. In 2009, there were 17 saves of VLM by CBIs on boats entering Lake Arrowhead and 197 saves on boats leaving Lake Arrowhead. These figures illustrate the importance of boat owners to take the time to inspect the boats themselves and allow CBIs to take a few minutes to examine them.

“We’re feeling a sense of guarded accomplishment,” said Peter Lowell, executive director of Bridgton’s Lakes Environmental Association, a non-profit organization that is working with Lake Arrowhead on the project. Education and public awareness are keys to preventing the spread of VLM and other invasives.

People on Lake Arrowhead are feeling upbeat about the efforts to reduce or possibly eradicate VLM. They recently learned that the Maine Milfoil Consortium has selected their lake as one of seven test lakes to receive a $40,000 matching grant for 2010. This will allow for a second suction harvester on the lake, doubling efforts to fight milfoil.

“They’ve done incredible work,” said John McPhedran, Coordinator of the Invasive Aquatic Plant Program at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. And they will continue to do so as the folks at Lake Arrowhead are committed to saving their lake.

Here are a few news articles from our archive you might be interested in:

Towns Asked to Fund the Milfoil Harvester

Lake Arrowhead Group Seeks Town Funds to Fight Milfoil

Fast-Growing Waterboro Transfers Six Town-Owned Properties to a Trust Formed by Residents

GREEN Monster at Lake Arrowhead