Invasive aquatic plants are a serious threat to Cobbosseecontee Lake and other Maine lakes and streams. Left unchecked, these plants take root in our lakes and stream beds and can create dense mats of vegetation that choke out native plants, reduce fish habitat and make water activities like boating, fishing and swimming difficult. This is an issue not only for those who visit our lakes and streams, but also for the property owners who have camps and homes on these shores.

Here are the sobering facts. Cobbosseecontee Lake is the first lake in the state to have three different invasive aquatic plants found growing in it, including Eurasian watermilfoil, which grows at an alarming rate. Another, European Frogs-bit, has not been found in any other lake in Maine. Before the problem gets any worse, we must work together to stop the spread within Cobbossee and to prevent these invasive plants from spreading throughout the state.

Here’s the good news: we’ve learned from other lake associations across the country that stopping invasive aquatic plants is achievable if we all pitch in and help! Cobbosseecontee Lake Association (CLA) is partnering with Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed (Friends) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to get the job done. By raising funds, CLA is able to bring more scientific resources from Friends and DEP into the lake to survey, remove and treat invasive plants. And by raising awareness, CLA is educating all who enjoy the lake about their role in protecting her.

CLA is asking everyone to take responsibility in four areas: Clean your boat and gear whenever it goes in or out of the lake; get your boat inspected before it goes into the lake and when it comes out; notify riends if you spot a suspicious plant; stay away from marked infested areas.

Below are the details:

First, boaters should make a habit of taking these three simple steps before they put their boat into Cobbossee or any body of water:

• Clean: Remove all visible plants and animals from boats, trailers and gear. This can be done by hand or, better yet, by washing with hot water.
• Drain: Empty all water from bait buckets, live wells, bilges and any other container that may contain lake water.
• Dry: Allow boats, trailers and gear to dry thoroughly, in the sun before moving to another lake. Even if you are unable to clean with hot water, several days of drying will destroy most invasive species. (the recommended dry time is five days)

Second, please use public boat launches when you put in and take out at Cobbossee. These launches are located in Winthrop and Monmouth. Trained inspectors from Friends will do a courtesy inspection of your boat and trailer to ensure it’s clean because even the smallest plant fragment left on the bottom of a boat can re-root and spread in another lake. If an inspector is not present, please remember to inspect your own boat and gear, and drain any standing water away from the lake before launching.

Third, learn what invasive aquatic plants look like and if you think you see one, take a picture and report it to Friends but do not try to remove it. Removing it may inadvertently cause the infestation to spread. Remember, even the most minute plant fragment can start a new infestation quickly. Once the plant is identified, Friends can remove the plant or treat the area.

Fourth, when you visit Cobbossee, please observe the “keep out” areas marked by buoys with a diamond and a cross in the middle, a “keep out” sign, or a yellow “milfoil” buoy. Smaller buoys (a section of pool noodle) are used to mark plants for removal. Anything that gets too close to an infested area could spread the plants — that includes boats, kayaks, even swimmers.

Additionally, please keep at least 200 feet from any “diver down” flag (a red flag with a diagonal white line through it). Divers are surveying the lake for signs of invasive aquatic plants and conducting removal efforts. Let’s keep everyone safe on the water!

The bottom line is that we can’t take Cobbossee and our other beautiful Maine lakes for granted. Generations have grown up on these lakes and experienced a lifetime of enjoyment and countless memories. But if we don’t all do our part right now to protect our lakes from invasive aquatic plants, then future generations might not be so lucky.

For more information, please visit CLA’s website at lakecobb.org

Ryan Eldridge is a member of Maine Cabin Masters and Cobbosseecontee Lake Association, and Toni Pied is director of conservation for Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed.